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Commissioner Fox concurred and stated that the was no longer any slope when she visited the site two weeks ago. Chair Blank and Commissioners Pearce, O'Connor, Olson, and Narum disclosed that they also had visited the site individually and separately. Ms. Decker stated that she would like to bring to the Commission's attention some information regarding Commissioner Olson's statement about the slope bank that is no longer there. She noted that other lots in the area, those adjacent to and farther upstream and downstream of the drainage easement, are not sloped any longer either. She explained that they have been graded, terraced, and filled, leaving the drainage easement and area clear as is required for access. She added that the lots adjacent to the subject site have been terraced as well, some with approvals and others without. Commissioner O'Connor inquired if there were a total of 13 lots, and Ms. Decker replied that staff is unaware of any existing lots that still have the original slope banks. She noted that the slope bank no longer exists on both adjacent sides in the neighborhood; they have been terraced as well, up from the existing drainage easement area with retaining walls of two to three feet in height. She added that grading has taken place in the neighborhood, yards have been graded relating to pool excavations, and as reflected in the scope of this Tract map, material has been removed and off-hauled from existing sites. Chair Blank noted that it would be difficult to make a comparison of the lots, but there are details about this particular property. He stated that one property could have been terraced one foot or two feet or 20 feet, whereas this one is graded four to six feet, and other properties may have been leveled off. He indicated that it would be difficult to determine the degree of the leveling short of going out and surveying the properties. Ms. Decker agreed and stated that the properties adjacent to this site were graded with retaining walls of two and three feet to retain the material that step down. Commissioner Fox noted that based on Exhibit A of the staff report, it appears that there is just a small fill next to the retaining wall. She added that the massive amount of dirt excavated from the pool looks far more different than what appears on Exhibit A. She inquired how staff could tell that the four-foot high retaining wall is not actually put on two feet of fill in order to make the change six feet. She further asked if staff knew the existing grade as it should be to determine whether or not this was completely not representative of what actually happened. Ms. Decker stated that the retaining wall has been constructed on the existing grade. She noted that there was a slope from the drainage easement, as shown on Exhibit A, and up the fence from the concrete edge of the drainage area; then there is the four-foot tall retaining well. She indicated that the existing land slopes up and that this is actually close to the original grade. She stated that the applicant dug PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 10, 2008 Page 11 of 33