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DRAFT be clarified or corrected before adoption. He further stated that in general, the proposed amendments emphasize prescriptive architectural controls even on non-historic properties, and this is not in keeping with the way the Downtown was built and with what makes Downtown so attractive. Mr. MacDonald then addressed five specific issues: 1. Widespread Downzoninq. The compatibility standard in Policy 8 is a downzoning of selected properties Downtown and is so complicated that property owners cannot even know what their allowed floor area is. If they gave a Darwin type award for the most obtuse government regulation, Policy 8 would be a finalist. The applicant would have to know the exact floor area of the house and the exact land area of the 25 to 75 houses within 150 feet of that house. There are complicated calculations after that. How many property owners know that and can plan their home improvements accordingly? The City has a 40-percent FAR standard in the Zoning Ordinance, and that should be enough to ensure compatibility anywhere Downtown. Moreover, FAR has nothing to do with historic preservation. Mr. MacDonald recommended that the Planning Commission delete Policy 8 in its recommendation to the City Council. 2. Mandatory Pre-1942 Architecture. Policy 6 says that all new residential design should adopt architectural styles dating from pre-1942. Pleasanton has never mandated an imitation history design on all new construction Downtown; most Downtown buildings do not meet that architectural standard. Mr. MacDonald stated that he has no problem with the statement "as a preference and vision for property owners to consider." He indicated that Policy 6 says: "shall utilize pre-1942 architecture" and added that in similar places, it could say: "are encouraged to use pre-1942 architecture." He recommended that the "shall" and the "must" be taken out. He indicated that that is a reasonable and needed clarification. 3. Any Façade Modification is a (Prohibited) Demolition. Policy 2 says it is a prohibited demolition to remove the most visible façade from the street. At the Chamber meeting this morning, Director of Community Development Brian Dolan assured the business community and attending Councilmembers that property owners would be allowed to replace materials in the front façade so long as they maintain the same look and feel. That is not what Policy 6 says. Policy 6 requires that the material replaced must be proven to be unusable. To bring this regulation back to what the Director thinks it says, Mr. MacDonald recommended that Policy 6 be modified to say: "It shall not be considered a demolition when portions of the façade are modified, expanded, removed, or reconstructed with the exterior construction substantially matching the original in material, composition, design, color, texture, and shape." He indicated that this is a reasonable and needed clarification. DRAFT EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 11/13/2013 Page 11 of 28