PC 032515 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commissioner Piper stated that her personal feeling is that all of the information that has been provided to the Commission does conform particularly to the neighborhood design. She indicated that when she drives around the neighborhood, which she does quite often, and knowing this lot, what has been submitted seems to fit the neighborhood, what it looks and feels like. She stated that it sounds like the applicant and the project staff has done a lot of work, the HOA has approved the design, and they have worked with the City and made a lot of changes. She added that the house on 8023 Golden Eagle Way appears to have a tremendous amount of grading which looks like a bit more than 40 percent. She indicated that her personal opinion is that the Commission is at a point where it should be able to move forward. Commissioner O'Connor stated that he has been on the Commission long enough to say that the hardest thing to deal with is neighborhood disagreements and disputes, and the Commission cannot always make everyone happy, and sometimes it doesn't make anyone happy. He indicated that when he looks at the building envelope for this specific site, he does not see another solution without reducing the house even further. He pointed out that rotating the house clockwise would end up with a lot more grading, and moving it to the right would take out the natural landscape. He noted that even though the City did not have all of the original designs, staff provided the Commission with a whole list of things that took place with the HOA: the original house was 800 square feet in 1997; it had a lot more massing in the front; and it has been pushed back. Commissioner O'Connor stated that when he drove through this neighborhood, it looked to him like many of the houses seem similar to this proposal or had a lot more massing forward. He noted that the real kicker for him is the HOA Board's letter dated March 19, 2015 saying that it approved this house and this grading the way it sits today. He added that while the HOA Board would prefer not to have more than 20,000 square feet of grading, he does not see how the Commission could get around it: if the house were pushed back, it would be outside of the building envelope and also in the higher retaining walls; and it the house were pulled forward, it would block views even more than it does today. He then asked staff if there are any vested rights of views in the City or easements that staff is aware of. Ms. Wallis replied that she is not aware of any in the City and that there are none in this area. Commissioner O'Connor reiterated that he does not see any solution without making the house even smaller than this, and the HOA Board did approve what is here and it did meet the guidelines. He added that the applicant has made a lot of modifications that have reduced the size of the house, and he believes this is a project he can support. Commissioner Balch agreed with Commissioner O'Connor and this is actually probably the hardest thing in terms of trying to address Mr. Monzo's concerns. He disclosed that he knew both parties and that he met with Mr. Monzo and the applicant quite a long time ago. He indicated that when he looks at the building envelope, it looks awfully hard to pivot or rotate on that back corner as suggested or requested, and he does not know PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 25, 2015 Page 9 of 27