18 ATTACH 05-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

DRAFT building is being renovated to be a little more pedestrian-centric to open up a little more to the street. He noted that it is being designed to be more amenable to an actual retail use as opposed to just an office use. Commissioner Nagler asked staff to describe what is going on behind it. Mr. Weinstein replied that it is a single-family house. Commissioner Balch asked what the height of the buildings are. Mr. Weinstein replied that the front-facing was an existing commercial/medical type of building that needed some work done with parking, and the back was a long, 32-foot high house located on the west side of the property. Commissioner O'Connor commented that if nothing was built on this vacant lot, it would basically show through the front of the lot from Peters Avenue. Commissioner Balch noted that on the other side of the big tall house is a big long driveway with a fence between it and the commercial in the front. Commissioner O'Connor asked staff is the current C-C zoning allows both residential and commercial. Mr. Luchini replied that it does to a degree, but the C-C zoning usually refers to multi-family residential and not necessarily single-family. Commissioner O'Connor inquired if that could be something like the row of condos or apartments. Mr. Weinstein replied that typically in the C-C district, it would be a ground-level commercial space and then second-floor residential space. Commissioner O'Connor inquired if that creates a grandfathering. Mr. Weinstein replied that members of the applicant team talked about the juxtaposition of zoning and Specific Plan designations here. He explained that the existing zoning is C-C, but it is designated for office uses in the Downtown Specific Plan, so there is this disconnect between what is in the Specific Plan and what the site is zoned for. He added that staff is looking at a slightly different interpretation for a similar site on Spring Street, but because this site is entirely street-facing either on St. Mary Street or Peters Avenue, staff is expecting all ground-floor commercial space and no ground-level residential space. Chair Allen inquired if this is in terms of the City's current standard. Mr. Weinstein said yes, in terms of the current land use policy on this site. Commissioner Balch recommended that the Commission look at the residential use versus the commercial use in relation to the applicant's request for this residential DRAFT EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 11/182015 Page 8 of 22