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Site Improvements The applicant is proposing to enhance the site by adding 24" box native trees and 5 gallon shrubs and ground cover. Staff notes that the tree located between Lot 2 and Lot 3 will be relocated so that it is not on the shared property line. Staff has added a condition of approval that requires the applicant to create a maintenance association to maintain the landscaping, driveway, and mail kiosk, to which the applicant has agreed. In providing the required on-site parking while preserving all existing on street parking, the opportunities for usable open space have been substantially reduced. The Pleasanton Municipal Code prescribes minimum group and private usable open space for dwelling units in the RM districts. A PUD zoning, however, is designed to provide flexibility in development standards to allow innovative design for projects that otherwise meet the intent of the General Plan, Specific Plan, and, in this case, the Downtown Design Guidelines. Consistent with the design of a vibrant, urban, street-friendly development, open space is mainly incorporated into the project in the form of porches and balconies. Each unit is proposed to have an approximately 70-square-foot front porch and approximately 117 square-feet of deck in addition to small rear yards. The reduced open space is mitigated by the close proximity of Kottinger Village Park to the subject site and is considered atrade-off for the amenity of being close to Main Street. In order to meet the stormwater requirements and enhance the appearance of the lot, the first 8 to 11-feet of the new 18-foot driveway will consist of pavers. A mail kiosk for the five units will be added to the front of the property, which has been reviewed and approved by the post office. There is a relatively new 6-foot tall redwood fence that borders the majority of the property; however the applicant has agreed to increase the height of the fence to 8-feet to allow for more privacy between properties and better buffering of the commercial site to the north. The applicant is proposing to remove the chain link fence located in the front and yard and portion of the southern side yard and replace it with picket style fencing, not exceeding 42" in height, to match that of the existing redwood fence. Due to the proximity of the units, access is limited and fencing between the units would inhibit emergency access. Therefore, future fencing along property lines for the new and existing lots will not be allowed. Staff has discussed this with the applicant and a condition of approval has been added to reflect this. Plan Layout and Building Design As stated above, the project consists of four new single-family detached homes located at the rear of the site with a renovated turn-of-the-century home located at the front of the site. Two of the new houses will be oriented towards First Street with the other two facing the north side property line. The new units have purposely been located along the east and south sides of the property to present a unified heritage theme as viewed from First Street that simultaneously presents a smooth transition with the duplex and apartment complexes located to the east and south of the subject site. Page 5 of 9