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88 <br /> materials on the building elevation. <br /> <br /> Mr. Butler inquired what the impact of 6,000 square foot <br /> houses would be as opposed to 4,500 square foot houses. <br /> <br /> Mr. Swift replied that it would be more difficult to fit a <br /> bigger house into the environment, regardless of how good the <br /> architectural design may be. <br /> <br /> Mr. Butler inquired if the issues regarding grading, <br /> elevations and floor plans will come before the Design Review <br /> Board. <br /> <br /> Mr. Swift said yes. <br /> <br /> Ms. Scribner inquired why the heritage tress are being removed <br /> and where they are located. <br /> <br /> Mr. Swift replied that most of the heritage trees to be <br /> removed are located in the southern section of the lot, where the <br /> existing house is. He explained that the road in that area is <br /> close to the top of the ridge there and would have to be moved back <br /> in order to meet the Foothill Road guidelines. Moving the road <br /> farther back would cause it to drop back into the swale and be in <br /> the area that the Department of Fish and Game would like to retain <br /> as open space. He stated that of the ten trees to be removed, four <br /> are oak trees and the rest are of different species. He continued <br /> that the removal of the trees would not be noticeable because other <br /> existing trees in the area would be retained. In addition, Staff <br /> has proposed that additional trees be planted to replace those that <br /> will be removed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Scribner inquired what assurance the City has that the <br /> open space will remain the way it is in the future. <br /> <br /> Mr. Swift replied that the project approval designates the use <br /> of the area as open space and that it would take an action of the <br /> City Council to allow some other use on that property than open <br /> space. He added that most of the other mechanisms to preserve the <br /> area as open space would place the property in fee title to the <br /> City, an option under the proposed conditions which neither the <br /> applicant nor the City currently favor. He explained that if the <br /> City had an open space easement on the property, that easement <br /> could be changed only by City Council action, as in the case of a <br /> PUD. Placing the easement under the control of a third party non- <br /> profit organization that is eligible under the law to accept open <br /> space easements would also protect the open space in perpetuity. <br /> <br /> - 18 - <br /> 3-19-91 <br /> <br /> <br />