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Mr. Swift said any building in the downtown area requires design review approval and any commercial building in the downtown area requires the Planning Commission to act as the Design Review Board. The approval of any new building requires a finding that the building is consistent with the Downtown Specific Plan. He said any approval by the Planning Commission for a three- story building could be appealed by any member of the public or by the City Council. Mayor Tarver asked why staff would like to make the modifications apply generally versus site-specific modifications. Mr. Swift said staff prefers to have Specific Plan processing and zoning regulations that apply across the board. Staff does not believe that this particular area can necessarily be distinguished from other areas in the downtown area. Therefore, staff did not find it would be necessary to limit this provision to this site. The Downtown Specific Plan is under review and all of the strategies and policies will be subject to that review. Any decision made tonight would also be subject to review in the future. Mayor Tarver asked if there were any other applications for three-story buildings in process. Mr. Swift said there was an application for a potential hotel on St. Mary's Street, where a third story building would be built behind an existing two-story building. That application has been withdrawn and there are no other pending applications. Mayor Tarver declared the public hearing open. Mike Madden, Red Bear, 5955 Coronado Lane, gave an overview of the hotel project. Sally Ann Lacy, 444 Saint Mary Street,//7, had concerns that if this project is approved other landowners would want to increase the size of their buildings in the downtown area. She would hate to lose the ambience of the older buildings in the downtown area. Craig Scharton, Downtown Association, 235 Main Street, discussed how downtown areas are developed. He said the downtown area is unique and has a mixture of uses. The hotel fits within the downtown area. He has received numerous calls inquiring about hotel rooms. He said the Design and Beautification Committee approved the plans. He asked Council to think of the quality of this project and of things that will continue to capture the community' s interest and those visiting the downtown area. Eric Finn, 202 Del Valle Court, felt the issue was the height, rather than how many stories and the project should be consistent with the downtown area. The Specific Plan should call out the exercise of discretion in the overall mass of the building. He felt things could be done to mitigate the issues. The reason for the size of the building is to create parking for the downtown area. Pleasanton City Council 8 03/02/99 Minutes