PC 111313 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Dolan continued that then there is a whole different circumstance where someone actually wants to go above the 40 percent, which would be a variance; the findings are hard to make, and that is the exact same process that would be required now. Commissioner Allen asked Mr. Dolan if he stated that there is a principle today in the historic district regarding being compatible in mass and that the issue is that there are not specific standards of what that looks like. Mr. Dolan said that was correct. He thanked Commissioner Allen for bringing it up as he indicated he was a little confused by one of Commissioner Ritter's earlier questions who asked if this only applies to historic. Mr. Dolan explained that this is actually an existing policy that applies to anything in the Downtown Specific Plan, so that if someone were bringing something in that is supposed to be consistent, whether it is old or new, the Downtown Specific Plan right now says that it should be consistent. Commissioner Allen requested Mr. Dolan to verify that what she is really hearing him say is that it is a principle today, but the issue is just that it is vague and so there is uncertainty; and what the Task Force did was to put standards around this to create more certainty around the process. Mr. Dolan said yes. Commissioner Allen continued that then an exception is provided if there is a reason that has a business benefit. Commissioner Olson commented that if consistency is followed far enough, the eclectic nature of the neighborhood would be destroyed. Mr. Dolan replied that he thinks there is probably some truth to that statement. He noted that there is quite a bit of eclecticness just by the variation in the lot sizes, and there are some differences there that are not found in other neighborhoods. Commissioner Olson stated that he has concerns about the FAR issue because if he purchases a vacant lot in this district, he would not know what to tell his architect for starters. He inquired if he even knows what he can do for starters. Mr. Dolan replied that hopefully, Commissioner Olson is not designing a building with his architect before one of them has come down and sat down with Planning staff. He stated that typically, every architect who is being considered for a job goes in and does his research so he can help his client design something. He noted that it is hard for him to imagine not including a visit to Planning as that is part of the things that Planning staff do: they explain to the architect what the rules are, and this would be something that Planning staff would do with them. He added that the source of information for determining the FAR is going to be in the Planning offices; staff would assist, and if there are those rare occasions when staff do not have square footages and the property owners are not allowing the applicant to access their properties, staff will work around that, go to the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 13, 2013 Page 33 of 50