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Ayes: Councilmembers Brown, Cook-Kallio, Narum, Pentin, Mayor Thorne Noes: None Absent: None Amend Specific Plan Policies to require new homes to be one of the architectural styles found in existing Downtown historical homes MOTION: It was m/s by Brown/Cook-Kallio to amend Specific Plan Policies to require new homes to be one of the architectural styles found in existing Downtown historical homes. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Brown, Cook-Kallio, Narum, Pentin, Mayor Thorne Noes: None Absent: None Amend Specific Plan Policies to adopt new mass and bulk compatibility standard Mayor Thorne said the nexus between bulk and mass and historic preservation escaped him and he could not support the task force recommendation. Councilmember Cook-Kallio said the presumption with FAR is that lots are of a consistent size, shape and elevation, none of which is the case in the downtown. She cited one example with which the Council struggled over FAR on an unusually shaped lot in the downtown. She said she would be more comfortable supporting this with some caveat that allowed for the appropriate application of common sense and consideration of surrounding FARs, lot sizes, shapes and elevations. Mayor Thorne suggested adding the task force's recommendation to the Planning Department's tool chest, but not necessarily require that it be followed as part of making a determination. Mr. Dolan stated that staff supported the task force recommendation, which was an average FAR calculation plus 25%. He explained that using it as a tool to judge applications on a case by case is what staff has been and can continue doing, though it sometimes becomes difficult. He also explained that lot shape and elevation are considered as part of the overall design but not in determining FAR. Councilmember Cook-Kallio explained that visualizing something like mass and scale on a graphic are very different from doing so in person and asked whether staff knew of a viable option for realistically demonstrating these impacts on a two dimensional scale. Councilmember Narum appreciated the task force's attempt to provide certainty in what has been an ongoing and controversial issue, but said she could not support the proposal. She said she would like the Design Guidelines to expand the discussion on mass and bulk, as well as how story poles and the FAR of surrounding properties can be used to evaluate these qualities. Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked how large an area staff surveys, under current practices, to help determine compatibility with respect to mass and bulk. Mr. Dolan stated that staff would likely use what is recommended in the proposed standard, which is 150 feet from the subject property. Councilmember Brown said she too would like to see surrounding FARs used as a tool rather than part of a concrete formula. She said that while the Gilmore house is certainly beautiful, it is significantly larger than other homes in the area. She noted the home has additional square footage in an unfinished second floor and multiple garages, none of which she understood to count towards FAR. City Council Minutes Page 8 of 14 January 21, 2014