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discussion on the Planning Commission at the time regarding whether or not developable <br />acreage for a site should exclude any areas with a grade of 25 percent or greater, and to <br />look at other areas in terms of determining density. She added that went no further than <br />that discussion; it was evaluated and analyzed but was not taken up by the City Council <br />as part of this General Plan. She emphasized that it was not part of the current General <br />Plan and, therefore, not a constraint to the development of the site. <br /> <br />Mr. Lorenz displayed and described the various slopes on the site. In response to <br />Chairperson Fox’s inquiry regarding the direction of any potential landslide, he pointed <br />out the surfacial landslide feature which was not deep-seated and added that it would <br />flow away from the house. The geotechnical report indicated that the entire area above <br />Foothill Road was an ancient landslide, which slid millions of years ago, and that <br />everything in the area was built on it. He did not believe there were any identified <br />landslide features in this area, which had been stable for many years, and that it was <br />unlikely to develop a landslide. He described the buffer of trees and the design <br />mitigations they took to increase privacy and the viewpoints between the two residences. <br />He noted that there would be no changes in the trees between the home and the Szetos’ <br />home. <br /> <br />Jim Diggins, DeBolt Civil Engineering, 811 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville, noted <br />that their soils engineer and Engeo were comfortable with the placement of the house. <br />He noted that they would redesign the storm drainage to go around as requested. <br /> <br />Simon Szeto, 9904 Longview Lane, noted that he lived next door to the subject site. He <br />noted that he was surprised when he received the notice for this meeting the previous <br />week and that he did not have much time to prepare. He believed the project may affect <br />homes in the valley which were more than 1,000 feet from the site. He expressed <br />concern about the year-and-a-half of construction but noted that they would cope with it. <br />He realized that a new home would come of it and may want to build his own home <br />someday and was interested in what the planning process was and how to go about <br />getting the approvals. He noted that this home was above the 670-foot elevation, and <br />while the new ordinance did not allow that, he knew that this home was approved well <br />before the ordinance was enacted. He inquired about the reasoning for that ordinance. <br />He recalled that the home would be moved 15 feet in another direction, rather than the <br />five feet as noted in the letter; he requested clarification of that. He inquired what would <br />happen if the property were to be sold before the house was built. <br /> <br />Ms. Decker noted that while she was uncertain about the discussion of no building above <br />the 670-foot elevation, the staff report reflected a discussion of the location of this site <br />relative to the West Foothill Road Corridor Overlay District requirements. The site was <br />outside that district, but the staff report did discuss what was prohibited or allowed, and <br />how this particular proposal met those requirements. The first paragraph on page 9 stated <br />that the District prohibited building sites within lots located at, on, or near ridges that did <br />not have the background of the Pleasanton or Main ridges. She noted that staff could <br />research that issue and give the information to Mr. Szeto. She noted that there were other <br />homes above that elevation and that this was the last home that was available for <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23, 2007 Page 13 of 20 <br /> <br /> <br />