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She read an excerpt from Sub-area 3 on page 17 and page 23 which discuss preservation of <br />features and land use standards to be applied without variance and did not believe the variance <br />items were within the intent of the specific plan. She did not believe pad grading on top of a <br />knoll was consistent, voiced concerns about the coastal live oaks and did not see the project <br />conforming to the specific plan. <br />Councilmember Cook-Kallio referred to the home on the eastern side of the property which she <br />confirmed would face the Sarich's, and would be on the ridge. She said she struggled with the <br />project, acknowledged many people care very much about the community, she is happy she <br />visited the property, said water issues were addressed, and she believed the issue was <br />placement and size. There are people who are genuinely interested in the community, you hear <br />things based on your personal experiences, felt looking at the institutional memory is important <br />and there have been different interpretations. <br />She questioned whether there were Coastal Live Oaks on the ridge because they were in the <br />EIR, voiced concern and suggested the Council be careful about the logic with one exception <br />being okay and having this exception apply to everyone. The property line did not seem to be <br />delineated when Mr. Rasmussen walked the property. She said with the property line right up <br />against the garage, it does not allow for setbacks, it is not safe with what the fire department <br />wants in terms of aturn-around, it pushes it back into a steeper area because of grading and <br />the house would abut right up to the property line which she also did not believe was the intent <br />of the specific plan. She felt the area southwest of the green area is a high fire danger and she <br />believed the project was extremely difficult, but will support the project because she could not <br />see turning it down primarily because she thinks the property line was not determined when the <br />dot was placed on the map. <br />Mayor Hosterman agreed with Councilmember Cook-Kallio's comments, said she struggled with <br />the project because the house is very large and she has an issue with gobbling up <br />environmental resources but this is a subjective view and she must rid herself from subjective <br />views and try to be as objective as she can, given all facts. There is room for defining some of <br />the language and coming up with a different viewpoint. Also, there are a few people present <br />who have served the community for many years such as Councilmember Sullivan and Mayor <br />Tom Pico, and her interest in the specific plan was not nearly to the degree theirs was; but when <br />she heard 700 homes were planned for the Vineyard corridor on top of 850 in Ruby Hill, she <br />was horrified. She complained about those numbers and were able to get them reduced, and <br />through the work of Mayor Pico, former Councilmember Ayala, ex-Planning Commissioner Mary <br />Roberts, Steve Brozosky and Councilmember Sullivan, they have truly done a good job of <br />growing and evolving as a community and she thinks the specific plan does call for some <br />flexibility. Based upon what she saw tonight, this is probably one of the less visible houses in <br />the corridor. She believes the size is in keeping with what is out there, the house is well- <br />screened, she had the same questions regarding the replacement of the oaks and she wants it <br />to look much as it does today regardless of whether this requires more of a screening process. <br />Mayor Hosterman said she believes the concerns of the neighbors has largely been met, thinks <br />the home is lovely and a nice addition to the neighborhood and the City does not have an <br />ordinance precluding houses beyond a certain size. She believes that people will be interested <br />in larger homes when buying large pieces of property, but this is not to say the Council has the <br />ultimate discretion. While the specific plan has been controversial, she believes there is <br />opportunity for flexibility and while she does not totally embrace it, she cannot say no to the <br />project. She believes there are ways of introducing larger square footages in an environmentally <br />City Council Minutes 9 March 18, 2008 <br />