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Commissioner O'Connor inquired if staff would be amenable to having that pedestrian walkway connection private to the residents of this community only. Mr. Dolan said yes. Commissioner O'Connor stated that if staff is amenable to keeping it private and having a locked gate, he does not really see any reason why people outside the development should be walking through the court and why the Commission would want to have public access. Chair Pearce commented that was fine and thinks that is a decent compromise. She stated that she does not want people in the development having to go out to Stanley Boulevard, where there is currently no sidewalk, and have to walk around to it. She added that if staff is amenable to that compromise and the applicant sounds like they are as well, that sounds like a good place to be. Commissioners Allen and Ritter agreed. Chair Pearce then asked the Commissioners for their comments on the Ash trees. Commissioner O'Connor stated that if the floor area ratio (FAR) is okay and the size of the house versus the lot, then he would like to retain the Ash trees; but the trees are big and consume the backyard, and for this size of lot and home /lot combination, it is a wrong tree to have there. Chair Pearce commented that it feels like the tail wagging the dog. She stated that if the Commission agrees that the trees are important, and Mr. Fulford is fairly conservative in his estimation of what should be in her reading over the years of the tree reports the Commission has had, then it seems like, perhaps, the argument goes that this is not the plan that should be approved. Commissioner O'Connor commented that he believes these trees came up as marginal, as 3's or 4's. Chair Pearce stated that she is just throwing it out there. She noted staff did not say that all the trees needed to be saved, but if the tree is, in fact, too large for the backyard as proposed, then maybe the proposed backyard is what is not appropriate. Commissioner Allen stated that she thinks heritage trees are important and need to be protected. She indicated her support for Chair Pearce's statements. Chair Pearce stated that she understands the distinction between native and non - native trees, but it is not a distinction that is made in the City. She noted that heritage trees are simply a function of size and if we are taking down a significant number of them, and there are a few that are recommended to be saved, she is in support of that. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, July 10, 2013 Page 16 of 21