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Gerry Beaudin stated that there is a Downtown Specific Plan update scheduled, and some of the issues being discussed regarding compatibility will come up in that process. With regard to Commissioner Balch's question, he indicated that the zoning sets a maximum or a minimum, and then the policies and context of the project will have to be considered. He stated that that is what staff is trying to apply here more specifically: 40 feet tall may be the maximum allowed by the zoning, but staff is looking at what fits and will work in this neighborhood, and 40 feet tall is not compatible and would not work in this particular context. He added that another discussion is whether it should be two or three stories. Commissioner Balch stated that the three -story building is designed at 30 feet, equivalent to 75 percent of the 40 -foot upper limit. He indicated that he is trying to understand this more but is having some difficulty because the rule of the game sets the height at 40 feet, but staff then comes in and cherry- picks. He pointed out that as Commissioner Ritter had pointed out earlier, Downtown Main Street has three -story buildings that obviously are appropriate there and have been approved by staff. He expressed concerned about three -story buildings because of how much work was involved in past projects related to three stories that the Commission he has been on has considered, whereas two stories appear to be a lot easier. Commissioner O'Connor asked Commissioner Balch if he would be concerned if it were a two- -story building at 30 feet. Commissioner Ritter noted that the new one just down the road at 225 West Angela Street facing Peter's Avenue right up next to the curb is three stories, so approving a three -story for this proposal does not set a precedent. He indicated that he is also struggling with this concept because he feels there will be more coming in. He recalled that at its last meeting, the Commission also had a conversation about having three stories on Spring Street. He agreed with Commissioner O'Connor that he does not want to see houses being built all over the area without parking spaces or landscaping or being able to look up at the sky. He indicated that he is currently between Option 2 and Option 3. Commissioner Balch asked if the Commission would be having the same conversation the next -door neighbor resident were not a long -term resident. Commissioner O'Connor indicated that he would still like to preserve the blue sky. Commissioner Balch clarified that the neighbor would own the area straight up and not the one to the left or right. Commissioner O'Connor stated that when he looks out his window straight up without putting his head out, he does not want it to look like San Francisco or Oakland with all of the skyscrapers around. Commissioner Balch replied that in effect, what Commissioner O'Connor is saying is that to preserve the blue sky, one can build a three -story building ten feet from somebody else's property line versus a two story at the rear property line. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 9, 2015 Page 12 of 17