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