08 ATTACHMENTS 4-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

acres with farm animals next to a golf course or smaller lots that are better maintained, with nicer houses, and more akin to what is seen on the 17 -Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. Mr. Schlies stated that Mr. Wentworth first brought this in as a three -lot project and, given its background, it does not fit with the Serenity Terrace and Mariposa subdivisions around it with small lots, which is inconsistent with the two -acre minimum large lots that Happy Valley has been for decades. He stated that in planning for the area ten years ago, he was not sure the planners were seeing what they are seeing today. He noted that the Specific Plan was prepared over ten years ago and that there have been a number of major changes in the last ten years. He indicated that a very large housing project on the hill was rejected, the Bypass Road that was supposed to go over that hill will not happen. He noted that the Wentworth project is considering an amendment to a Plan that is already functionally very different. Mr. Schlies asked the Commission to think of a few questions: (1) Is the probable use of two acres something that was carefully considered when the Plan was approved 10 -12 years ago, and what it would be like to have horses and chickens on the property? (2) Was it congruent with a championship golf course and rural agriculture which is seen? (3) Was the incongruity between the large lots and smaller lots surrounding the Mariposa project foreseen at that time? (4) Was the size different between the lots in the Wentworth property and lots nearby, or was that incongruity an oversight and an accident? (5) Wouldn't smaller lots tailored for the creation of beautiful homes with manicured yards really be a better fit for this City's golf course? Mr. Schlies then asked the Commission to consider the propriety of the requested revision in terms of significantly changed circumstances, the passage of more than a decade, and the enhanced ability today to see what the possible detriments might be of putting large, agriculture lots on the Wentworth property. He suggested that the Commission embrace this idea as a good thing and indicated that they are not trying to capitalize on smaller lots. He noted that there is enough importance to this project, given the fact that what is put on the property will be there in perpetuity. Don Babbitt stated that he had earlier forwarded an email to the Commission and noted that they had dropped one lot from the plan since the last work session and were now at one lot per gross acre on the property. He noted that what they are trying to consider here is that in coming down Holes 15 and 16 along the boundary of the property, there is an emergency vehicle access (EVA) next to the Wentworth property, a driveway out to Mr. Jensen's property, another EVA to the upper portion of his [Mr. Babbitt] property, and a chain link fence along the Wentworth property, all of which are not very attractive. He indicated that he felt they could come in with larger lots than those on his [Mr. Babbitt] property and on the Mariposa lots. He noted that the side yard setbacks for the Mariposa project are 15 feet and 15 feet, and those at Serenity Terrace are 30 feet and 30 feet; the side yard setbacks proposed for this property are 35 feet and 35 feet, and the front and rear yard setbacks are 30 feet. EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, January 14, 2009 Page 5 of 14