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<br />Resolution No. PC-2006-62 <br />Page Two <br /> <br />2. That the granting of the variance will not constitute a grant of special <br />privilege inconsistent with the limitation on other properties classified in <br />the same zoning district; <br /> <br />In order for this finding to be made, there must exist a relationship between the <br />special circumstances applicable to the property and the variance in question. As <br />stated above, there are special circumstances applicable with respect to the <br />gymnasium use ofthe building and the desire to make the gymnasium design <br />attractive and to provide screening of roof-top equipment. Only the gymnasium <br />portion of the building would exceed the 3D-foot height limit. For height <br />comparison purposes, the newer public school gymnasiums at Harvest Park <br />Middle School, Pleasanton Middle School, and Thomas Hart Middle School <br />measure approximately 38 feet, 37 feet 8 inches, and 38 feet, respectively. The <br />Pleasanton Middle School and Harvest Park School gymnasiums exceed the <br />height limits of their respective zoning districts. However, variances were not <br />required for the school gymnasiums because public school buildings are not <br />subject to City review or zoning regulations such as height limits. Therefore, <br />approving the height variance for the gymnasium portion of the building would <br />not be precedent setting, and the second finding can be made for the height <br />variance. <br /> <br />3. That the granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public <br />health, safety or welfare, or materially injurious to properties or <br />improvements in the vicinity. <br /> <br />The proposed 77- foot rear yard setback to the closest residential properties on <br />Bowen Street would provide an adequate buffer to minimize building massing <br />impacts on the Bowen Street neighbors and would provide adequate light and <br />open space between the church and residential properties. The taller gymnasium <br />walls are located an additional 28 feet from the southernmost end of the building <br />wall, resulting in a 105-foot rear yard setback from the Bowen Street neighbors' <br />rear property line to the taller gymnasium walls. The building mass has been <br />minimized as a result of the side gymnasium walls angling in towards the top and <br />because the taller side walls don't wrap around to the front and rear ofthe <br />gymnasium. The gymnasium walls would also slightly undulate in and out and up <br />and down to add interest and reduce the mass of the building compared to a flat <br />building wall. Additionally, the 34-tall gymnasium walls would be located along <br />a liD-foot long portion of the approximately 302-foot long building. The <br />remainder of the building would be well below the 3D-foot height limit with only <br />the very top ridge of the roof over the conference room reaching a maximum <br />height of 29 feet 3 inches. It would be difficult to perceive the height difference <br />between a 3D-foot tall building and a 34-foot tall building. Therefore, the <br />granting of the variance would not be detrimental to the public health, safety, or <br />general welfare or materially injurious to properties in the area, and this third <br />finding can be made. <br />