CCMIN12152020 - Laserfiche WebLink

Councilmember Balch stated he heard this item as a Planning Commissioner so he is unable to hear this due to due process. Director of Community Development Ellen Clark noted the item has two parts — consideration of the design and permit application and also a request by the applicant for a reduction in the Affordable Housing Fee for the project. She stated these items relate closely so it will be one singular presentation in two parts. She noted there is flexibility should the Council wish to vote on the item either in individual halves or as a single item. Associate Planner Megan Campbell stated the requested actions are to consider Design Review (DR) and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Applications to remove the existing facility and construct new units and secondly. to consider reducing the required Affordable Housing Fee by 98.8%. She noted the City has received many public comments on the project and there has been communication with the applicant. Associate Planner Campbell stated for background the Planning Commission reviewed the DR and CUP, voting 4-1 on October 28, to approve the project subject to 97 conditions. The Affordable Housing Fee request is not under the purview of the Commission. She stated the dissenting vote, Commissioner Nancy Allen, noted concerns with the orange on the one-story building citing General Plan Community Character Policies 15 and 16. She added on November 17. the Council called up the action for review and on December 8, the applicant submitted modified plans. Associate Planner Campbell detailed the site between downtown and Pleasanton's eastern boundary with access off of Stanley Boulevard. surrounded on the west. north, and south by residential zones and a commercial zone to the east. She added the existing site contains Public Storage units, plus a manager's building and small office and a self-storage facility has operated on this site since the 1970s. She added the extra space at the rear of the property has been partly consumed by the construction of Nevada Street. Associate Planner Campbell stated the proposed operations of the facility include hours from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. with a maximum of three employees on-site at one time. She added there will be a passcode-protected entry gate with a manager's unit on-site as an added safety measure. She added the new larger facility won't impact noise, traffic, or otherwise adversely affect the surrounding area. Associate Planner Campbell stated the site plan and design complies with City standards for setbacks, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), height, and parking. She noted the FAR compliance assumes the width of the units is reduced. She stated that along with the main entrance off of Stanley Blvd., a second public access point to the property will be added off of Nevada St. along with a third access point for emergency access also on Nevada St. The office building would be closer to Stanley Blvd. with the storage buildings being further back in the property closer to Nevada St. She deemed it appropriate having the three-story building closer to the commercial properties than the residential properties adjacent to the site. Associate Planner Campbell relayed the December 8 update changes the exterior design of the buildings to incorporate architectural elements common in the Irby Ranch and Sunflower Hill communities and removes the orange branding. She noted the new building heights do comply with zoning regulations and Public Storage agreed to repaint the existing buildings. She stated staff finds the new design to be more compatible with the neighboring residential properties and supports the modification. Associate Planner Campbell described the landscaping plan on both the Stanley Blvd. and Nevada St. frontages. She stated the landscaping plan was also revised on December 8th to the approval of staff. Associate Planner Campbell addressed the different FAR limits for the General Plan (35% average and 60% maximum with sufficient amenities and mitigations) and zoning district (100% with low employee City Council Minutes Page 6 of 17 December 15, 2020