CCMIN030299 - Laserfiche WebLink

Jack Chestnut, 4128 Stanley Boulevard, supported the project. He said a hotel in the same area as retail is very good for business. It is a handsome hotel and will enhance the Main Street USA application. Mike Conteras, 828 Main Street, supported the project and believed it would improve the north end of Main Street. He felt the project would bring in tourism and enhance the downtown area. There being no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Ms. Dennis understood the issue is whether to review the applications on a case by case basis or do a Specific Plan amendment. She felt the language of the Specific Plan addressed the issues overall and was restrictive enough to give staff plenty of room to turn projects down. She felt looking at how the building interfaces with other buildings was important. She supported staff s recommendation. Ms. Ayala supported the application. Mayor Tarver was supportive of the application, but wanted to talk about the design issues. He was reluctant to make a Specific Plan modification when there is no pending application and citizens' group is going to review the Specific Plan. He would like to have the citizen group's input. He felt staff has done a great job in showing that there is flexibility. He shared concems about the possibility of the downtown area being inundated with three-story buildings. He wondered if there was a need to amend the Specific Plan. He suggested doing a site-specific change and referring the Specific Plan modificationto the citizens group. Ms. Ayala understood staff had to look at each application. Mr. Swift said the difference is that an applicant would have to apply for a Specific Plan change as opposed to applying for just design review. If the Specific Plan change is limited to this block or lot, another three-story building anywhere else in the downtown area would have to apply for a Specific Plan change, either for the entire downtown area or the specific lot. If the Specific Plan modification is approved, buildings would be reviewed as to their consistency with the criteria on a case by case basis, but there would be no requirement for a further Specific Plan change. The Planning Commission would make the design decision unless appealed to the City Council. Ms. Acosta said the reason to adopt a rule that applied to all is to prevent favoritism. Ms. Ayala said once the Specific Plan has been reviewed and the task force recommends deleting three-story buildings from the Specific Plan, is that option available? Mr. Swift said yes. Pleasanton City Council 11 03/02/99 Minutes