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entirely prohibit such a road, provided it is related to a project with no more than 10 units. Similarly, PP <br /> does not preclude a 10 unit development on Lund Ranch II with a road that traverses a 25% grade. He <br /> said it is clear that PP limits development, not roads and roads are not to be considered structures. <br /> Mayor Thorne said PP was intended to protect the ridges, not to regulate neighborhood traffic. He <br /> reiterated that with over 40 years in construction, he has never heard roads referred to as structures. <br /> While there are structural elements to a road, the road itself is a part of the infrastructure that supports <br /> a development. He noted that he was an opponent of PP but said that he is comm itted to doing his best <br /> to uphold the wishes of the voters when they say they want their ridgelines protected and do not want a <br /> road like what was presented as part of the initiative to occur. He said he conducted considerable <br /> research on roads and structures since this issue presented and is more convinced than ever that his <br /> vote in November was wrong. <br /> Councilmember Brown asked whether he would consider a swimming pool or 7 foot fence a structure. <br /> Mayor Thorne said "probably not." <br /> Councilmember Brown asked that if the Council decides a road is not a structure, it consider <br /> strengthening the language of General Plan Policy 21 to clarify the position that roads, whether <br /> structure or infrastructure, cannot be constructed to service developments of more than 10 units. <br /> The Council offered its support. <br /> Mr. Fialho said the Council could provide direction to staff, as part of this discussion or under Matters <br /> Initiated, to return with a proposal to amend Policy 21 of the General Plan. He noted the item would first <br /> go before the Planning Commission for review and recommendation. <br /> Vice-Mayor Cook-Kallio said she too is clear that PP calls for the protection of ridgelines and their <br /> views. She asked staff whether section 12.3 of the initiative is sufficient to accomplish Councilmember <br /> Brown's intent. She noted that future Councils are not precluded from amending the General Plan if the <br /> needs and nature of the community change and expressed concern over spending staff time on a <br /> paper barrier when the language of PP is already sufficient. She also felt the level of detail, including <br /> the term "infrastructure," that was requested to be so minute that it recreated the potential for <br /> unintended consequences. <br /> Mr. Fialho said the amendment would provide additional protection but that the Vice Mayor was correct <br /> in the ability of future Council's to amend the General Plan. <br /> Councilmember Brown said there is sufficient disagreement over something as basic as what <br /> constitutes a structure to warrant the amendment, although perhaps "infrastructure" was too broad. She <br /> noted that the 1996 General Plan also spoke to hillside and ridgeline protections but that it did not <br /> prevent Oak Grove. <br /> Mayor Thorne asked staff to estimate the time required to prepare the amerdment and what the <br /> potential consequences might be. <br /> Mr. Fialho said staff could return with a proposal in one to two months. He said that the 3 properties <br /> really at play, those being Spotorno, Lin and Foley, are subject to PP and so it would really address <br /> developments of 10 units or less. <br /> Mr. Dolan said it would depend largely on the comments of the Planning Commission and how specific <br /> they would like to be. <br /> Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked and Mr. Fialho confirmed that a potential consequence could be <br /> precluding the Happy Valley Bypass Road, which everyone has already acknowledged will not be built <br /> City Council Minutes Page 13 of 23 April 16, 2013 <br />