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r-- Commissioner Arkin noted that the addition was illegally constructed in 1990 and <br />inquired if the City code enforcement did not notice the structure then. Mr. Iserson <br />replied that the City does not typically look for violations unless complaints are received. <br />Commissioner Arkin indicated that he was in favor of granting all the necessary <br />variances to retain the existing use, requiring the applicants to upgrade the structure in <br />terms of the health and safety issues mentioned in the staff report. <br />Commissioner Fox stated that she was also in favor or granting the variances, noting that <br />the applicants did not build the accessory structure and did due diligence by talking to the <br />Building official and trying to get some agreement from the City to have the structure <br />grandfathered in. She indicated that the accessory structure was well designed and would <br />like to retain the second unit with the condition that it be brought up to Code. <br />Commissioner Sullivan agreed with Commissioners Arkin and Fox and indicated that he <br />can make all the required findings for the variances and that the applicants were not being <br />granted a special privilege by allowing them to keep the building that they bought and <br />tried to bring up to code. He added that there were benefits to having second-story <br />second units in the Downtown and that he would like to consider this issue as part of the <br />General Plan Update. <br />Ms. Nerland advised the Commission that there were two other findings on the second <br />_ unit variance that had to be made regarding special circumstances applicable to the <br />property, which, when strictly applied would deprive the property of privileges enjoyed <br />by other properties in the vicinity; and that the granting of the variance will not be <br />detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare, or materially injurious to properties or <br />improvements in the vicinity, with the caveat that the structure would be upgraded to <br />meet the code. <br />Commissioner Sullivan indicated that he could make those findings as well. <br />Commissioner Sullivan moved to make the required variance findings as listed in <br />the staff report and to approve PV-98/PADR-932, subject to the conditions listed in <br />the staff report and as discussed by the Commission, with modifications deleting <br />Conditions Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 9 which would allow a second unit on the second floor, <br />delete the requirement for stained glass windows on the front elevation, and delete <br />the condition to remove the window on the rear elevation; and to also approve the <br />applicant's alternative plan to demolish the existing structure and replace it with a <br />one-story structure if they decide not to upgrade the existingtwo-story structure. <br />Commissioner Fox seconded the motion. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 28, 2004 Page 17 of 19 <br />