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heritage architecture. The current proposal to subdivide this lot would not change the existing physical character of the site and would be consistent with the Specific Plan and General Plan. Therefore, staff and the Planning Commission see a distinction between allowing this proposed subdivision and allowing a similar subdivision with a second unit in the neighborhoods designated as Medium or Low Density Residential. Parking for the proposed project will remain essentially "as is" in relation to the current parking situation. The existing two-car garage will be located on the 730 Peters Avenue property. The property at 403 Saint Mary Street has a 9-foot by 37-foot paved parking pad that is sufficient for tandem parking for two vehicles. Access to the parking area is gained by an approximately 24-foot wide curb cut off of Peters Avenue. No new curb cuts will be required as part of this project. The existing driveway will continue to serve both properties. A condition of project approval requires the applicants to create both a cross-access easement and a maintenance agreement for the shared driveway. Please refer to the Planning Commission staff report dated May 9, 2007 (Attachment 4) for a detailed analysis of this project. Planning Commission The proposed project was originally scheduled as a consent item to be reviewed by the Planning Commission on March 28, 2007. The day of the meeting, Bonnie and Fred Krichbaum of 303 Neal Street requested the item be continued until a later date. On May 9, 2007, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed project. By a 4 to 1 vote, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the project, subject to the conditions recommended by staff and as shown in Exhibit B. The May 9, 2007 Planning Commission meeting minutes are attached for the Council's information (Attachment 5). Public Notice and Comment Notice of this application was sent to all property owners living within 1,000 feet of the subject property. As of the writing of this staff report, staff has received a copy of an email sent by Linda and George Garbarino (Attachment 6). The Garbarinos express opposition to the "retroactive approval" to split off a granny unit into asingle-family home and to the creation of two smaller lots from a single parcel. The Garbarinos state that the proposed project is prohibited by codes and General Plan regulations. Staff notes that, as stated above, the proposed development is consistent with the underlying land use designation. The subject property is located in the High Density Residential area of the Downtown District. This is the area generally bounded by Peters Avenue to the east, Arroyo Del Valle to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad to the west, and Pleasanton Avenue/Bernal Court/Old Bernal Avenue to the south. At this location, staff would have supported the project as two separate lots if originally submitted as a PUD development plan and, therefore, supports the project now. Staff support of this approval is solely based on the property's location in the High Density Residential area within the Downtown District and does not transfer to similar support for allowing subdivision on lots with second units in any single-family residential area of the Page 4 of 5