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ROLL CALL VOTE: <br />AYES: Commissioners Allen and Pearce <br />NOES: Commissioners Olson, Posson, and Ritter <br />ABSTAIN: None <br />RECUSED: Commissioner O'Connor <br />ABSENT: None <br />The motion failed. <br />Chair Pearce stated that she would be happy to accept a substitute motion. <br />Commissioner Olson stated that if he were the emperor pulling the strings on the puppet, <br />he would go through Mr. MacDonald's suggestions in detail. He noted Mr. MacDonald's <br />points in his letter: Policy 8 deals with the FAR; use of the word "encourage" as opposed to <br />"should"; have a more robust definition of demolition; and historic resource. He added that <br />anyone who buys homes in this area that are definitely historic homes should not expect to <br />tear it down; they should expect to have to maintain it. He mentioned again that this is an <br />eclectic area. <br />Chair Pearce stated that she hears the Commission and would be happy to have the <br />conversation about FAR if everyone wants to. She indicated that she has significant <br />concerns with regard to Mr. MacDonald's demolition definition and other recommendations <br />that he's come up with which are in opposition to what the Task Force recommended. She <br />added that she was not at that morning meeting but that it was her understanding that there <br />was a significant conversation on this. She stated that she does not know if the <br />Commission would support a modified motion eliminating the FAR discussion because she <br />thinks that would get the Commission going. She also suggested that maybe the <br />Commission can go through and have this conversation. She noted that obviously, the <br />Minutes will include a discussion of Commissioner Olson's position with regard to <br />Mr. MacDonald's recommendations. She stated that she does not know if any <br />Commissioner is interested in making a motion which is essentially her motion but stripping <br />it of the FAR recommendation, but her sense is that the Commission could get a majority of <br />the Commissioners supportive of that. <br />Commissioner Posson asked how that FAR language would read, if the 25 percent would <br />just be removed, or what specific language would be changed. <br />Commissioner Allen replied that the FAR would be kept the same as it exists today. <br />Commissioner Ritter inquired what the rest of Pleasanton does. <br />Chair Pearce replied that the problem is that the rest of Pleasanton does not have the <br />Downtown Specific Plan and the Design Guidelines that indicate that they have to match <br />and be compatible in terms of mass and scale. She asked Mr. Dolan if that would still be <br />applicable. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 13, 2013 Page 40 of 50 <br />