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and structural repairs. The repair and restoration were approved at staff level as there were no exterior changes to the building. The applicant intended to start the work within a few weeks. Staff indicated that new construction must be sensitive to the character of the historic Downtown district and that a project should adhere to the design policies and guidelines contained in the Downtown Specific Plan and Downtown Design Guidelines. Staff believes this project conforms to those regulations and noted that the City had previously designated all three buildings as being of primary historic and design criteria. The building's historic significance was recently confirmed by Architectural Resources Group (ARG), historic preservation consultant. Staff believed it was important to preserve and retain all three of the existing buildings, as proposed by the applicant. Staff finds the proposed site and building design to be carried out with sensitivity and supported the proposed design review application. The Code required that the applicant provide parking for the new building in addition to the four parking spaces being removed. Anew public parking space would be created on Division Street by removing the existing driveway; however, the applicant would not receive credit for this pazking space. The applicant would be allowed to receive parking credit for the 844 squaze feet of floor azea from the demolished shed and corridor additions, provided that the Planning Commission determined that the Kolln Hazdwaze addition would be an architectural improvement compazed to the demolished structures. Staff believed that would be the case and could make the findings to support the pazking variance. Staff has not received any public opposition to the proposed project from a design standpoint but has received comments from two Downtown business owners voicing their opposition to the proposed parking variance. Staff received a letter eazlier in the day from Robert Byrd, a Downtown property owner, opposing the pazking variance. Staff received comments from a Downtown property owner and a Downtown business owner supporting the proposed project, and the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) also submitted a letter in support of this project and the pazking variance. Staff believes the applicant agrees with the conditions as listed in the staff report. Staff believes the proposed applications aze supportable and recommends that the Planning Commission take the following actions: 1. Find that the proposed project would not have a significant impact on the environment, with a finding of de minimus impact on the site's wildlife; 2. Adopt a resolution approving the draft Negative Declazation for the project; 3. Make the six variance findings as listed in the staff report; and 4. Approve Cases PDR-458 and PV-152, including granting a Certificate of Appropriateness for the building modifications, subject to the conditions listed in Exhibit B of the staff report. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Fox regazding whether any comments had been received from the Tri-Valley History Council or the Livermore-Amador Valley Historical Society, Mr. Otto replied that no comment had been received.