01 MINUTES REGULAR - Laserfiche WebLink

Kay Ayala said the specific plan was one of the most controversial land issues of its time in the 1990's, Tom Pico was adamant that a plan be put together that meshed Ruby Hill with the main part of Pleasanton, said she served on the subcommittee and this house was never envisioned in the specific plan. They were extremely careful with the natural characters of the sites, no one wanted anything done to the physical terrain especially 40 feet off the top of a knoll, and she asked the Council to keep in mind the specific plan and honor the work done by previous Councils. Tom Pico said visuals and comments shown were false and misleading and do not represent this project, he was involved with the creation of the specific plan, understands what the intent was which was to make sure it was flexible. He has indicated that the location of the blob does not work, it is not a superior design solution and the area adjacent to it is, and he said grossly misrepresented is the ability for them to locate a house where the blob is. BREAK: Mayor Hosterman called for a brief break and thereafter reconvened the regular meeting. Mr. Pico said the Fire Department has voiced concerns about putting a house on the northeast side of the existing house due to fire conditions, believed flexibility was built into the specific plan, and asked the architect to address these issues, as well as Tim Collins return and conclude the visual presentation. John McInnes, Architect, displayed the exhibit showing the blob area, he took the area and applied the requirements for setbacks, apply 35 feet to the property line around the truck turn- around, there is nothing left until one gets up to the main part of the garage barn and the buildable area can only accommodate a 12x24 foot garage. Councilmember Cook-Kallio said in terms of Mr. Pico's statement regarding extenuating circumstances, if you take the existing spot, how far over is it moved to get to the existing lot. Mr. McInnes said the designated area overlaps the blob, the designated area is one acre, if you add the barn and future barn, those add up to 1/3 of an acre, and there is only one location on the site where the highest point of the property is only 18 feet in diameter and this is the only spot they are taking 40 feet off. He confirmed with the arborist that they are only taking out 20 trees where the house is and 11 trees are taken out at the driveway. All other 38 trees must be taken out only because of their condition. He said the house is 9,990 square feet with a 1,700 square foot garage. Only 9% of the entire footprint of the house is above 25 feet. Councilmember Cook-Kallio said she visited the property, spoke to Mr. Resnick and Ms. Roberts, and confirmed with Mr. Pico that the stake she saw was the height of the ridge and at that point they are taking 27.5 feet out. He said they are not building huge retaining walls, but stepped and terraced walls at 3-5 feet. He also believes the house is very green. Tim Collins described the road that wraps around the hill, the ridge where the home would go and the transition to existing and new landscaping on the site at year one. Mr. Pico questioned if staff could speak regarding their opinion about locating the house on the blob, and Mr. Iserson said staff evaluated the lower site and saw difficulties in locating a house there. Mr. Pico said this is the last remaining hillside residential lot that is over the 540 foot elevation mark that has limitations on height. It is his understanding that the Resnick property City Council Minutes 6 March 18, 2008