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Acting Planning Director Charles Jany presented the staff report and advised that the mitigation measures of the Negative Declaration appropriately addressed all the environmental impacts associated with the project. Mayor La Berge opened the Public Hearing at 9:05 p.m. and invited anyone who wished to speak to please do so. R. L. Roth, appellant, advised that if this project is approved, eight of his tenants would be denied the openness and sunshine they now enjoy and a view of a swimming pool, and would instead look out on a blank wall just seventeen feet away. Mr. Roth stated these apartments would become less appealing and he would lose up to $50 a month rent due to the reduction of sunshine to only two hours a day and the loss of the open feeling of the units. Mr. Roth asked Council to have the developers submit a new plan that did not block the view from his apartments. V. J. Patel spoke on behalf of the applicant, Hirabhai Patel, describing their plans to convert this old motel to a new and quality Holiday Inn. Michael Muir, Holiday Inn Worldwide, advised that quality was the most important and consistent factor in Holiday Inn management, and described their unannounced inspection visits to ensure that quality. In answer to questions from the Council, Mr. Patel advised that the swimming pool was to be eliminated because of rising liability costs, water shortage concerns, and the trend away from pools in the motel industry; and that the Inn would provide an indoor recreation room with sauna and jacuzzi instead. In response to questions from City Attorney Schricker, Mr. Patel compared and contrasted the current view and the expected view after completion of the new Inn. Jim Swanson, landscape architect for the project, described the trees and shrubbery to be used as a buffer between Mr. Roth's apartments and the Inn, and the limited access to that area between the buildings. Hirabhai Patel advised that one of the reasons they chose to build a two-story Inn was to hide the apartment balconies that contained all kinds of junk and would detract from the quality of their new Inn. Sara Calvelli, Oakwood Drive, neighbor of the motel, advised that she believed the new Inn would be an asset to the neighborhood and an asset to her property, and advised that the Patel's kept their motel in very good condition. R L. Roth advised Council he believed the landscape plans were fine, but would probably not be carried out. Director Jany described Holiday Inn's high level of maintenance policy, advised established trees would be planted, described the enforcement procedure, and described mitigation and conditions of approval. Mayor La Berge asked if anyone else wished to speak. Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTE BOOK NO. 51 August 3, 1992 Page No. 158 Page 8