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Commissioner O'Connor: So that would come over the front porch? Lee: Yes, they would go over the front porch. To address the private open space, they will get as much private open space on the ground floor as well as the second level. Chair Ritter: I think I'm okay with the setbacks with the openness of them. It's not like it's a big wall coming out. Lee: Right. If you want to add more character to the street, maybe we could put a little picket fence or some kind of low wall in the front to define the public space on the St. John sidewalk; maybe set it back two feet and have a little private yard fence or possible gate before getting to your front porch. It kind of creates a small town feel that Downtown Pleasanton is, so we could be adding more features to the front yard and front yard landscaping to create that quaintness and charm for these buildings. Chair Ritter: I'm not in favor of those little fences. It's too tight. You can put them on a bigger area. Commissioner O'Connor: If you have only eight feet to the front porch and you want to set it back two feet, you only have six feet just to give a picket look. Lee: Or you can do a hedge without the fence. That kind of creates the same buffer zone of private /public space. Commissioner Allen: So my initial impression on this is if these were individual stand- alone row houses, more like Kimberly Commons, small new homes, then this kind of setback feels okay to me. With a triplex, it feels more massive to me, and therefore, I'm feeling like I want a setback that is greater. Chair Ritter: I would look at it the other way. I think because they have an open porch, it feels like it's not right at the curb. Commissioner O'Connor: So the difference is that at the ground floor, the porch sets back and you step right onto the staircase going up. Commissioner Allen: Now are you talking about the Kimberly Commons? Chair Ritter: No the other one. Commissioner Allen: No, I'm not talking about the other one. The other one's not a good example to me. That is overwhelming. I'm talking about the Kimberly Commons which are small little cottage stand -alone units right around the corner. Amos: The one on the corner is actually closer; the duplex, that's on the corner of Peters and St. John. That definitely has a closer setback on that side, but the rest is more comparable to this proposal here with further setbacks. Chair Ritter: That actually feels high PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 23, 2016 Page 38 of 46