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the question at this meeting. Is it new construction that requires parking or would it be treated in <br />some other way as a remodel. If the square footage is exactly the same, there would be no <br />parking requirements, but would trigger Building Code requirements, which are a little more <br />difficult. The City recently adopted the historical building code for these types of buildings in <br />the downtown and that allows considerable flexibility on the part of the Chief Building Official <br />regarding life safety codes and other portions of the Building Code. The Building and Planning <br />Departments have been working closely in the last several months to reach a series of guidelines <br />on what the Fire Department and Building Department will require when these uses change from <br />an existing old residential building to a commercial building. We think we are close to <br />establishing those guidelines. Unfortunately, some of the people who spoke tonight have found <br />out what happens when you go to counter A and find out you can change from residential to <br />commercial, without going to counter B and finding out that if you do that, there are Building <br />Code issues that are required and vice versa. With respect to architecture and other issues <br />referred to tonight, this whole side of Spring Street, from the back of the pizza building on Main <br />Street up to Railroad Avenue, was an old subdivision. These buildings are all identified as <br />buildings of secondary historical significance under the existing downtown specific plan and that <br />triggers a particular kind of response from the Planning Department with respect to what happens <br />when some one asks to do a remodel or expansion of one of those buildings. There are <br />guidelines adopted by the City that specifies those buildings should be retained rather than torn <br />down. If they are to be expanded or otherwise modified, it should be done in a way to preserve <br />the historic character. The Winters' building has been rebuilt and essentially is very compatible <br />with the other historic buildings. If we have a problem along this portion of Spring, there will be <br />problems in other parts of downtown where the City would like to retain buildings that might not <br />be worth retaining because of their structural integrity. We are trying to work these guidelines <br />out, but as of today the Codes do not address that in a way that allows an easy solution. There <br />are several options for Council's decision and that will affect the way staff deals with these <br />issues until the specific plan is revised. <br /> <br /> Mr. MacDonald said this is not an issue of making policy, although clear guidelines need <br />to be established. The question is how did the City treat this remodel. Was it a 964 sq. ft. <br />addition? If so, the Winters are offering to pay for three additional parking spaces. <br /> <br />Vice Mayor Michelotti closed the public heating. <br /> <br /> Ms. Michelotti believed the first decisions was whether this was a remodel or new <br />construction. <br /> <br />Mr. Campbell believed it was a remodel. <br /> <br /> Ms. Dennis did not think this was a clear cut decision. She clarified that the Winters <br />originally applied for a residential remodel. She asked if they had applied for a residential <br />conversion to commercial remodel. <br /> <br /> Mr. Swift said it would have changed the process at the Building Department stage, but <br />not at the Planning Department. It was treated as an administrative design review. If it had been <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 18 09/18/01 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />