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In response to Mr. Dolan's question regarding whether an EVA is needed, Commissioner Pearce indicated that the Fire Department is recommending an EVA. Chair Pentin agreed, noting that the staff report states that the City's Fire Department has indicated an EVA is still recommended for the project in the northern EVA route and that Grey Eagle Court is the preferred route. Commissioner O'Connor inquired if it is just the Fire Department who makes the recommendation and how it goes about its process to do that. He indicated that he lives in a neighborhood where there are EVAs, and they have fewer homes and are not as high up as Kottinger Ranch. He noted that the only way out for the proposed development is at the top where Kottinger Ranch currently dead -ends, and this is up in the hills where there is a much bigger fire hazard. He further inquired who determines how many EVAs are needed. Mr. Dolan replied that this is the Fire Department's profession. He indicated that Fire Department staff went up on the hill, looked around at the terrain, and determined what they thought the fire pattern would be. He noted that this was like a no- brainer to them. He added that the Fire Chief took it even further and conferred with someone who models fire pattern, and that person concurred with the conclusion. He stated that it is the Fire Department's professional judgment that one is necessary. Commissioner O'Connor inquired if there is any possibility that the Fire Department will change its determination with only ten units, down from the previous 51 units. Mr. Dolan replied that staff had suggested this would be a lot easier if an EVA was not needed, and the Fire Department believes that it is necessary. Commissioner O'Connor stated that if this is a little bit different from most other EVAs in the City as this is a private street, and he thinks the liability has to be removed somehow. He recalled that he believed there was an agreement before on an alternate, narrower route that goes around the owner's property. Mr. Dolan said yes. Commissioner O'Connor suggested that these things be worked out far enough in advance so it does not become an issue at the very tail end of the development process. Mr. Dolan stated that staff will make every effort to do that. He added that staff will certainly not propose an EVA anywhere where the City feels like it does not have the right to access. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 28, 2012 Page 28 of 33