PC 041316 - Laserfiche WebLink

Soo: Yes, and then you can just draw a line of sight and it would go up farther so you don't see the garage doors and the entire building from there. Beaudin: The other thing that is happening Commissioner O'Connor is the area behind some of the lower lots are being planted, so it took a little longer than it should have to get those trees in the ground out there but there is going to be additional tree canopy cover with trees planted in the backs of these properties and the view that folks are looking at tonight with this project. So there was an understanding that there would be an additional buffer between the properties over time. Commissioner O'Connor: That was approved in the past? Beaudin: Correct. Commissioner O'Connor: Thank you Commissioner Nagler: I understand that this particular PUD is relatively new, but how long have homes been anticipated on this property? Weinstein: Homes on the site were anticipated as far back as the Vineyard Corridor Specific Plan, and we're trying to find the date for that, but we think it was in the early 2000's perhaps. I'm guessing there was some thought behind developing that area in accordance with something like this even before the existence of the specific plan, so quite a while. Commissioner Nagler: When the home of the neighbors down below were constructed, it was either disclosed or certainly discussed that there were going to be homes visually up the hillside, right? Weinstein: Yes, that's right, so somebody buying a house or living in this area would have likely known about the existence of the specific plan, but in all fairness, the devil's in the details here right? If you look at the specific plan and the map that shows where housing might go in the specific plan, there are little blobs that show where housing can be built. It might be difficult for somebody on the street to translate that into an actual impact. Commissioner Nagler: I'm just trying to put it into context what was anticipated. So to your point specifically, maybe I'm missing it, but I just don't see there to be a visual difference between what the applicant is asking for and what staff is recommending as it is viewed from down below. It sounds like, and as I've read it, and am hearing it this evening, it's the same retaining walls, the same hedging that would be required as a condition of approval, so I'm not sure how the view changes between what staff is suggesting is a compromise and what the applicant is requesting. Weinstein: You're right; it's sort of a side view from Mr. Reeves' house of the proposed grading, but it's still visible. I believe from his backyard you could actually see this reduction compared to the original proposal. Again, with the retaining walls and with the vegetation that's being proposed, there's not a huge visual impact either way, but we PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, April 13, 2016 Page 20 of 33