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Resolution No. Page 2 Part of the reason the building needs to exceed the 30-foot height limit is to accommodate the minimum interior height of the basketball court and the necessary structural, ventilation, and drainage requirements of the building. The other reasons are to improve the building design and to help screen any future roof-top equipment. The top of the proposed gymnasium roof measures approximately 31 feet in height. The applicants have extended the side walls ofthe gymnasium three feet above the top of the gymnasium roof in order to improve the aesthetics of the building and avoid the unattractive, "box-like" design commonly found on gymnasium buildings. The extension of the side walls would also help to screen any future roof-top equipment, such as photovoltaic panels. These are special circumstances applicable to the property and the first finding can be made for the height variance. 2. That the granting of the variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitation on other properties classified in the same zoning district; In order for this finding to be made, there must exist a relationship between the special circumstances applicable to the property and the variance in question. As stated above, there are special circumstances applicable with respect to the gymnasium use ofthe building and the desire to make the gymnasium design attractive and to provide screening of roof-top equipment. Only the gymnasium portion of the building would exceed the 30-foot height limit. For height comparison purposes, the newer public school gymnasiums at Harvest Park Middle School, Pleasanton Middle School, and Thomas Hart Middle School measure approximately 38 feet, 37 feet 8 inches, and 38 feet, respectively. The Pleasanton Middle School and Harvest Park School gymnasiums exceed the height limits of their respective zoning districts. However, variances were not required for the school gymnasiums because public school buildings are not subject to City review or zoning regulations such as height limits. Therefore, approving the height variance for the gymnasium portion of the building would not be precedent setting and this second finding can be made for the height variance. 3. That the granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare, or materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity. The proposed 77- foot rear yard setback to the closest residential properties on Bowen Street would provide an adequate buffer to minimize building