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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The proposed code amendments are statutorily exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 and categorically exempt per CEQA Guidelines Section 15303. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION The proposed text amendments will facilitate the development of ADUs and bring the PMC into compliance with State law. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission discuss the topics identified in the agenda report, consider the proposed text amendments, and provide a recommendation to the City Council. Primary Authors. Shweta Bonn, Senior Planner, 925-931-5611 or sbonncityofpleasantonca.qov Reviewed/Approved By: Melinda Denis, Planning and Permit Center Manager Ellen Clark, Director of Community Development Julie Harryman, Assistant City Attorney P20-0412, Accessory Dwelling Units Planning Commission 13 of 13 hey are nonetheless a common feature of most single-family homes and neighborhoods in Pleasanton. It is possible that removing garage doors altogether may make these homes seem out-of-place relative to their neighbors, or if a garage door is replaced by an ADU entry door, result in a single-family home appearing more like a duplex. If a garage door is left in place, suitable framing, insulation and interior finishes can be used to successfully convert the garage space to living space. At this time, staff recommends the choice to remove/refinish a garage-door wall, or leave the garage door in place, be left to the applicant subject to some objective standards (i.e. using materials and finishes to match the home). Further, irrespective of whether the garage door is replaced or not, and as mentioned above, the entrance to the ADU would be required to be located on the side or rear of the single-family residence, such that the home still appears as a single-family home from the public right-of-way. However, this topic may warrant discussion by the Planning Commission and thus is included as a discussion topic. DISCUSSION POINTS A. Does the Planning Commission have any questions or comments, in general, with the proposed application and interpretation of state law with respect to ADUs? B. Does the Planning Commission agree with staff's proposed objective standards for second story ADUs? C. Does the Planning Commission have a preference for the treatment of garage doors where the garage space is converted to an ADU? PUBLIC NOTICE Notification of this code amendment has been published in The Valley Times and was noted in the Pleasanton Weekly as an upcoming agenda item for the June 24, 2020, Planning Commission meeting. At the time this report was prepared, staff has not received comments regarding the proposed code amendments. Staff has, however, received numerous inquiries from the public, interested in ADUs and standards specific to Pleasanton. P20-0412, Accessory Dwelling Units Planning Commission 12 of 13 ith a multifamily development. Facades of the accessory dwelling unit that face neighboring properties with shared property lines may only have clerestory windows (i.e. with a window sill height at least 6 feet above finished floor). If strict application of the preceding requirements would not allow the unit to meet Building or Fire Code requirements for egress or ventilation and the windows facing neighboring properties that share property lines with the subject property are proposed where the sill height is P20-0412, Accessory Dwelling Units Planning Commission 11 of 13 3 y zoning districts include the RM and MU districts. The Central-Commercial (C-C) District also allows multifamily dwellings and thus in accordance with the new state law, must now also allow ADUs; JADUs would be allowed in existing single-family dwellings. P20-0412, Accessory Dwelling Units Planning Commission 3 of 13