Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2009 05 14

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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes April 10, 2008 Page 5 of 13 Grassi replied the shared trash area would be with Arlin Lehman and the current interior features would be carried throughout the building. Pritchard discussed with Grassi the basement and the potential for expansion. Grassi stated the basement was not suited for future expansion as it is more of a crawl space then a basement. Lipton discussed the shared trash container. Wood stated the applicant and neighboring property owner could enter into an agreement that the shared trash area would carry through at time of sale of either of the properties. Lipton discussed with Harntroft how the character of the facade could be preserved. Using a display board Harntroft reviewed the design of the building and how the facade would be difficult to preserve, and how the setback for the 2nd story would not permit any views up and down main street. Loo discussed her interest in the sprinkling of a downtown building. Harntroft stated the sprinkling of a building would not dismiss the need for the fire rated walls between buildings. A fire rated wall is required by building code. Russell and Hartman stated they had no questions because they had been asked by other Commissioners. Staff and Applicant Summary and Recommendation: No additional comments or summary provided by either staff or applicant. Public Hearing Closed Commission Comments: Sheets expressed concern with the aesthetics that a new building would create. She also reminded the Commission of her concerns of addressing the FAR for downtown. Tengler stated he felt the design did not bring anything into the downtown. He also sees no historic value in the current building. He stated his support of the project. Pritchard stated his support of the project. He believes that the downtown area needs this type of inventory to attract businesses to downtown. Lipton believes the process as currently in place is somewhat flawed and the applicant should not penalized for a City's problem. Loo stated her support for sprinkling all buildings that have a major remodel project planned. The downtown area is beginning to look more "new" but the Commission can not hold this applicant to a different standard then the other applicants that have before the Planning Commission. Russell stated his concerns with the Historic Preservation review process yet acknowledging that should not be the guiding force in a decision of this project. He stated his agreement that the FAR needs to be addressed by the Commission in the near future. He also believes that a setback of the 2nd story would not improve the aesthetics of the building.