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Chairperson Getty said it appears that <br />parking on the west side of Peters and <br />can Larry and Tom get involved in more <br />a parking lot -- conceptual plan, etc. <br />three people want commercial/ <br />assuming that is what is desired, <br />detail -- best place to put <br />Commissioner Jamieson said that the west side of Peters seems to be an <br />ideal place to draw the commercial line. <br />Larry Lew said that there are some illustrations in the report and <br />also that some of the information was done in a 1979 study. <br />Art Dunkley, 205-F Main Street, addressed the Commission stating he <br />feels Peters Avenue will not be heavily traversed and that in fact the <br />east side of town (First Street) is a natural major thoroughfare. <br />He said the City really has to determine the degree to which we have <br />a parking problem. He indicated that the City's of Watsonville, <br />Santa Cruz, Fresno and Merced are areas where parking was a similar <br />problem. He said if parking is required to be on the west side of <br />Peters, "you have kissed off downtown." He said if the purpose is to <br />retain commercial/retail in downtown, perhaps the City should <br />discourage office development in the area. He said retail is vital. <br />Commissioner Jamieson stated that Mr. Dunkley's point is well taken and <br />suggested that consideration be given to the removal of the railroad <br />tracks and utilization of the space once the tracks are removed. He <br />said it might be better to review the situation together. <br />Mr. Harris indicated that the study under consideration was done at <br />the direction of the Planning Commission and City Council concerning <br />land use for the west side of Peters Street. He said the Chamber <br />of Commerce is establishing a task force to look into the entire <br />downtown from the standpoint of parking assessment districts and <br />that a duplication of efforts would result if the planning staff also <br />looked into this. He said it is his understanding that the <br />entire matter will be discussed concerning where and how to put in <br />parking assessment districts. Commissioner Jamieson said it would <br />be shortsighted not to consider the east side of town also at this <br />time. Chairperson Getty said that on the east side of town there are <br />some large historic homes on large lots and Peters Avenue has narrow, <br />empty lots. Commissioner Jamieson said the railroad right-of-way <br />would be a good parking area. <br />Commissioner Lindsey indicated he would like to see staff go ahead <br />and study the west side of Peters as originally discussed. Chair- <br />person Getty said what is needed is a development plan for the <br />overall downtown area. <br />Mr. Harris said goals should be established. He said this Commission <br />has discussed three different types of studies this afternoon and <br />that it probably makes more sense to hold off on any of these things <br />until the Chamber of Commerce task force has acted. Mr. Harris said <br />the subject has gone from looking at the west side of Peters as com- <br />mercial, to a parking study of the west of Peters, parking for all <br />downtown, to a conceptual plan for downtown. He asked that the <br />Planning Commission get a consensus as to what and how the matter <br />should be attacked. <br />-4- <br />