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homes, owners can currently remove or change significant character-defining features without triggering a City review and approval process. The proposed Municipal Code amendment would modify Chapter 18.20 to specify that Administrative Design Review approval is required for exterior modifications (any floor/height) to single-family homes in residential zoning districts within the Downtown Specific Plan Area that are determined to be historic resources. The Code amendment is limited to the Downtown Specific Plan Area as it contains most of Pleasanton's historic structures and the Council had previously determined that it did not want to create new historic preservation regulations beyond the Downtown Specific Plan Area. Commercial properties are not included in the Code amendment because the City currently has design review authority for exterior changes to commercially-zoned Downtown properties regardless of height/location on the building. Furthermore, based on overwhelming desire by the Downtown commercial property owners to exclude their properties from any new regulations, the Council-approved amendments did not include changes to the regulations concerning commercially-zoned properties. When the Council initiated the Municipal Code amendment, it indicated that it would like the Commission to discuss and recommend which types of modifications the Commission felt should be subject to design review—for example, whether changing the exterior paint color would trigger design review approval. Staff has drafted two options for the Commission's consideration (the Commission may select one of these options as written or create its own): • Option 1 would include all exterior modifications; and • Option 2 would specify only certain exterior modifications that are subject to design review. With Option 2, staff focused on exterior modifications that are addressed in the Downtown Specific Plan and Downtown Design Guidelines. For example, there is a Guideline which encourages the use of materials that are appropriate to the architectural style of the home (e.g., stucco wall material for Spanish or Mediterranean homes, horizontal wood siding for Victorian homes, etc.). Therefore, staff identified changes to the exterior wall material/cladding as modifications that would be subject to design review. Similarly, since there isn't a Specific Plan policy or Guideline which addresses the color of homes, changing the house color would not trigger design review under Option 2. Option 1 (new text is underlined): 18.20.010 Projects subject to design review. B. The zoning administrator shall review and make decisions concerning the following classes of projects: [No change to Sections 18.20.010.8.1 through 18.20.010.8.14] 15. All exterior modifications, alterations, or additions to single-family houses in residential zoning districts within the Downtown Specific Plan Area that are considered historic resources as defined by the Downtown Specific Plan. P15-0384 Page - 3 - October 14, 2015