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years the people of Bridle Creek have made complaints about the representations made by Greenbriar <br /> Homes and, rather than building communities, Greenbriar would appear to tear them apart. He also <br /> shared concern that the Planning Commission violated the 1974 Political Reform Act regarding <br /> Measure PP, said he intended to file a complaint with the state, and asked the Council to disregard any <br /> recommendations of the Commission until the complaint was investigated. <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS <br /> 17. Public Hearing — Continued from April 2, 2013: P12-1796, City of Pleasanton — Introduce an <br /> ordinance amending Title 18 of the Pleasanton Municipal Code to create Chapter 18.70, Ridgeline <br /> and Hillside Protection and Preservation, Development Standards and Review Procedures for <br /> development proposed in the Hillside Areas of the City <br /> Director of Community Development Dolan provided a brief review of the staff report. He noted that <br /> Measure PP prohibits the construction of residential or commercial structures on hillsides with slopes of <br /> 25% or more or within 100 vertical feet of a ridge, and provides exemption for smaller projects of 10 <br /> units or less. The implementing ordinance under consideration was first discussed by the Council in <br /> November 2012. The Council provided staff with direction and drafted an ordinance that went before <br /> the Planning January 2013. <br /> Both the Council and Planning Commission discussed the following: <br /> • Definition of slope - City staff, the Council and Planning Commission supported a conservative <br /> approach using a 2 foot slope interval that allowed exceptions for small topographic features such <br /> as mounds and gentle rises; <br /> • Application to manufactured slopes - The Council provided original direction that the restrictions of <br /> Measure PP should apply to manufactured slopes, with exceptions made for slopes whose <br /> modification could be documented. The Planning Commission agreed in principle but <br /> recommended that staff make an effort to map slopes in their original form rather than get tied up in <br /> an exception process. Staff feels this is reasonable and supports the recommendation; <br /> • Definition of "ridge" and "ridgeline" - After some discussion, staff and the Planning Commission <br /> support definitions similar to what currently exists in the General Plan, with additional language <br /> describing how to determine where a ridgeline ends. One member of the public recommended that <br /> the City undertake an inventory of slopes to be included as part of the ordinance. While the <br /> Planning Commission supported the recommendation, staff believes it would result in significant <br /> controversy and delay and would therefore prefer to prepare a slope analysis as each project <br /> comes forward for development; <br /> • Ridgeline setbacks - This issue was largely non-controversial, however the Planning Commission <br /> felt that the 100 foot vertical setback from a ridge should be measured to the top of the proposed <br /> structure. Staff believes this to be more restrictive than the language of PP and continues to <br /> recommend measuring to the building pad elevation. If the Council supports the Commission's <br /> approach, staff recommends including additional language to provide exceptions for small <br /> architectural features such as chimneys and parapets, as is consistent with definitions on height <br /> throughout the Zoning Code; <br /> The issue that generated the greatest amount of discussion relates to whether streets and roads are <br /> considered structures for the purposes of implementing Measure PP. The Council originally directed <br /> that roads should be considered structures and therefore prohibited in areas restricted in Measure PP <br /> but also suggested that there be exemptions for roads that were considered as part of a Specific Plan <br /> or Planned Unit Development (PUD) Development Plan approved prior to November 2008. The Council <br /> also directed that this should include an exemption process to allow the development of new streets to <br /> access City structures and certain landlocked areas. In discussions with the City Attorney, staff <br /> concluded that PP does not apply to City structures because they are not commercial or residential in <br /> City Council Minutes Page 4 of 23 April 16, 2013 <br />