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Ms. Krichbaum stated that in looking at faces and hearing things, some issues might sound a little complicated. She added that anyone purchasing in the Heritage neighborhoods should know that the Downtown Specific Plan and the Downtown Design Guidelines have been in existence for decades in the City of Pleasanton and that they should look at those documents; their realtor should tell them about the documents. She noted that the Task Force is recommending amending and cleaning -up some parts; they are not being thrown out or starting over. She added that there will be no new ordinance, and no district is being established. Ms. Krichbaum stated that if Downtown property owners decide to add on, they should go to the City and City staff will help them with the FAR. She indicated that one reason the FAR comes into play in historic neighborhoods is something called McMansions, which is in towns all over America and which thousands of towns have dealt with: buying a small house on a small lot and then putting a great big house on it. She noted that this is done in Pleasanton because the setbacks are small and garages do not count in the FAR, so the lot can just about be covered and still stay within the 40- percent FAR; however, doing that might mean ending up looking very different than your neighbors. She stated that in their Heritage neighborhood, they have many big lots and many small lots, and it is nice to look somewhat like your neighbor and not come in and tear down your small home and build a great big home with many garages. She noted that all over California and the United States, people are looking at their historic neighborhoods, enhancing them, saying this makes their city better, more important, more livable, more exciting. She added that she thinks Pleasanton residents drive through the City and look at everything it has and it is one of the reasons they all live here. She stated that to her, it is important to ensure that the neighborhood is going to look good in the end, and the Task Force recommendations are just helping to keep it that way. Ms. Krichbaum stated that the City has a Heritage Tree Ordinance. She noted that the City decided years and years and years ago that the City's Heritage trees were important because they cannot be replaced: a new tree can be planted, but it is not going to be a Heritage tree for a long time. She added that the City even has fines for removing a Heritage tree. She indicated that the City's Heritage homes and Heritage neighborhoods should be viewed in the same way. Finally, Ms. Krichbaum commented on Commissioner Allen's question regarding what other communities around are doing. She stated that that information is easily available online; there are districts and ordinances surrounding the City; it is done over and over, and Pleasanton is not reinventing the wheel here. Scott Raty stated that he wanted to give a collective sigh with the hope that the work is completed and the City is done. He indicated that he wants to bring closure and anticipates the Commission's adoption of this tonight in terms of moving it forward to a Council recommendation. He noted that, with all due respect with everything he has heard and the amount of time that has been spent, it seems to him that it has been rather disproportionate in terms of how much time and attention has been spent here as a community and a city on the tail versus the dog. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 13, 2013 Page 30 of 50