SR 05:057 - Laserfiche WebLink

PDR-402~ City of Pleasanton Application for design review approval to renovate the existing Pleasanton Veterans Memorial Building located at 301 Main Street. Zoning for the property is "O" (Office) and Downtown Revitalization Overlay District. Mr. Pavan summarized the staff report and described the history and scope of this project. He advised that the project was reviewed and supported by the Pleasanton Downtown Association in August, 2004. He noted that the project issues were outlined in the staff report and that the primary issue was the public restroom on the side of the building facing Old Bernal Avenue; it would be a single, unisex bathroom which was a matter of concern to the veterans using the building. While the public restroom implements the policy of the Downtown Specific Plan, it has raised issues of security, maintenance, and monitoring. Staffis neutral on this subject and believes that the concerns may be dealt with. If the ultimate decision is to not provide the restroom, there are other places where a restroom may be provided, typically on Delucchi Park or Wayside Park. If the restroom is provided, staff believes the issues can be resolved. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Arkin regarding the process for this item, Mr. Pavan confirmed that it would come before the City Council because it is a City building. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Fox regarding the review of this design, Ms. Eileen Morley, Community Services Manager, Pleasanton Parks and Community Services Department, confirmed that the Park and Recreation Commission reviewed the Master Plan process and that the City Council approved the original Master Plan. The change to consider the restroom had come forward within the last eight months, which had not gone forward to the Park and Recreation Conunission because it was considered to be a Planning Commission issue. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Fox regarding the Downtown Specific Plan policy for restrooms in community versus neighborhood parks, Ms. Morley replied that the City Ordinance calls for neighborhood parks to be used by surrounding neighbors and not by the community. Currently, some port-a-potties were located in some neighborhood parks because organized sports use the parks for practices and games. Community parks were reserved for public restroom facilities. The Veteran's Memorial Building is considered to be a community facility, with the caveat from Alameda County that the City would honor the Veteran's Code. The building was completely funded with Alameda County funds and was grant deeded to the City in 1996; the City had been managing the facilities since the early 1970's. No County monies had been put into the building since that time. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Blank whether staff considered security measures for the restrooms such as coin-operated timers or cameras, Chris Knowles, project architect, replied that they primarily examined the building design and did not do any thorough research into what other communities did in general. They examined many alternatives in this particular building on how to accommodate public restrooms and met with several City departments. This design was determined to be the least obtrusive. EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES, January 26, 2005 Page I of 5