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windows as outlined in this list with a much smaller noise wall in the rear, the General Plan <br /> requirements can be met for the interior and exterior noise levels. <br /> Councilmember McGovern asked if noise levels were allowed to go up to 75 dBA in bedrooms. <br /> Mr. Dolan said the question was asked by Councilmember Sullivan in the past about what people <br /> will be subjected to during the period of time when the whistle blows. Staff provided this <br /> information in the staff report and in the study, as well as in a subsequent memo. It rises to 74 <br /> dBA for a brief moment during the duration of the whistle blowing. <br /> Councilmember Sullivan referred to the table on page 8 of the staff report and asked that it be <br /> displayed after the presentation. <br /> Mr. Dolan said staff continues to support the project. He believes the changes proposed improve <br /> the project and it is consistent with the General Plan and Downtown Specific Plan land use <br /> designations and policies. In terms of the land use designation, both documents call for high <br /> density development which is consistent with policies to provide smart growth, walk able <br /> communities, residential near services, and more residential near the downtown to add to the <br /> health of the downtown which would provide residents' ability to use more services there. He said <br /> Old Stanley is a unique and eclectic street and it is hard to be consistent with a major theme. For <br /> the downtown, the project blends overall with its general character in terms of the size of the <br /> homes proposed and the traditional design of homes on Old Stanley. The homes are unique in <br /> their square footages, which attract and serve a certain market not often served. <br /> Councilmember Thorne questioned if Mr. Dolan compared the development with the development <br /> next door in terms of size, height and other things. Mr. Dolan said he believes they are smaller <br /> and do compare in height. <br /> Mayor Hosterman pointed out that for that side of the street, the designation in the General Plan is <br /> for that use type, whereas, it is very different from the single family homes of various sizes on the <br /> other side of the street. Mr. Dolan agreed. <br /> Lastly, Mr. Dolan said another reason staff is supportive of the project is because, as conditioned, <br /> staff feels it has addressed most of the impacts to the adjacent residents. While obviously it takes <br /> out the trees and does not preserve the old home, it does do a good job in addressing the <br /> potential for parking problems, and changes made are reasonable to the photovoltaic system. <br /> Mayor Hosterman cited the Town's urban forest and said she did not like to lose trees; however, <br /> she likes the trade-off better than the last time the project was presented. She asked Mr. Fulford <br /> what the trade-off was in value of what is lost and gained in terms of new plantings. Mr. Fulford <br /> said a good part of this is subjective but the major trees are about the same age as the house and <br /> right on the street. They have a tremendous visual impact. It is likely they were damaged badly <br /> 40-50 years ago by topping and since then have not been structurally sound. There have been <br /> very recent and historic catastrophic branch failures. While the trees may be candidates for <br /> preservation, they will always be hazardous, and in his opinion, are not valuable long-term <br /> candidates for preservation. He thinks the community would be better served by planting more <br /> new trees with this development and said it would not take long to forest an area. <br /> Vice Mayor Cook-Kallio said she has a fruitless Mulberry trees in her neighborhood which were <br /> recommended by a tree expert and not the best choice. Many people top them and they look <br /> horrible. She asked whether the HOA can condition homeowner upkeep for trees. Mr. Fulford said <br /> they are not proposing any fruitless Mulberry trees, and the project trees could be conditioned <br /> much the same way people are required to appropriately prune and maintain heritage trees. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 7 of 16 September 6, 2011 <br />