CCMIN 06012021 - Laserfiche WebLink

whether the storefront windows count. She noted she does not want to make the requirements so onerous a landlord would be inclined to wait out the six months and lease the space to a business not fitting their downtown wishes. She advised at this post-pandemic time the emphasis should be on getting the spaces leased out sooner rather than later. She suggested waiting before making a percentage change. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Councilmember Narum noted there are currently eight vacancies on Main Street almost all of which have been vacant for over six months. Councilmember Narum confirmed she supports staffs recommendation to have active uses at the front and non-active uses at the back. Councilmember Balch acknowledged the challenge for the DSP stemming from the Iron Horse Real Estate situation. He noted an overly nuanced discussion over square footage misses the point of a vibrant downtown as it could dissuade potential tenants. He expressed support for the concept of leasable square footage. Councilmember Arkin noted no one wants to see empty storefronts on Main Street. She echoed the preference for active ground floor use. She endorsed setting the active ground floor usage level at 100% or at least closer to it than 60% and the six-month language. Mayor Brown expressed concerns for faux retail with an inactive use as the primary business. She advised there are places downtown for groups like attorneys and accountants upstairs and on side streets. She endorsed 100% active to help the goal of building a walking downtown. She advised the threshold should be set higher to help the policy meet the intent of active retail and restaurant uses. Director of Community Development Clark confirmed Pleasanton is not the only City with these sorts of restrictions in downtown areasand agreed to provide examples when the item returns to Council. Councilmember Narum advised she is uncomfortable at 100% since the 25% has not been given a chance to work in normal times. She agreed the City does not want faux retail and urged administrative measures to prevent them but not to be so onerous on space restrictions until the business spaces are filled. She advised all but one of the vacancies have been longer than six months and this is a lot of space to fill coming out of a pandemic. Councilmember Balch expressed prioritizing some of the other items such as parking and wayfinding to help increase the vibrancy. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiries, Director of Community Development Clark confirmed most of the vacancies have been there for over six months and are exempt from the restrictions assuming landlords can demonstrate they have been actively looking for a tenant. She summarized that the feedback she received from the Council at this meeting includes an increase in the amount of active usage space, looking at storefronts as a portion of the total leasable area, and more specificity in administrative provisions about active use. Councilmember Narum explained the desire should be to encourage the landlord to find a new tenant without even heavier restrictions as opposed to inadvertently encouraging them to wait out the six months with just minimal vacancy advertising. She noted most of the vacancies are past six months and the owner can put in anything they want. Councilmember Testa explained her one- or two-year lease restriction proposal was to fill vacant spaces without locking a property into a not-preferred use for too long. She advised it would also incentivize landlords to search for an active use tenant. City Council Minutes Page 5 of 10 June 1, 2021