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each of the sites separately. She indicated that she would like there to be as much <br />conversation as possible with the applicant so the Commission can receive feedback <br />and be clear on what it thinks need to be done or changed. <br /> <br />Commissioner Pentin and Chair Narum disclosed that they met with the applicant earlier <br />in the day. <br /> <br />Brian Dolan presented the staff report on behalf of Natalie Amos, stating that it would be <br />more informal than usual as this is a workshop. He agreed with Chair Narum that there <br />should be as much interaction with the applicant as possible and noted that the <br />members of the audience are predominantly people involved in the project, which would <br />facilitate that conversation. He indicated that he would go through sections of the staff <br />report provided and that his presentation will include a lot of graphics, all of which the <br />Commission has already seen before. He stated that staff decided to include more than <br />what is needed in case the Commission wishes to refer back and in anticipation of what <br />the Commission might ask questions about. He then displayed a PowerPoint <br />presentation, starting with Site 1. <br /> <br />Mr. Dolan presented the Hacienda Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Design <br />Standards and Guidelines context diagram showing the two sites, which are the closest <br />out of the three sites studied in the Hacienda Park near BART and which demonstrate <br />two great opportunity sites for TOD because of their proximity, as shown in the half-mile <br />arc, both walkable to BART and public transportation, as well as to other transit <br />opportunities that center around the BART station. He added that staff included in <br />those Guidelines and followed through in these projects some great pedestrian <br />connections, which also shows their relationship to the other residential development <br />located in the vicinity. <br /> <br />Mr. Dolan stated that while there are some residential units nearby and with the BART <br />station across the street, Site 1 is right in the middle of predominantly business, office, <br />and non-residential uses with large buildings with a certain architectural style. He <br />pointed out the Shaklee site, a three-story office building complex with its parking lot on <br />the northern side and a vacant piece on the south side which is immediately adjacent to <br />and could serve as a possible extension of the park which has been designed into the <br />Site 2 project. He noted the proximity to the Iron Horse Trail and the many <br />pedestrian opportunities that it will provide. <br /> <br />Mr. Dolan then presented some views of the site to demonstrate the character of the <br />project and set the tone for the architectural discussion. He noted that while this is a <br />residential project, there are some non-residential architecture across the street in <br />almost every direction, with a lot of glass and more contemporary-looking architecture, a <br />lot of concrete panel, some stucco, and a very different look than what would be added <br />into a residential neighborhood. He stated that the applicant has tried to incorporate <br />this context into the projects, and this is why they might not look as residentially- <br />oriented as can typically be seen in some of the residential projects in town. <br /> <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 17, 2011 Page 7 of 36 <br /> <br />