SR 05:005 - Laserfiche WebLink

The proposed retail addition would be set back 11 fi. 6 in. from the front properly line. The width of the addition would match the width of the original house and would maintain the existing a 17 ft. 6 in. setback from the south side property line and the 6 ft. setback from the north side property line. The retail addition would be constructed to match the height and building design--as to materials and detailing of the existing house. The traditional downtown character will be retained through use of wood siding and double hung, wood windows. The addition and house will be repainted with "Rockvale," a taupe-gray color, with black trim and off-white accents. The site is zoned Central Commercial (C-C), Downtown Revitalization, Core Area Overlay District. Retail, residential and mixed-uses are permitted in this District, therefore no rezoning or other land use modification to the property is necessary to allow the proposed development. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION The project was reviewed by the Planning Commission at its meeting of November 10, 2004. Detailed information on this meeting is provided in the attached excerpts of the Planning Commission minutes. No members of the public spoke at the hearing. Commissioners expressed concern about the concept of adding onto the fafade of a 104-year-old building. A motion to approve the application as conditioned by staff with the question of the window mullions to be determined to the satisfaction of the Planning Director prior to the issuance of the building permit, resulted in a 2-3 vote, thus denying the project. DISCUSSION Downtown Pleasanton is a highly valued community asset. The architectural styles and pedestrian scale of buildings, mixed-use environment, and tree-lined streets all combine to create a setting unique to Pleasanton. The rich character of Downtown Pleasanton stems from the abundance of older buildings constructed over the past 150 years. The 1989 Downtown Pleasanton Specific Plan includes a map that designates historic and design resources of primary and secondary importance. While included on a list of Downtown buildings 50 years or older that was compiled in 2001, the residence at 4473 Railroad Avenue has never been designated as a resource of either primary or secondary importance. Although a proposed historic preservation ordinance has never been officially adopted due to concerns from Downtown property owners, the City has adopted an Historic Preservation Goal as part of the updated Do~vntown Specific Plan of March 2002. The Goal is to "provide for the protection and enhancement of the historic and 'small town' character of the Downtown Plan Area." In accordance ~vith federal guidelines for historic rehabilitation,2 the Specific Plan does not relegate historic properties to a static role, but recognizes that buildings and neighborhoods 2 Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines [As Amended and Annotated], "Archeology and Historic Preservation": tttt/~://www.cr.nps.t~ov/local-law/Arch Standards.htm (11/20/2004). SR:05:005 Page 3