PC-95-40 - Laserfiche WebLink

to the park. Therefore, staff feels that the proposed project would be compatible with the natural. topographic features of the site. Since staff does not find that the project is compatible with previously developed properties in the area, staff does not believe this finding can be made. 4. Whether grading takes into account environmental characteristics and is designed in keeping with the best engineering practices to avoid erosion, slides, or flooding to have as minimal an effect upon the environment as possible. The site is relatively flat. Grading would be limited to building pads and circulation areas in order to achieve proper drainage into the City's storm water runoff collection system. Grading conducted on the site will be subject to engineering and building standards prior to any development. Although the site is located within the State's Special Studies Zone, the fault has been located approximately 100 feet to the west of the westernmost edge of Foothill Road in the project area. The managers' apartments, the only habitable portion of the proposed project, would be located more than 400 feet from the active fault, which meets the state requirements. According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Flood Hazard maps, no portion of the site is located in a flood hazard zone. Therefore, staff believes that this finding can be made. 5. Whether streets and buildings have been designed and located to complement the natural terrain and landscape: As conditioned with increased setbacks and landscaping, the buildings would be located in such a manner that would help integrate the facility with the natural terrain and landscape. The increased setbacks which are recornmended along the public streets as a condition of approval would help create a garden office appearance of the proposed facility and maintain the integrity of the streetscape character. The proposed facility would feature three of the existing Heritage trees as an accent at the comer of Pleasant Hill Road and Stoneridge Drive, while the removal of two other healthy Heritage trees would be mitigated by planting larger 24" and 48" box size trees. However, given its height and monolithic massing, the proposed facility would block the view of the natural hillside terrain from the east side of Pleasant Hill Road and from the first floor areas of the existing Gold Creek townhomes. Only a portion of the uppermost area of the ridge would be visible from the second story balconies of these residential homes. Therefore, staff believes that this finding cannot be made.