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Chair Ritter: Okay. Comments? <br /> Commissioner Balch: So my initial comment is that a home that doesn't fit within the <br /> neighborhood has to be looked at pretty carefully. I think it does behoove us to retain <br /> the character of the neighborhood so I'm generally supportive of the idea of adding or <br /> requiring a porch. I'm also trying to find a compromise because I think it is pretty heavy <br /> handed for a governmental body, in my opinion, to dictate that a porch is required. I <br /> have difficulty with that. I would be fine if it was even a porch that had the white picket <br /> fence in front of it, that extended 12 feet across the front gable, and 5 feet out, and was <br /> uncovered but had the look of a porch being there. So in that regard, I've learned to not <br /> try to design from the dais, so I'd like to either continue the matter so they can design a <br /> porch that would be satisfactory or I'm supportive of staffs requirement. <br /> Commissioner Nagler: I very much agree with Commissioner Balch. I used to attend <br /> Planning Commission meetings and watch the Planning Commission require applicants <br /> to do things and I would think, how is it that the Planning Commission gets to do that? It <br /> was before I understood actually and honestly the role of the Planning Commission. In <br /> matters like this it seems to me that the role is to apply planning standards and <br /> architectural standards in a uniform way so that the character of the City from <br /> neighborhood to neighborhood is maintained. It's not really to have an opinion about <br /> architecture or an opinion about paint colors, but it is relevant when we are asked to <br /> ensure that the character of the community is maintained. And I've come to better <br /> appreciate that that is the role of the Planning Commission. <br /> That being said, I've actually, just by chance, walked in this neighborhood dozens of <br /> times. It's a terrific little neighborhood. I have a dog I constantly walk and we walk <br /> through this neighborhood, and long before this matter came up, it occurred to me that <br /> it's a really terrific, quaint neighborhood and I've often looked at your home wondering <br /> what's ever going to happen with this terrific surrounding property. And part of the <br /> charm of the neighborhood is that sense that people come out of their homes into the <br /> front and whether it happens or not, you get the sense that it's a neighborhood where <br /> neighbors connect and that the architecture contributes to that. That's made possible in <br /> fact because there are spaces in the front of the house for those connections to be <br /> made. Again, whether it happens or not, I don't know, but that's certainly the character <br /> of the neighborhood and just to say, you're moving into a terrific neighborhood as you <br /> well know. <br /> So that's obviously a long way of saying that I too concur that even with the terrific <br /> design that you have and the location that you obviously are devoted to, that there is a <br /> way, there's always a way, to really be creative and build a home that in this element <br /> does conform with literally every other home in the neighborhood, and that it maintains <br /> that character. And, as Commissioner Balch said, certainly we don't want to suggest <br /> what it ought to look like, but we are asking questions hoping to move the suggestion, <br /> but I would support you guys being creative and building a home with some sort of a <br /> front porch. <br /> Chair Ritter: Could you just put the other pictures of the porches up on that and then <br /> we'll hear Commissioner O'Connor's thoughts. <br /> DRAFT EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, April 13, 2016 Page 7 of 10 <br />