CCMIN021704 - Laserfiche WebLink

additional constraints to make it available to the public. This would allow the applicant to make the 51 parking spaces available for on site parking. She concurred with Mr. Campbell's recommendation and believed it was a good oppommity to have 51 additional parking spaces available during the evenings and weekends that could be utilized to encourage people to come to the downtown. She believed that if the neighborhood could be balanced with increasing density, she would see it as a win-win situation. She pointed out that the majority of the letters presented to Council were in favor of the proposed project with certain caveats that there be no parking open to the general public. She stated that she would support the motion as long as the integrity of the neighborhood could be preserved and positively benefit the downtown; however, she asked the applicant to make every effort possible to increase its Green Building LEED points, and to consider photovoltaics in order to achieve an efficient energy community. Ms. Ayala concurred with Mr. MacDonald's comments that developers like a clear set of rules related to parking. Council tries to put these requirements in place so that it will not leave anyone guessing, which is why she was choosing to remain silent on the parking. Mayor Pico believed it was a mistake. He recalled the battles over the Hopyard Village Shopping Center adjacent to the neighborhoods in Birdland with a much larger concrete block sound wall. He pointed out that it is difficult for parking and residential homes to live together in harmony and there has been nothing but problems with that particular development over the years. He believed this particular parking situation was very troublesome, and he shared the neighborhood's concerns. He noted that this parking lot is not open to the street and is closed behind buildings, which will be very difficult to police and to maintain. He believed that one of the reasons the neighbors were not present this evening was because they believed they had a commitment from the owner of this property that the parking lot would not be open to the public. Ms. Ayala said that her motion did not intend to imply that the parking lot for the Ray Street office building would be open to the public. Mayor Pico said that he did not support Ms. Ayala's motion and believed that if Council did anything, it should clearly state that the parking lot is not open to the public. While he never had the opportunity to comment on the Downtown Specific Plan, he believed the intent in the Downtown Specific Plan for this property was for a garden/office complex with a maximum of a one story building height, residential architectural style and preservation of the area near the Arroyo del Valle. He did not believe that this particular project fits, and would not support the project. The roll call vote was as follows: AYES: Councilmembers - Ayala, Brozosky, Campbell, and Hosterman NOES: Mayor Pico ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Pleasanton City Council 21 02/17/04 Minutes