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regardless of whether the project is good or bad, it is likely that this site will not remain vacant forever <br /> and there is an approved project today that at build-out could also generate the same impacts people <br /> are concerned about in terms of water use and traffic. And, some could be worse than expected for the <br /> proposed project. <br /> Lastly, Mr. Weinstein said staff distributed a memo earlier today with some new information which <br /> supplements the staff report. He covered the new information about the City's land use inventory, water <br /> use and traffic earlier, but he could answer any questions. Two other minor items involve changes to <br /> conditions of approval. One change clarifies that existing Montessori School signage on the site must <br /> be removed prior to issuance of a building permit so that the permanent school monument sign can be <br /> installed in a timely manner. The other change requires review of the trash capture devices on the <br /> project storm drains by the County Mosquito Abatement District because they want to be sure the <br /> devices are designed appropriately. <br /> Staff also enclosed some old conditions of approval in the staff report that did not reflect changes made <br /> immediately prior to the Planning Commission meeting and ones that were recommended for approval <br /> by the Planning Commission. It looks like there are many changes in those conditions of approval but <br /> generally when distilling them down to a couple of key points, they give the church room to operate on <br /> the site prior to issuance of a building permit for the project and allow the church to operate on the site <br /> before the project is started. <br /> Changes also remove conditions of approval that are redundant because of existing requirements; that <br /> the project conform to community care licensing standards and training that staff must go through. <br /> Lastly, staff amended a typographical error in the Affordable Housing Agreement which stated 26 units <br /> and it should have identified it as 25 units. <br /> To summarize, staff thinks the applicant team made some positive changes to the site plan to address <br /> the Planning Commission's concerns. Most notably, there are 2 fewer residential units, a much <br /> improved landscape buffer at the corner of Valley and Busch and a publicly accessible recreational <br /> amenity that will increase the local supply of open space. There are also 3 more parking spaces <br /> allocated to residents of the Gardens at Ironwood for a total of 22 spaces. <br /> Mr. Weinstein also acknowledged the immense amount of community input the City received over the <br /> last couple of weeks, especially over the last couple of days on the project. While there was opposition, <br /> there were also a sizeable number of emails that were in support of the project, and regardless of which <br /> sides the comments fell, it was heartening to see the community interested in these planning issues <br /> and he did not want to discount the concerns heard about the range of growth issues the community is <br /> grappling with. He pointed out that these are things the Community Development Department <br /> scrutinizes very carefully and he hoped this came across in the staff presentation and the staff report. <br /> In terms of two issues people are very concerned about, water use and traffic would increase <br /> incrementally compared to existing conditions. The state is in the middle of a drought and there is traffic <br /> on local and regional roadways which is a major concern which he did not want to discount. As <br /> compared to the already approved project on the site, the net increase in water use and traffic <br /> generated by the project is fairly modest. <br /> Finally, staff thinks this is an appropriate site for single family residential uses in the context of other <br /> nearby neighborhoods. The residential use is nearby and this project would integrate well with the <br /> surrounding neighborhoods. Staff recommends the City Council approve the project by taking the <br /> actions listed on pages 1 and 2 of the staff report and staff is available to answer questions. <br /> Vice-Mayor Brown said there was removal of 2 units which became a park. She spoke earlier with the <br /> staff about who could use the park and she asked if it was open to the public or the school because she <br /> City Council Minutes Page 7 of 28 October 6, 2015 <br />