26 ATTACHMENTS (B) - Laserfiche WebLink

good-faith bid themselves of 125 percent of the funds needed to do the line. He noted that Mr. Brozosky would coordinate directly with the contractor. Commissioner Fox inquired whether the applicant would be able to return with revised grading more in line with the homes that fit into the topography of the hillside such as stepped homes going up the hill. Mr. Schlies replied that the modification of the grading would be an issue. Ms. Decker interjected that a PUD modification would be required because a grading plan has already been reviewed and approved as part of both the PUD and Tentative Map approvals. James Happ, applicant, noted that when they started the project, they were given a range of elevations. They were required to put the project on the hill, which caused the amount of grading that had been required. He noted that the site had been fine without the grading but that they had no choice in the grading; he believed their lots were sufficient in their original, non-graded state. He noted, however, that they were several hundred thousand dollars into the project and that their expenditures would be dramatically increased and incur additional process and time delay if they were to change the lots. He added that they had worked on this project for 20 years and that a change in the lots would put them back to the beginning of the process. Steve Brosozky noted that he had submitted a detailed letter to the Commission. He added that he had been incorrect with respect to the sports courts, which was no longer an issue. He noted that this project had changed significantly since 2001 and that the original Planning Commission that heard this application did not approve it because it could not make the findings. The Commission requested the City Council to look at it, and this project may have been the way to get the Neal School built. He stated that ultimately had nothing to do with this project. He believed that if the custom home plan had been submitted as a separate application, it would not be approved. He did not believe the Commission would want to produce custom lots with one flat pad, without stepped grading or driveways going up hills, as was the case west of the City. He noted that it did not meet the guidelines of the Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan, which state that "the house designs must be adjusted to conform to the natural character of the site, and grading for a building's driveways should be compatible with the existing topography and minimized to preserve the natural topology of the site." He expressed concern about the issues surrounding moving 148,000 cubic yards of dirt, which would require 25,000 truck trips. He believed the project could be built differently with less grading and that single-story homes could be built on the second tier. He believed that building custom homes would be a much longer process. He believed the option from staff was a step backwards, and he was concerned that he would shoulder the responsibility for getting the bids. He noted that the plan fees would be revoked if they did not act on the project within five years. He believed that Option 2 placed the development in a very inconvenient spot in relation to his household and that he would EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, February 27, 2008 Page 5 of 13