PC 091411 - Laserfiche WebLink

hat it looked like with precious approval and what specific changes they made. Mr. Pavan suggested that the applicant address this question. Commissioner Blank inquired if staff took the time to review all the workshops for this project. Mr. Pavan said yes. Commissioner Blank inquired why, given the controversy and the number of hours that were put into this project by previous Planning Commissions and City Councils, staff did not hold any workshop that would have allowed more public input. Mr. Dolan explained that when the proposal was first brought to staff a few months ago, Ponderosa Homes staff indicated to City staff that they had already begun outreach and were meeting individually with concerned neighbors, and that they would not be bringing any project forward that did not have the support of the neighborhood. He indicated that because Ponderosa is quite experienced in doing this, staff took them at their word. He stated that staff had actually not heard any unresolved issues until right after the staff report was issued. He noted that staff did not feel the additional four lots were creating a problem; the trade-off that the houses would all be one story seemed to be something that was well received. He added that with all the protections in the previous project carried over, staff did not feel the need to conduct a workshop. Commissioner Blank stated that he does not disagree expressed concern that a surprise email would come in at the last minute even though outreach was done. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. Commissioner Pentin and Chair Narum disclosed that they met with Jeff Schroeder, Ponderosa Homes, regarding the project. Jeff Schroeder, Ponderosa Homes, stated that this project is from a different time and a different era in the housing industry, and things have changed a lot since then. He indicated that he and his staff went through a lot of discussion about this project internally and with the property owners over the last two years and were able to reach a point where they thought they could come back with a project that would address which would not be wildly different than what was approved previously, and which would actually be an improvement in several ways. Mr. Schroeder stated that they did a focused outreach process to the neighborhood, primarily to those most concerned about the project, those who are most closely affected by it, those who back up to the project on Palmer Drive and those who live on Cameron Avenue, people who live on the east and west sides of the project. He PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 14, 2011 Page 11 of 28