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Planning Commission voted to recommend to the Council that they thought a road was <br />a structure; however, the Commission's position has evolved over time and has not <br />been consistent as this is a challenging issue. He noted that Council seemed to be <br />heading in a certain direction at one point in time and then seem to be heading in a <br />different direction at another point in time, and he cannot recall exactly what the votes <br />were. <br />Chair Allen stated that it is her understanding that when the Council and the Planning <br />Commission voted on this previously, they were applying it to all projects, and those <br />votes would have created a standard for all projects that could be impacted by <br />Measure PP versus just one individual project such as is being considered today. <br />Mr. Dolan replied that was correct. He stated that the last time the Council actually took <br />a formal vote was when it was considering implementing an ordinance, which would <br />apply to all projects. He noted that the Council never had a second reading for that <br />ordinance and so it did not go into effect. <br />Commissioner Ritter commented that it sounds like it has mostly been opinions and that <br />there has not been any official vote from the Planning Commission or the Council with <br />respect to a definition. <br />Mr. Dolan confirmed that there was nothing that ended up in completion on the City's <br />discussion of the item. <br />Chair Allen stated that one of the letters the Commission received from one speaker <br />today mentioned that there might potentially be another option for a roadway that did <br />not access Sunset Creek Lane but had a lower connection down in the Sycamore area. <br />She asked staff to address that question and if there is another road access that does <br />not cross the 25- percent slope. <br />Mr. Dolan replied that was correct. He indicated that the connection to Sunset Creek <br />Lane, as part of the approval of Sycamore Heights, requires an easement across that <br />open piece of property, and that easement is available to the City to extend Sunset <br />Creek Lane should the City so desire, and the road could be built farther down the hill <br />onto McCutchen Court off of Sunset Creek Lane and connect where the land is much <br />flatter. He noted that the road will still have to cross the creek, but the slope would not <br />be as extreme. He added, however, that the problem is that the piece of property is <br />owned by the Sycamore Heights Homeowners Association and would need its approval, <br />which would be unlikely based on some testimonies given tonight. <br />Chair Allen stated that a comment was made tonight that whatever decision the <br />Commission makes tonight sets a precedent for decisions on other projects that may be <br />impacted by Measure PP. She indicated that it is her understanding that the <br />Commission was instructed that this is not a precedent and that, in fact, the <br />Commission is supposed to look at each project on its own and apply its best thinking <br />about Measure PP. She requested staff to address that question. <br />Mr. Dolan replied that he cannot really say more than what Chair Allen said, which <br />summarized what the Council's instructions were. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 26, 2015 Page 20 of 43 <br />