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Martin Inderbitzen thanked Vice Mayor Thorne for attending last Wednesday night's attendance <br /> for his brother's homecoming, who is heading back to his fourth tour to Afghanistan after a short <br /> break. He spoke on behalf of Dr. and Mrs. Yee, said they intend to retire on the property. At one <br /> time he had hoped to develop the property. In 1987, he submitted an application for PUD <br /> approval which resulted in over 20 lots approved. He filed a tentative map and then a partial <br /> final map and sold off 6 Tots in the cul -de -sac on Equus Court. He then ceased activity on the <br /> property and his goals have changed over the years. Recently, he initiated an application for a <br /> volunteer reduction of his approved 13 lots for 6 lots which was approved by the Planning <br /> Commission. But, between this approval and a second approval this year, there were many <br /> issues raised by citizens and representatives of the wildlife and resource agencies. They then <br /> engaged in a process which has taken about 16 months in a brokered, collaborative process on <br /> the part of City staff. <br /> He said Mr. Dolan agreed to meet individually and in groups with representatives of citizens and <br /> resource agencies to understand concerns. They met to understand how the project might be <br /> modified to meet concerns. In the end, a project of 4 lots is proposed. This was taken to the <br /> Planning Commission, had no negative comments from the public or resource agencies, except <br /> for the Fish and Wildlife which has been addressed. They had unanimous support by the <br /> Planning Commission and received many compliments on reducing impacts. <br /> Mr. Inderbitzen said they would like the Council's and staff's support, they have no objection to <br /> conditions proposed and Dr. Yee could not be present tonight, but the project architect, <br /> engineer, biologist and arborist are present. <br /> The Council had no questions of the consultants or Mr. Inderbitzen and Mayor Hosterman <br /> closed the public hearing. <br /> Mayor Hosterman said after hearing from staff and reading through the Planning Commission <br /> comments, she voiced support for the project. She asked that replacement trees be native trees <br /> to the particular piece of property. <br /> Councilmember McGovern said there are some issues that the Council should still think about <br /> prior to approving the plan. She did not see comments on the environmental documents, said <br /> she was used to seeing the letters, and questioned the number of comments. Mr. Dolan said <br /> there were about four agencies interested, and he cannot remember whether comments came <br /> in separately or collectively. Staff did not provide them with the intent to hide their content, but <br /> purely because of the volume of material the Council would receive. He confirmed that a <br /> mitigated negative declaration was being done, and Councilmember McGovern felt it was <br /> important, given this, and asked that this be provided in the future. <br /> Councilmember McGovern said when she read the fuel management plan, the entirety of all of <br /> the lots are steeper than 30% in grade, which was not mentioned in the staff report, which is a <br /> big factor when talking 40 feet in height, regardless of the home being built down the side of the <br /> hill. To her, this would be more visible because there would be more mass with 40 feet than 30 <br /> feet. Mr. Dolan said it is a trade -off; it would allow greater height, but it does encourage the type <br /> of design that is more consistent with the natural slope. Councilmember McGovern said what <br /> she sees happening in the City is that if you reduce the lot size, the house is made bigger. She <br /> also looked at the photo simulations and none of the houses were 8,500 square feet, but 5,500 <br /> square feet to 7,700 square feet and it did not indicate the height on the pictures. Therefore, she <br /> was not even sure that the homes are representative of what would be seen in the house and <br /> what she will see when she drives by or from the valley floor. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 12 of 16 June1, 2010 <br />