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1 ®®®/ Sl_ � i i AL M TI IA talf#g Provided to the City Council After Distribution t of Packet PLEASANTON CHAMBERoI Date COMMERCE January 21, 201 4 Honorable Mayer Thorne and Council Members: On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, we hereby urge you to not adopt the Historic Preservation policies as proposed. We have followed the work of the Historic Preservation Task Force and applaud their efforts to retain the historic character of our downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. However, on balance, we believe adoption of the proposed policies will lead to more de-facto harm than good. First, the proposed Floor Area Ratio (FAR) formula and the demolition definition are subjective, unnecessarily restrictive and will likely result in greater confusion rather than clarity. Second, the Chamber, like the PDA, appreciates the decision to exclude commercial properties from the proposed historic preservation policies. At first blush one might think this ample reason for business organizations not to weigh in. However, after considerable deliberation we are concerned specifically about commercially zoned properties in downtown that were formerly residential, some pre-date the suggested historic significance of 1942. Spring, Division,Angela, Railroad and St. Mary streets have such properties. While it's easy to say they are exempt, the adoption of subjective preservation policies for residential, remains a concern for commercial property owners, as evidenced by the considerable opposition already expressed both in writing and at hearings. The greater the uncertainty and risk, the more difficult it becomes to fulfill goals to expand retail, dining and entertainment in downtown. Given the considerable concerns raised by property owners, the PDA and Chamber, your Council may instead want to pursue development of Residential Historic Preservation Guidelines similar to the Downtown Design Guidelines created by the City of Pleasanton with input from property owners,the PDA and the Chamber. These guidelines have served the City, property owners and the community well for more than 25 years and contributed to the historic charm of downtown; a residential equivalent may provide clarity without uncertainty. For examples of how the design guidelines have worked well, we offer a brief`before and after' comparison of uses at the intersection of Main and W. Angela streets. W\VW.pleasantun.org 777 Peters A venue • Pleasanton. CA 94566 • Phone: (9 25) 846--■858 • Lis: (9'5) -1-h-9O`)7