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this tree be removed. A heritage-sized California black walnut tree is located in the planter area along the church's southern property line. This tree is in fair health and the arborist recommends that this tree be preserved. Landscaping The applicants are proposing to install a variety of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers around the proposed building. Evergreen laurel (bay) trees, viburnum, euonymus, and dwarf escallonia shrubs, and a variety of groundcovers would be planted on the north end and northwest side of the building. Evergreen African sumac trees, New Zealand flax and Laurustinus shrubs, and a variety of groundcovers would be planted along the western side and south end of the building. Deciduous crape myrtle and evergreen cajeput trees, viburnum and heavenly bamboo shrubs, and dwarf plumbago groundcover would be planted on the east side of the building. A new separated sidewalk would be installed along the Rheem Drive frontage ofthe site. Deciduous Chinese hackberry trees and pink knotweed groundcover would be installed in the planter strip between the sidewalk and street. The applicants would also install two Canary Island pine trees and seven pittosporum shrubs in the unplanted area of the planter along the southern property line. This area has been used as a pedestrian access from the Pleasanton Village neighborhood to the church or Stoneridge Drive. The neighbors had indicated that this is a nuisance and requested the fencing be constructed to prohibit pedestrian access. A condition has been added for the fencing and the landscaping. Variance Application The proposed gymnasium, the southerly portion of the parish center building, would be approximately 34-feet tall, as measured from the finished grade adjacent to the building to the top of the gymnasium walls (the tallest part ofthe structure). The Municipal Code limits structures in the Agriculture District to 30 feet. Therefore, a variance must be granted to exceed the 30-foot height limit. The project architect indicated that the building height is set by the CYO basketball league's 25- foot interior height requirement for a basketball court. The additional height above 25 feet is required for the deep beams required to span the large gymnasium space; the ductwork, conduits, and pipes; a minimum roof slope to allow proper drainage; and a parapet to hide any equipment on the roof, possibly future photovoltaic panels. The project architect has indicated that every effort will be made to reduce the building height during the detailed construction design stage. IV. NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING On October 5, 2006, Planning Department staff conducted a neighborhood meeting for residents PDR-561/PV-158 Planning Commission Page 8