18 ATTACHMENT 09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Staff notes that the City's Traffic Engineer has reviewed the current proposal and found that the front yard setback of the homes facing Valley Trails Drive is adequate for vehicle backing and the distance does not create safety issues. Although the applicant declined to widen the pedestrian/bicycle connections, the 5-foot width proposed at the walkway connections to the public trail, at Street A and Street C in Exhibit B, matches the width of the proposed public sidewalks. Furthermore, increasing the width would require constructing retaining walls at the bio-retention areas adjoining the public park trail system. Widening the connection is discussed in more detail in the Analysis section of this report. Architecture and Design The Planning Commission expressed support for the overall architecture and design of the homes. The Planning Commission commented that the homes would be compatible with the homes of the surrounding neighborhood in terms of character and size, have been sensitively designed to minimize impacts to adjacent residences, and provide adequate variety in their architecture and design. However, the Planning Commission suggested that the front porches be deepened and the garages be further set back from the front of the house to reduce the presence of the garages on the street and improve the front elevation of the homes. The Planning Commission also commented on the setback of residences along Valley Trails Drive (suggesting greater setbacks). Response: The applicant is not proposing to widen the porches or set the garages further from the front of the house. The applicant redesigned Plan 3 to allow for a recessed wall at the left rear corner and the size of the garage was reduced. The total square footage of Plan 3 was reduced from 3,616 square feet to 3,385 square feet (a total reduction of 231 square feet). A minimum 23-foot building setback to the garage and front building wall are proposed for all plan types, which complies with the minimum front yard setback of the R-1-6,500 District. An additional "setback" is being provided from the street by the combined sidewalk and park strip, which results in a 33-foot separation from the park strip to the building wall. The porch setbacks are generally 15 feet or greater to the front property line or sidewalk. However, the depth of the porches has not changed. Additional Information Requested by the Commission 1. Survey of the Valley Trails Neighborhood residents regarding the community bathroom and meeting facility and its location. Response: On two separate occasions prior to the Work Session, Ponderosa hosted and invited occupants of the approximately 500 Valley Trails residences in the neighborhood to a community-wide open house to discuss development of the site. The first meeting occurred in June 2015 and the second meeting took place in April 2016. At each meeting, 50-60 people were in attendance. The VTAG also hosted community-wide meetings regarding the project design on at least two separate occasions prior to the Work Session. Feedback was provided to Ponderosa regarding the proposed land use change, density, home design and setbacks, and the proposed amenity package (clubhouse/restrooms, park improvements, traffic controls/measures, etc.). The applicant has declined to formally survey the residents because there has been extended out- reach to the neighborhood by both Ponderosa and the VTAG over the years to obtain P16-1386, P17-0155, PUD-113, & TRACT 8259; 6900 Valley Trails Drive Planning Commission 7 of 32