PC 022515 - Laserfiche WebLink

Measuring Vertical Setback to Building Pad or Top of Structure Commissioner Balch referred to page 12 of the staff report and asked what the height of the homes was. He recalled Mr. Dolan mentioning earlier in the evening that it was 30 -35 feet and asked if that was correct. Mr. Dolan replied that was correct. Commissioner Balch inquired if these are two -story homes and if three -story homes would be allowed. Mr. Dolan replied that they are two -story homes and that no three -story homes are proposed. He indicated that staff does not see a lot of three -story homes on lots this big as people go to three stories only when they are lacking in lot size and want the square footage. He added that staff has not addressed the conditions of approval for these lots. Commissioner Balch asked Mr. Dolan if there was a concern about setting a precedent for the future for additional Measure PP applications. Mr. Dolan replied that this is the one of the few times the City will be applying Measure PP. Commissioner Ritter stated that when he has seen surveyors do pad or lot size, they usually start at the pad whether it is on a hill or a flat surface. He indicated that he thinks the building pad is the measuring spot. Commissioner Balch agreed but that when he thinks about the Ruby Hill development, which has a height requirement for its homes, the tops of the ridges are not visible from that particular area. Commissioner Ritter replied that a restriction on the height could be established once the base pad has been set. He added that it seems like any vertical measurement should start from the pad, just like sea level is where measurement of a spot starts. Commissioner Balch commented that that would be just the same as going with or by the chimney. Chair Allen stated that from an engineering perspective, people probably start at the pad and move up, but the perspective of the people who voted on Measure PP probably was to protect as much of the views and ridges as possible. She indicated that for this reason, she thinks of the roofline as being the more conservative view that protects the hills and ridges, or a compromise position for those buildings on that photo where the roofline would cut into the 100 -foot vertical setback would be to bring the house down to one story. Commissioner Balch stated that if the measurement is set at the pad, then there will be an ongoing debate in the future on the height of the home; but if it is at the height of the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, February 25, 2015 Page 40 of 46