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• Heritage Trees — The native trees in the setback area along the creek will be <br />preserved, but not the others. <br />• Cul -de -Sac — He is willing to look at various configurations, and he is open to <br />having a common public space versus private space. <br />Christine Bourg, PHA Boardmember and resident and owner of a Downtown Historic <br />home, stated that she has attended all the Historic Task Force meetings, although she <br />is not a member of that Task Force. She indicated that she concurs with the comments <br />made by Commissioner Pearce about considering the demolition of the 100 -year home <br />while the Task Force is still meeting. She agreed that Ponderosa Homes has done its <br />work based on what the Downtown Specific Plan and the Downtown Design Guidelines <br />currently say, and to establish the house in order to save the house sometimes requires <br />proof that it would be a historic resource according to the California Historic Register. <br />She noted that these are not being considered now in the Task Force; however, the <br />documents indicate that an early occupant of the home, the Hall Family, has significant <br />history here in Pleasanton. She recalled that during discussions on a Neal Street <br />application to build a home, the Hall Family home at 215 Neal Street came up and the <br />family was considered to be significant locally as they were involved in bringing the <br />County Fair to Pleasanton. She added that Mr. Hall had significant holdings Downtown <br />in warehouses and granaries, and the Hall Family also purchased this land and built the <br />house that Ponderosa is proposing to demolish. <br />Ms. Bourg noted that the staff report states that the house shows some disrepair, but it <br />could possibly be restored and /or relocated. She stated that rather than looking at this <br />as an opportunity to demolish a house and develop 14 new homes, it should be <br />considered as an opportunity to save the old home in front and restore it so that there <br />will actually be a heritage home on that south side of Stanley Boulevard, the side that <br />has most of the old homes left. She continued that it could be a win /win situation with a <br />great frontage to whatever homes are put behind it, and it could also be used as a great <br />marketing tool as people come to Pleasanton because they like the old homes and the <br />old feel. <br />Ms. Bourg stated that if the City required restoration /relocation in more cases, the City <br />would have kept more of the homes we had /have, which are diminishing in number. <br />She noted that there was one building demolished on Third Street within the last six <br />months and building is starting on that; and the one directly across the street from the <br />subject property is the 1908 bungalow which was approved for demolition within the last <br />year, and which the developer of the property would now like to relocate that home. <br />She added that it would be a great idea to relocate it across the street so there could be <br />two actual heritage homes which fit in with the character of the Downtown. <br />Ms. Bourg agreed with Commissioner O'Connor that the homes be designed to look a <br />little bit more like craftsman, and it would really be great if they took on some of the <br />characteristics of the 100 - year -old Victorian home in front. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 28, 2012 Page 12 of 38 <br />