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City Attorney Daniel Sodergren stated the application currently before Council is for a design <br />review for which there is specific criteria in the PMC. Council is limited to those, tonight, and they <br />do not include requirements for parking but are more design -related. <br />Mayor Thorne opened the public hearing. <br />Minh Lee expressed concerns with past issues with the subject property owners in terms of drug <br />use, police visits, renters and visitors. He added he has three small children and is concerned for <br />their safety. He reported the property owners currently have four cars worried about parking with <br />the addition of renters. Additionally, he referenced the project's massing and stated it does not fit <br />in the neighborhood. <br />Joe Cravotta, General Contractor, representing the applicant, reported staff concerns have been <br />addressed in the Conditions of Approval, and reported on the neighborhood layout, challenges <br />with the shape and size of the lot, neighborhood stroll views, removal of existing trees, design <br />compatibility with the neighborhood, adjacent homes, proposed elevations and landscaping. <br />Councilmember Brown asked whether existing trees are heritage trees and Mr. Cravotta stated <br />one tree is a heritage tree but is causing foundation issues and is diseased. The tree inspection <br />resulted in determining two trees need to be removed. Councilmember Brown noted it is well- <br />known some houses in Valley Trails have foundation issues and asked whether it has been <br />determined the subject property is foundationally sound. Mr. Cravotta reported the site has been <br />inspected by engineers and any foundation issue has been addressed. Councilmember Brown <br />noted the site has no landscaping. Mr. Cravotta reported there are fruit trees in the backyard and <br />stated the property owner was in the process of replacing landscaping. <br />Councilmember Pentin noted that removal of the two diseased trees would expose new massing, <br />and Mr. Cravotta agreed but added it is currently exposed. <br />Councilmember Olson noted the landscaping plan was judged not to be of sufficient detail, by <br />staff, and the applicant has not submitted new landscape plans. Mr. Cravotta reported he is <br />addressing landscaping with staff and it is included in one of the Conditions of Approval. <br />Councilmember Olson indicated Council is being asked to approve something that has insufficient <br />planning with respect to landscaping. Mr. Cravotta reported it was his understanding that a <br />landscape plan was not necessary, at this point. <br />In response to Councilmember Pentin's question, Mr. Cravotta confirmed he was present during <br />Planning Commission hearings and is aware of the rationale of the Planning Commission in <br />denying the application. One of the reasons included the need for landscaping. Mr. Cravotta <br />reported he understood landscaping was not required prior to the Planning Commission's <br />determination. They met the original submission requirements but felt the conditions kept getting <br />tighter and tighter. He added landscaping is the last thing that needs to be addressed and <br />indicated they are willing to do so. <br />Councilmember Brown confirmed the applicant had an Administrative Design Review approval <br />and is appealing the decision and approval process with conditions. She asked if there are <br />reasons why they initiated an appeal of an approval process that included reasonable requests. <br />Mr. Cravotta reported the original approval added conditions that were not acceptable. <br />Doug Farmer shared his experience living on Yellowstone Court and reported the neighbors <br />began noticing a lot of activity coming from the subject residence. They decided to start a <br />Neighborhood Watch group and had regular contact with the Police Department in terms of <br />unusual behavior. With time, the unusual activity turned into suspicious behavior that would be <br />City Council Minutes Page 5 of 9 October 3, 2017 <br />