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PROJECT DESCRIPTION Based on the direction it received from the City Council check-in and public feedback received at the various public meetings, the Task Force developed and is recommending amendments to the General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, Downtown Design Guidelines, and Pleasanton Municipal Code to modify the existing Downtown historic preservation policies and design guidelines, implement story pole requirements, and address demolition by neglect. All of the amendments would be limited to the Downtown Specific Plan Area (shown in Exhibit K of Attachment 9). Highlights of the proposed amendments are summarized below and are described in more detail in the attached Planning Commission staff report. Downtown Specific Plan Amendments • Local Standards: The existing criteria that are used for determining if a residential structure is considered a historic resource and protected from demolition would be modified: Current: At least 50 years old and determined to be eligible for the CA Register. Proposed: Built before 1942 and determined to be eligible for the CA Register using the Pleasanton Downtown Historic Context Statement as a resource document. • Commercial Properties: The new historic preservation policies would not be applicable to commercially-zoned properties, including residences in commercial or office zoning districts. A few existing Specific Plan policies had to be slightly modified to clarify that they only apply to non-residential properties. • Demolition Definition: A definition of demolition for residential structures was created: Demolition of a residential building for purposes of historic preservation shall be defined as the removal of the front facade or the most visible facade from the street, including changes to the roof and roof line. The front or most visible facade shall be considered the forward most ten feet of the structure. If the portion(s) of a building that is(are) required to remain as described above are later determined by the Director of Community Development to be unusable (e.g., due to dry rot, termite damage, etc.), then said portion(s) may be removed and reconstructed provided the new exterior construction matches the original in material, composition, design, color, texture, shape, and dimensions. • New Residential Building Design: The current policy states "new building design should draw upon the primary exterior features of Downtown's traditional design character in terms of architectural style..." and "...the design of new/replacement buildings should not represent a significant departure from the existing neighborhood character." In order to clearly inform property owners and applicants what residential architectural styles are acceptable Downtown, the policy would be Page 3 of 11