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Page 16 discusses commercial guidelines and standards for entertainment, music, and bars. Ms. Ott indicated that this was the focus of the majority of the Task Force discussions: where the boundaries of the Central Core and Transition Areas were drawn because of the time allowances as well as the decibel level for noise and other activities that the Task Force was comfortable in recommending. Ms. Ott stated that it is important to recognize that there are residences in the Downtown Core Area as well as in the Downtown Transition Area, some of which are single - family homes and others are multi - family residences, which are all zoned commercial. She noted that the Task Force had a lot of conversation about the tolerance level for people who live in the Downtown and how to balance that with the vitality the Task Force was trying to bring to the Downtown through this effort. Commissioner O'Connor asked Ms. Ott for a more detailed explanation as to the need for the Transition Area. He inquired what the actual need for the Transition Area is if both the Core and Transition Areas are held to the same 60 dBA noise standard, both for the residential district and at the property nearest the residential zoning district. Ms. Ott replied that there are some time limit differentiations, with the Core Area having longer hours than the Transition Area. She noted that there was extensive conversation in the Task Force about how to structure the Transition Area, initially only about the decibel level being measured at the commercial property line but later continuing to having a standard for being measured at the residential property line as well. Commissioner O'Connor noted that the commercial line has a higher dBA level in the Core Area but is still limited at the residential line, and the one -hour difference there as well. He further noted that it can be louder in the Core Area than in the Transition Area but the same or lower level in the residential neighborhood. He indicated that he was struggling with trying to figure out why it had to be differentiated other than it looked like a one- or two -hour difference in time. Ms. Ott replied that this was not a question posed at the Task Force discussions, and neither was there an answer other than there was a sentiment that having that differentiation between the Core Area and Transition Area was an important delineation to have. She added that the Task Force was trying to create an area which would have the same set of standards for businesses rather than being a factor of where the businesses happened to be located in the Downtown; for example, those business located on Main Street could be louder than those located off of Main Street closer to the residences, which would have a different dBA level standard because of where they are located. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 12, 2012 Page 7 of 35