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Commissioner O'Connor replied that he would say it is not. Commissioner Olson noted that it is really not a ridge then. Commissioner O'Connor stated that it is not that it is a ridge but that it is within the hills that are over 25- percent slope. Commissioner Narum noted that if it is built back in, it would be less than 25 percent. Commissioner Olson agreed. Commissioner Narum stated that she visited that site, and before she visited it, her thinking was not to allow building on manufactured slopes over 25- percent grade. She continued that when she saw the cut, she did not believe that was the intent of Measure PP. She noted that where that particular cut was located did not appear to her to be a ridge and did not appear to be visible to everybody. She indicated that it was unfortunate that the owner of the land did something with his land, but she would not have any problem granting an exception in that particular case. Commissioner Narum continued that she was struggling a little bit with the idea of granting exceptions at all; however, if she just looked at this manufactured slope situation, she would tend to say that manufactured slopes would not be included as long as in their natural state, they were less than 25 percent. She noted that in this case, she thought this was pretty clear looking at that hill, that if it had not been cut out, the slope of that line was quite a bit less than 25 percent. She stated that maybe that is a little different way of looking at it, getting away from the exception process but still staying within the intent of Measure PP. Commissioner O'Connor stated that he was struggling with the letter of the Initiative. He indicated that he thinks that if it is over 25- percent slope today, then it falls under Measure PP, and exceptions are supposed to be approved by a vote of the people. He noted that the intent of the people might have been different and that he is certain that if the people all walked this property, there would probably be about 49 different variations of the intent. Chair Blank noted that he thinks that if the people looked at that, they would say nobody is going to try to develop on that and put a cut there. Commissioner Narum noted that that is not what the City is trying to protect. Commissioners Olson and Pearce agreed. Commissioner Olson stated that the Commission could do what Commissioner Narum has suggested and not apply an exception. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, January 23, 2013 Page 22 of 44