02 - Laserfiche WebLink

Kelly Mokashi expressed the need to have balance and harmony with respect to architecture, scale and proportion. Linda Sandifur agreed with the speaker, commented on the uniqueness of Pleasanton noting that building three- and four-story buildings it will destroy the atmosphere and eliminate the charm. Howard Tsztoo referenced an email he sent earlier, reported attending a Taskforce meeting in 2017 where members agreed that the Main Street buildings would be at most, two stories with the Rose Hotel being the only exception, at three stories. He addressed results of a survey and noted 51% of Pleasanton voters did not want any residential or condominiums in commercial areas. Steven Wang spoke in opposition to adding new residential units in the downtown area, addressed parking challenges and expressed concerns about occupants of high-density residential units using street parking/ Isaac Elias spoke in support of the project, said knows many people who would like to live in Pleasanton but cannot, because there is so much resistance to building residential units in the City. He encouraged Council to the desperately needed housing. Mayor Thorne closed the public comment. Concerning action by the Council, Director of Community Development Beaudin advised that staff will take a community-wide approach to strengthen permitting requirements for massage establishment and technicians and asked that Council affirm or modify direction on policy topics on active ground-floor overlay, ground-floor residential, development standards, and to reconsider and provide direction on property owner-initiated land use changes. In terms of ground floor residential uses in Mixed Use Districts, Councilmember Brown suggested using examples, referenced projects on Peters and asked whether they will continue in the mixed use area. City Manager Fialho indicated there will be no ground-floor residential uses in Mixed Use Districts and no ground-floor residential on properties fronting Main Street. However, elsewhere in the Downtown Commercial District, residential would be allowed behind residential on new commercial properties. He explained the three Mixed Use Districts. Director of Community Development Beaudin reported there are policies and standards throughout the plan addressing compatibility and how things integrate throughout the entire area but are not included in the conversation about ground floor residential uses. Councilmember Brown asked if a forty-foot residential building would be allowed in any of the different types of uses. Director of Community Development Beaudin said it is possible; however Council has directed nothing more than three stories, projects will undergo review to determine its compatibility and fit with surrounding structures, project will also through the public process. City Manager Fialho verified there will be no ground floor residential on Main Street but on the side streets, there could be a potential situation where commercial is on the first floor with two stories of residential above or residential behind commercial. Director of Community Development Beaudin added the Commercial District requires a commercial frontage. In response to Councilmember Narum's question, Director of Community Development Beaudin reported the staff is making sure there is commercial frontage in the Commercial District. Councilmember Narum referenced the Spring Street building and the side view. Mr. Beaudin said there are policies that will take that into consideration and added it is a thirty-foot structure that sits on a hill and meets the Residential Zoning District height requirements. Additionally the policies and the plan address how things look from various vantage points and compatibility of those around it. There are opportunities for new development on Main Street which will help that City Council Minutes Page 5 of 12 May 7,2019