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ordinance approving a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Rezoning and Development Plan to <br /> rezone the site from the C-C (Central Commercial), Downtown Revitalization, Core Area Overlay <br /> District to a PUD-HDR/C-C District, to convert the existing single-family residence into a <br /> commercial use building including site and exterior building modifications, and to construct three <br /> new, 2,400-square-foot, three-story detached single-family residences. <br /> Planning Manager Adam Weinstein presented the staff report and provided a PowerPoint Presentation. <br /> He gave an overview of the project as outlined in the agenda report, noting that this item requires <br /> significant amendments to land uses designated in the City and will require customized special <br /> considerations about the fit of the project into the Downtown area. The project is a horizontal mixed use <br /> project with residential on the northern side and commercial on the southern side. The project will <br /> include alternate sources of access and there will be a publicly accessible, but privately owned, plaza. <br /> The Spanish revival architecture proposed is in line with the Downtown design guidelines and allowable <br /> architectural styles. <br /> Staff and the project applicant have been working on this project for approximately 2 years and several <br /> positive changes have been made over time. These include the removal of a unit, preservation of on <br /> street parking space on Peters, a refined list of commercial spaces and introduction of higher-grade <br /> architectural elements. <br /> Staff reviewed the key issues of concern related to the project. The first issue reviewed was parking, <br /> including the removal of parking spaces. Staff outlined the Municipal Code requirements for parking <br /> spaces and the work done by the Traffic Engineering Division. At this point, two (2) on-site spaces and <br /> two (2) on-street parking spaces would be lost. Patrons of the project's commercial uses would have to <br /> park elsewhere. A matter of concern is the in-lieu parking fees that should be paid by the developer and <br /> how that amount should be established as there are no provisions in the Municipal Code regarding in- <br /> lieu fees to be paid for loss of on-street parking. It is staff's recommendation that there should be at <br /> least a minimum of in-lieu fees for the two (2) lost on-street parking spaces, however Council could <br /> elect to impose up to five (5). <br /> In response to an inquiry from Councilmember Brown, staff noted that the Municipal Code could be <br /> interpreted so that the applicant could be required to pay in-lieu fees even though the two (2) spaces in <br /> front of each garage are not publicly accessible. <br /> Staff described the issues of concern related to the maximum heights allowable in the project area. <br /> Currently, the project as proposed is over the thirty (30) feet recommended in the Downtown Specific <br /> Plan. A Code Amendment would be required to impose a two (2) story thirty (30) foot residential height <br /> limit downtown. Currently, forty (40) foot structures are allowed Downtown, however, due to conflicting <br /> policies, urban design principles, and desires to accommodate mixed-use development in this area, the <br /> proposed height for the project is acceptable to staff. Staff expressed support for the proposed project's <br /> good design details and retention of the Spanish revival architectural style. <br /> Staff described various policies currently in place that may impact the approval of the project. These <br /> include the Downtown Hospitality Transition District guidelines, programs and objectives in the <br /> Downtown Specific Plan, and the Business Vitality Policy. Staff noted that small sites are harder to <br /> develop while preserving all of the required Downtown features. The project as proposed involves <br /> • resolving many competing policies conflicts, but meets many Downtown objectives. <br /> Staff reviewed the public comments that have been received on the project, which have been generally <br /> supportive. The objections have been related to parking impacts, the appropriateness of residential <br /> units in the Downtown area, aesthetic compatibility, and building height. Staff affirmed that the <br /> Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) supports the project and the Pleasanton Heritage Association <br /> (PHA) provided no formal position on the project. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 4 of 15 December 15,2015 <br />