PC 08/12/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Gary Sabo, 1138 Lund Ranch Road, expressed concern relating to the lack of cooperation by New Cities Development in resolving issues with the neighbors. Mr. Sabo requested that the Commission vote to reject New Cities Development application. Jeanne Frith, 1051 Hopkins Way, expressed concern with approval of the application until the conditions as listed in the staff report are resolved. Ms. Frith requested that the Commission vote to reject the New Cities Development application. Phil Howard, 1027 Hancock Court, requested that due to the present proposal of the applicant that the Commission vote to reject the New Cities Development application. Marcy Alstott, 1117 Lund Ranch Road, requested that the Commission vote to reject the New Cities Development application. PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Cooper relating to staff s reluctance to follow the Commission's direction relating to density of project, Mr. Iserson stated that the Commission's direction was to the applicant, as well, and had the applicant been willing to revise the plan, staff would have worked with him to achieve the Commission's tazget lot count. It is not normally staffs role to modify a developer's plan but to work with them to devise a plan which achieves the City's objectives. In this case, staff happened to have previously created a plan to illustrate the policies of the Specific Plan, and it happened to coincide with many of the Commission's preferences. Staff was able to take that plan and delete several lots to create the buffer and meet 90% of the Commission's direction. The staff report acknowledged that staff did not meet the lot number target, but asked the Commission to select the lots it wished to delete based on specific objectives such as creating a view corridor, saving trees, etc. and add a condition to identify the lots to be deleted. Discussion ensued relating to the financial feasibility for the developer to delete lots. Commissioner Kumazan provided background information relating to the decision on behalf of the Commission to have two heazings on lazge projects, and stated that this process has failed due to the lack of cooperation on New Cities behalf to work with the neighborhood in relation to concerns expressed. He noted he did not support the applicant's plan. Further, he expressed concern with the removal of heritage trees, the density of the project at 62 units, the lot size and FAR. He concluded by stating he would not be in support of approving the applicant's plan and would vote for denial of the application. Commissioner Dove raised concerns relating to the Specific Plan and stated that it may be appropriate to deny the applicant's request for development and allow the City Council to decide what the intention of the Specific Plan should be. Commissioner Roberts stated that she supports most of the conditions and spoke in favor of reducing lot density and retaining the by-pass road as specified in the North Sycamore Plan and Happy Valley Plan. She stated that lot density should be reduced to the high 50's and spoke in favor of one-acre parcels along Sycamore Road. Commissioner Roberts noted the importance of open space to the whole PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 5 August 12, 1998