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Development — High Density Residential) District; (2) PUD Development Plan approval to retain and relocate the existing single - family residence on -site and construct 10 two -story townhomes and related site improvements; and (3) Vesting Tentative Map approval to subdivide the three parcels into 11 residential parcels. Zoning for the properties is RM -1,500 (Multi Family Residential) which is within the Core Area Overlay District. Steve Otto presented the staff report and described the scope, layout, and key elements of the proposal. Noted Present: Chair Ritter was noted present at 6:47 p.m. and Commissioner O'Connor was noted present at 6:53 p.m. Commissioner Nagler: On the setbacks, if we were to desire greater setbacks on St. John Street, what would be the potential impacts of creating extra space on the street? Otto: Assuming all things remain the same as far as sizes and shapes of the units, if you wanted to increase setbacks here you would have to shift everything south so you would be shortening the setbacks in the rear. One thing I didn't mention in the presentation, this street has a separated sidewalk so there is a five -foot sidewalk then eight feet before the front curb, so that helps reduce the perceived setback of the units as well. Beaudin: There is the possibility of changing the unit dimensions as well, if you're looking at all the scenarios. Commissioner Nagler: Just one more question on this. In your work with the applicant, I imagine you spent time discussing the setbacks, right, around the property, particularly in the front? And the setbacks as they are proposed on the street, the planning perspective was this is the optimum outcome for the project? Beaudin: Yes, the answer is yes. We did look at the setbacks. We're trying to get houses close to the street but not overwhelming the street. They are two stories tall which is different from some of the other products in the downtown and with the front porch additions it seems like the kind of walkable downtown environment we're trying to create is facilitated by these types of setbacks. Commissioner Nagler: Okay. Weinstein: Yeah, if you walk down St. John Street on a nice summer's night like maybe tonight and you look at the townhouse project across the street that Steve talked about, you often find that the folks who live there, at least in the units facing St. John Street, are actually pulling their chairs out into their driveway and sitting. So they're actually trying to recreate the porch that is being designed as part of this project. So we're trying to give people a chance to be at the street and be on their porches as part of this project as opposed to having to make their own street/house interface. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 24, 2016 Page 3 of 39