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Commissioner Narum disclosed that she toured the site with Commissioner Pearce and the <br />applicants. She did not support the grape planting and noted that she lived on the northwest side <br />of this development on the other side of the high school. She noted that Foothill Road was at the <br />western edge of the City and that it was natural and rural. She would like the open space or areas <br />that are not developed to be left the way it is. <br /> <br />4. Should the lots be reduced in size, thereby creating a larger open space? <br /> <br />Commissioner Narum noted that she had difficulty locating the open space on the map. <br />Ms. Decker noted that there was open space in terms of not being developed with the homes. As <br />mentioned by the applicant, the current proposal was to have all of the land owned privately and <br />that there would be no common open space. Commissioner Narum noted that she was <br />comfortable with not having open space and added that the current layout allowed for the homes <br />to be reasonably well hidden. She did not want to have clustering of the homes and would like <br />the rural characteristics to be retained. <br /> <br />Commissioner Olson agreed with Commissioner Narum’s assessment and believed the lots <br />should be privately owned. <br /> <br />Acting Chairperson Blank did not want to see the lots reduced in size but believed there should <br />be a formally designated open space. <br /> <br />Commissioner Pearce liked the idea of the continuity of open space but was struggling with the <br />idea of reducing the lot size. She supported having either a larger open space area or very strict <br />landscaping guidelines that would make the transitions between the properties appear to be <br />seamless. She was in favor of designated open space. <br /> <br />Commissioner O’Connor did not believe the lots need to be reduced. <br /> <br />5. Should the open space be designated open space in perpetuity? <br /> <br />Commissioner O’Connor believed the PUD should spell out instances where an individual can <br />construct, how much they can construct, and how much landscaping may be done. He believed <br />that outside of that, the rest of it cannot be changed; his answer to the question was yes. He did <br />not want to see further lot-splitting. He added that he would not support a conservation easement <br />but would support a no-build easement and designating a certain part of the lot as being <br />nondevelopable in perpetuity. <br /> <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS RE-OPENED. <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Hirst noted that with respect to designating open space and what can and cannot be <br />landscaped, he suggested that the Commission make that consistent with a fuel management <br />plan, which has already been submitted. He was concerned about not being allowed to remove <br />underbrush to discourage wildfires. <br /> <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. <br /> <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 10, 2007 Page 13 of 21 <br /> <br /> <br />