PC 022515 - Laserfiche WebLink

• Is a Road a Structure? Commissioner Piper stated that it is frustrating that all these definitions have to be done as that should have happened a long time ago. She indicated that this is a two -part question: (1) how other cities have defined a road; and (2) what the Councilmembers' intention was and how they have defined it. Mr. Dolan replied that there are several definitions of structure within the Municipal Code, and all of them are different because they are addressing different issues. He noted that there is a past staff report that lists all the definitions and describes the competing considerations. He indicated, however, that he does not think it would be a super fruitful exercise because it all comes down to what the Commission reasonably thinks the voters were thinking at that time. He stated that to clarify the language of Measure PP, there has been a suggestion to pick from the Municipal Code, but there are several definitions there, so the question is which one it should be; and if the voters really referred to the Municipal Code when they voted on Measure PP. Commissioner Ritter stated that he was trying to determine the definition of structure and went to Wikipedia: there were seven different kinds of structures: physical structure, biological structure, chemical structure, musical structure, social structure, data structure, and software structure. He then looked under "physical structure" and it said: "In engineering and architecture, a structure is a body or assemblage of bodies in space to form a system capable of supporting loads." He added that according to Wikipedia, building structures are composed of structural elements such as columns, beams, and trusses; and "road" is "a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places that has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle." He then searched for "What is a road structure ?" and the answer was: "The structure of a road is actually called the pavement." Based on this, he stated that in his opinion, a road is not a structure. Chair Allen referred to Commissioner Piper's question regarding benchmarking and stated that it would be helpful to obtain information on what other cities have done in defining a road in their hillside ordinance in terms of whether or not it is a structure. Mr. Dolan replied that there is no guarantee that other cities have a hillside ordinance that uses the term "structure," but staff will look into it. Commissioner Balch stated that when he looks to the west and sees the road that goes up and over the hill to the house on the very tip top that is actually in Hayward, it looks like a pretty significant structure on the hillside. He asked if that would be a structure if it were at Lund Ranch. Chair Allen asked if it is defined from an engineering perspective or by what the voters were thinking about when they voted; and if the answer to it from an engineering PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, February 25, 2015 Page 42 of 46