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<br />Ms. Bengtson noted that this PUD had been reviewed and shaped by considerable public <br />and neighborhood input. She noted that this allowed the City to own 500 acres of open <br />space to serve as the anchor of a continuous open space park. She described the diverse <br />public needs served by this open space and believed the solution to public access was the <br />result of cooperation between the City, the developer, a coalition of open space users, and <br />the neighboring homeowners. She believed that good open space access was an <br />important part of this project and added that protection of the open space was essential. <br />She urged the Commission to support staff’s recommendation. <br /> <br />Mike Regan, 1363 Hearst Drive, noted that he wished to comment on the Oak Grove <br />project and that although no one wanted to see development of the hills, he believed this <br />development was the best way to preserve the open space. He noted that the City, <br />developer, land trust conservancies, and other entities had worked on this for three years <br />and wanted to ensure that the project fulfilled its vision. He complimented the developer <br />on listening to each group. He supported the reduced development of 51 homes with the <br />proviso that the following restrictions be put in place to secure against future <br />development and be memorialized in the development agreement: <br />1. The open space areas of the development would be subject to a conservation <br />easement to be held by an appropriate non-profit group or land trust conservancy. <br />The easement would prohibit the construction of roads or tie-ins except those <br />detailed in the 51-home Oak Grove project agreement. <br />2. The project would establish an assessment district responsible for funding the <br />maintenance. <br />3. The project sponsor would fund a traffic mitigation fund to install a traffic signal <br />at Kottinger Drive and Bernal Avenue and to mitigate measures within the <br />Kottinger Ranch neighborhood. <br /> <br />4.The City would agree not to enforce eminent domain in the future to extend the <br />road any further. <br /> <br />5.There would be restrictions on hours and use of the open space area. <br /> <br />6.Hours of construction would be enforced, and fines levied for violations. <br /> <br />Mr. Regan supported the open space and believed it would be positive for the residents. <br /> <br />Russell Schmidt, 18 Grey Eagle Court, noted that he wished to comment on the Oak <br />Grove project and that he represented the majority of the homeowners on the street <br />regarding the connection between his street and Oak Grove. He was adamantly opposed <br />to this connection for three reasons: <br />1. Unsuitability of the street as an evacuation route for Oak Grove. The street is <br />very narrow and would not enable rapid evacuation during a wildfire. The road <br />was designed to evacuate only the homes on the street, and he believed it would <br />be irresponsible and reckless to increase that number. <br />2. Grey Eagle Court has no sidewalks, and all non-vehicular traffic is being directed <br />onto the street. He noted that would create an unsafe and congested condition on <br />their street. He noted that Grey Eagle Court is a private street and public access <br />would create a major liability exposure for the property owners. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 28, 2007 Page 8 of 16 <br /> <br /> <br />