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that we have in combination and I think we do a good job from a submittal requirement <br />perspective right now of letting people know these are going to be issues that are going <br />to come up and I think what we need to do going forward is let them know that story <br />poles are going to help us tell part of the story and renderings are going to help us tell <br />another part of the story and it's really our job to help make sure that things are as <br />accurate as possible; the story poles get put up at the right height, renderings <br />accurately show the details and massing, and you know, they're not leaving a tree in <br />where it's helpful and taking it out where it's not and making sure the landscape plan <br />lines up with the architectural plans. <br />So it's going to be a more holistic approach to our review and hearing the concerns has <br />really helped us think about it over the last few days and we appreciate Commissioner <br />Allen bringing these concerns to our attention and we'll do it. We'll work with applicants <br />and we'll let them know this is the expectation in Pleasanton, but particularly in <br />Pleasanton in downtown we'll try to be as consistent as possible with folks around the <br />community, but I certainly get the scale and massing for downtown. <br />Commissioner Balch: Can I just ask, one of the things I've seen in other cities is the <br />posting of a courtesy notice at the site. I don't know if we do that here, but I think about <br />the two -story restaurant going in on Main Street and they're advertising for themselves <br />now. So now they've got their architectural rendering right up on their fence saying this <br />is what's coming and it's actually creating a buzz to their benefit, right? When I think <br />about Spring Street and the neighbors' conversation tonight about where we're at in the <br />process and where they kind of come in, it seems like it didn't align as well as I would <br />have hoped and, even for me, I don't know when an applicant's going to be asked by <br />staff to put story poles up. If there's no workshop and they're coming in straight for <br />approval, I know workshops have been kind of a quagmire if they're required or not, but <br />it seems like we're being much more consistent which I personally think tonight shows <br />two examples of great uses of a workshop. You know, are the story poles up by the <br />workshop or are they up between the workshop and now? You know, sometimes I don't <br />go out to the site until I see it in the packet on Friday and I've got to get there by <br />Wednesday, right? So that's kind of I think a little bit of education back from staff on <br />how you'd like us to do it and once you've determined how you think you can process it. <br />Also, Fremont is the city I've seen them do it where they'll post a courtesy notice of <br />basically almost anything and they put up a 48 sheet of plywood and it's stamped on it. <br />I don't read them too often, but they typically have a rendering and typically some quick <br />item notice so that you can go and voice concerns, and that gets up real early in the <br />process. When you think of this project, if it was on the corner saying this was coming <br />up for a workshop and then you know, by the way if you're interested.... <br />Commissioner Allen: I like that idea a lot because even in a workshop we're guessing <br />the issues. <br />Chair Ritter: With the technology that we have nowadays, we should put right on that <br />notice the website you can go look at the pictures of the renderings, you know? I think <br />a rendering is more valuable than a story pole personally because you could see how it <br />would look in the position, if it's a good rendering. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, July 13, 2016 Page 34 of 38 <br />