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and staff for their thorough work. He supported Option 2 and supported also including the other homes that did not make the list, given that they will be improved at some point. He restored 5 houses and has written articles for American Bungalow and wrote one on old house windows. Cities that have ordinances protecting siding, windows and doors have great home values and people who want changes will be given guidance by City staff and/or commissioners. He feels a spirit of the need to save the old houses and thanked the Council. Eric Pestana said he and his wife moved to Pleasanton a few years ago and are in the midst of a renovation at 403 St. Mary's Street on the corner of Peters. He said he was the president of an HOA in Fremont for over 5 years and during that time they had little community interest. Since they have brought their home back to its original form, they have become more of a community with neighbors and close friends with many people. He thinks that being able to keep the ability to change homes for the better and making the process easier will help people become part of their community. Also significant is that even their home is 100 years old a Portuguese family is living in a home that a Portuguese family once started. Mike Carey said his family has a 1958 mid-century modern home they are planning to remodel and preserve its character. He said it is not one of the 12 identified styles and asked where they would be placed if the amendment was approved. Mr. Otto replied that staff is not at the 1958 era of homes but pre-1942 homes and rolling those into a similar process of what is being considered for the 88 homes. When getting beyond 1942 and beyond, staff would need to determine criteria and how they would evaluate the homes relative to their historic era. Mr. Carey thanked everybody involved in the historic preservation process but strongly disagrees with any heightened restrictions being placed on all Downtown houses including all old homes deemed non- historic by the City paid study and even those built after 1942. This was never recommended by the task force and he thinks the discussion and change was done with little notification to owners. He said one week ago he received a notice and even though he followed the process, he had to read it three times on what would be included in tonight's discussion. Putting in place an additional layer of government for non-historic homes and/or all homes in the Downtown built before or after 1942 suggests that Pleasanton's property owners need protection from themselves and their neighbors. They hire architects and design professionals to remodel their homes and Pleasanton residents have pride, integrity and good judgment and he recommended the Council only pursue the original recommendations of the committee and not add more to Downtown property owners. He reminded the Council that Downtown commercial owners lobbied against over-regulation of their properties and they are exempt from the study. He is confident that those involved in the City review process do not support any more regulation on their properties except the original recommendation. Charles Huff said one comment about the house on First Street is true and the windows are inappropriate, but this was done in the 1950's or 1960's and they can see examples of these things in the Downtown Historic District. He thought the historic home issue was addressed by the previous task force's recommendations and questioned why the Council was discussing it tonight. He voiced concern with real estate agents who are trying to market properties within the historic zone to people who will spend a lot to be able to purchase these homes. Given the amount to remodel, he thinks the Council should have faith in staff that they would not allow certain things and was unsure why the added item to evaluate all of the homes was brought up. He also referred to a letter regarding the 114 homes unprotected from previous mismanaged remodels and said they will remain if this new consideration is allowed to happen. He said homes will be purchased by people who will enhance the residence and who will blend it into the other historic residences. If new regulations are enacted it will be devastating for many of the historic homes, given that it is another set of regulations homeowners and the City do not need. City Council Minutes Page 11 of 16 November 3, 2015