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Land Use The proposed bar and indoor entertainment and music would be located in a commercially zoned area of Downtown, containing mixed land uses including retail, office, hotel and residential uses. As shown in Figure 4, the closest residentially zoned properties are located between approximately 80 and 450 feet away from the subject site property lines to the south, east and west. The closest residential use is located above the Gay 90's pizza restaurant at 288 Main Street, which operates a restaurant with bar today. Other residential uses are substantially further away (240 to 450 feet) and are generally buffered by several commercial and office buildings, streets such as Main Street and First Street, as well as the City parking lot within the Transportation Corridor to the east. Nonetheless, staff is sensitive to potential land use conflicts in the Downtown between the existing residents living near or in the commercially zoned part of Downtown. Furthermore, commercial uses may have "spill-over" effects on those residents related to parking, hours of operation, noise or similar issues. In developing the Guidelines, the Downtown Hospitality Task Force looked carefully at the specifics of bar operations and indoor entertainment and music and tried to achieve a balance between maintaining the quality of life for Downtown residents and the objective of having a vibrant Downtown with businesses and activities which draw people to the area both during the day and at night. Thus, the Guidelines include standards by which a bar and indoor entertainment and music should operate to be considered for expedited review. Staff has incorporated the standards into the recommended conditions of approval (Exhibit A) and believes the proposed bar and indoor entertainment and music would not negatively affect surrounding uses, including any nearby residential uses. The Land Use and Design, and Economic Vitality chapters of the recently adopted Downtown Specific Plan encourage "active ground floor uses" within the Active Ground Floor Use Overlay. An active ground floor use is defined as a use that promotes an active pedestrian environment on the ground floor of a commercial building, and includes retail establishments, restaurants, bars and brew pubs, art and craft studios, and other uses determined by the Director of Community Development. Leasing first-floor tenant spaces to active uses is a priority of the Downtown Specific Plan because active uses add interest to the streetscape and encourage pedestrian activity. In addition, active uses are more likely to remain open in the evenings and on weekends. This draws customers and thereby increases the downtown's economic viability. In addition, the Specific Plan include Policy LD-P.3, regarding "Right to do Business" —this policy explicitly recognizes that "downtown operations" such as operation of businesses, special events and similar activities are not to be considered a nuisance, provided that they adhere to applicable noise and operational standards. As proposed and conditioned, staff believes the bar and indoor entertainment and music are consistent with the Downtown Specific Plan's policies. Noise Patrons' voices and entertainment/music within the interior of the proposed bar would be the main noise sources generated from the subject site. The proposed hours of operation for the bar are 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week while indoor entertainment and music would occur from 4 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week. P19-0432, 310 Main Street, Suite D Planning Commission 6 of 8