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Mr. Beaudin replied that there would be a permit history for windows that were installed <br />with permits and even a window change out would require a building permit. He added <br />that if there was not a building permit on file for the window and it looked like a newer <br />window, the building inspector would definitely ask the question and a conversation <br />would be had about when the window was installed and whether it is consistent. <br />Commissioner Balch commented that there would be no permit if it is the first ten feet. <br />Mr. Beaudin replied that there are two distinct process: a Planning process and a <br />Building and Safety permitting process. He explained that that there would have been <br />no design review process required to change that window, but a building permit would <br />have been required. He then commented on the historic character of the neighborhood <br />in relation to the question from Commissioner Nagler about the value. He noted that <br />there is certainly not a tangible, financial benefit for this kind of regulation, but there is a <br />community character and neighborhood aesthetic for really high quality historic <br />structures in a neighborhood, and people take pride in that. He indicated that there is <br />an intangible value that comes with this, a kind of pride within the neighborhood, a kind <br />of community character and neighborhood preservation of design and policy. <br />Chair Allen stated that the Task Force was formed three years ago because of the <br />recognition that there is a quality of life value that keeps Pleasanton unique. She <br />indicated that she was talking to the manager of the Pleasanton Hotel a few weeks ago, <br />and asked how her business was doing, and the manager replied that it was great and <br />that the surprise to her is that almost every visitor who comes in tells them that they <br />never realized how unique Pleasanton was. She indicated that these are visitors who <br />come to Pleasanton to do work at a business in town, and almost all of them have <br />commented about the value and uniqueness of the City, a big part of which was the <br />historical character in the City's buildings. <br />Commissioner Nagler stated that he completely agreed with Chair Allen. He noted that <br />this is a terrific, important, valuable, Herculean effort which completely speaks to the <br />underlying character of the community and is an important effort that matters and he <br />applauds; and, as one person commented, to stop the incremental degradation over <br />time with the character of the community is incredibly important to look at. He indicated <br />that he supports the inclusion of review for the first ten feet because not covering that <br />would lead to inconsistency. He stated that the trick in all of this seems to be how the <br />City strikes the balance between encouraging the maintenance of these 88 homes <br />which would necessarily periodically require remodeling, reconstruction, shoring up, <br />residing, replacing front doors, etc., on the one hand, and maintain the historical <br />integrity of the building on the other. He made an anecdotal, historical comment that it <br />is hard to live in this community and care about the town enough to get into <br />conversations with people about architecture and construction and preservation and all <br />that, without the conversation at some point turning to how difficult it is to work with the <br />Planning Division when they want to make any changes to their historical structure and <br />how it can easily become a nightmare. He indicated that he is not suggesting that it is <br />true, but it does beg the question: What is the City's attitude towards again, on the one <br />hand, encouraging the maintenance of buildings so that they do not become dilapidated <br />and maintain their historical integrity, but on the other hand, doing it in a way that <br />discourages people from applying for changes to avoid what could be a nightmare and <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 14, 2015 Page 15 of 35 <br />