SR 05:057 - Laserfiche WebLink

at the northeast exterior comer of the facility, out of public view to enable easy access for garbage removal. No changes to the building's basic design, form, and detailing are proposed, nor will there be any changes to the existing window treatment. Colors and materials will match the existing. Construction of the building will be according to the State Historic Building Code, which can avoid strict compliance with today's Building Code in order to maintain the historic integrity of the building. DISCUSSION Staff believes that the proposed exterior changes to the building are consistent with and match the design, materials, colors, and detailing of the existing historic Veterans Memorial Building. The changes to the building are minor and incidental and, as stated above, are generally for the purpose of making the building conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), seismic, and Fire Code requirements while making the building more functional and useable. The City's architect has taken great care to design the limited exterior changes in such a way as to closely match the building and to conform to the historic building style. As a result, the building will become a well-maintained and renovated version of what currently exists. Staff notes that the existing hardscaped area at the front of the facility currently contains concrete planters and metal benches from Tulancingo, Pleasanton's sister city, which are used throughout Main Street. The proposed plan would eliminate this street furniture from that location, as recommended by the Master Plan Citizens Task Force. Staff believes that the benches and planters should be retained as they are part of the Main Street design theme approved by the City Council in conjunction with the Main Street Reconstruction Project. Staff, therefore, recommends that the benches and planters be retained in the same general location, and has added a condition of approval to that effect. The Planning Commission's approval included that condition. Public Restroom The Downtown Specific Plan includes a policy to construct public restrooms on Main Street and at Deluechi Park. Therefore, when the construction design phase began, members of the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) suggested including such a restroom at this facility and asked the City to investigate opportunities for a publicly-accessible restroom as part of this project. In response, staff requested that the Noll & Tam consultants review the Master Plan and provide feedback on possible locations for a public restroom. After reviews at meetings held on May 27 and June 10, 2004, staff and the consultants determined the most feasible and least invasive design would be a unisex, single-fixture public restroom on the south side of the facility. Adjacent to the kitchen and back lobby, the proposed restroom would be accessible only from the exterior of the building. SR:05:057 3