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difficult for fires to ignite and burn erratically, and allow LPFD emergency access to potential wildland fire areas. The issue is not with tree species per se, but with the fuel loading in open space areas, and that the effective means of prevention and/or managing a wildland fire is preventing the growth of grassland and understory vegetation -combustible shrubbery, scrub, etc. - from becoming established, thereby creating the "fire ladder effect" bridging grass land to tree cover to homes. Therefore, the oak species specified in the Oak Grove Final EIR and the PUD Development Plan conditions can be planted in the Wildland/Urban Fire Interface Plan area in conformance to the plan. The 100-foot depth of the WFIP area is measured from the property line. Staff believes this will achieve the following: the GHAD or the HOA would maintain the Wildland/Urban Fire Interface Plan area, and the homeowners would not be encumbered by Wildland/Urban Fire Interface Plan restrictions on uses and structures in the rear/side yards. In conjunction with the area of the Wildland/Urban Fire Interface Plan - 100 feet -and with the design measures for the Oak Grove homes, staff believes that the concerns of wildland fire management and protection will be effectively implemented with this development. Fire Response Issues A detailed discussion of fire safety measures is in the "Fire Safety Measures" section of the June 13th Planning Commission staff report (pp. 37 - 44). At the June 13th and June 27th Commission hearings, the public raised issues concerning existing and future Fire Code requirements, that the EVA through the Grey Eagle Estates development could not be used for emergency vehicle/evacuation purposes, and that an alternate EVA route through the Berlogar property or to Red Feather Court and Arbor Drive should be considered. In the context of this development, the Fire Department has considered how it would access the proposed development in the event of a fire or other emergency. When the Fire Department first reviewed the 98-home development, the plan showed a connection to Hearst Drive, which would serve as the primary access for emergency vehicles, and a secondary emergency vehicle access (EVA) by way of a connection to Benedict Drive, using aCity-owned utility service road from the City's water storage tank. An additional EVA connection from the Grey Eagle Estates subdivision was also noted on the project plan. This EVA generally followed a route that incorporated the City easement that provides access to the City water tank at the end of Grey Eagle Court. When the Oak Grove project was revised to 51 residential custom home sites, the Benedict Drive EVA connection was deleted, and the roadway was terminated at Lot 51. This is because the greatest reduction in lots in the 51-custom home plan was in the westernmost area of the project that would have derived the most benefit from the Page 17 of 27