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read the memo regarding the summary of requirements imposed on the work. He <br />noted that two places discuss having the landscaping screen replicated to the <br />previous screen within five years. He stated that when he was at the hearing two <br />weeks ago, he commented that he purchased his home six years ago, and the fact <br />that he would not only lose his backyard privacy but would also have to wait five <br />years is unreasonable. He added that he previously owned two other homes on <br />zero-lot line properties and that the reason he purchased this home was the <br />attraction of the backyard privacy. He therefore asked to have appropriate <br />landscaping done that will allow the screen to be replicated in two to three years. <br />Lisa Johnston, Appellant, stated that Mr. Jeffrey claimed he redesigned his plans, <br />but he basically modified them. She added that she believes that mediation could <br />have been resolved the matter a long time ago and that there were better options <br />but were never brought up. She invited Mr. Jeffrey to look out her window, as she is <br />closer to his property than he is to his own home. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. <br />Commissioner Pearce stated that there is a concern that this project has not <br />conformed to the original plans and inquired if there were a downside to having a <br />condition stating it should conform substantially to Exhibit A and then adding that <br />landscaping will be increased. <br />Mr. Dolan replied that the only downside is that the wall would have to be entirely <br />reconstructed because it is accurate that the wall was shown in the sketch as being <br />on the same elevation as the top of the V-ditch. He added, however, that, in fact, <br />the wall could not have been installed without digging back to stay out of the 15-foot <br />easement, thereby moving the wall up the slope. He noted that while the wall is <br />higher than what is shown on Exhibit A, it is not much over four feet high. He noted <br />that 95 percent of the cases where a retaining wall is moved are not typically an <br />issue, but in this case, the move made it visible over the fence. He indicated that it <br />is fair for the Commission to consider what moving it down does and added that it <br />would possibly move the actual wall out of view. He questioned, however, if this is a <br />visually offensive wall, which the Johnstons believe to be so. He stated that there <br />may be other ways to address that issue, including adding vegetation below, but <br />moving the wall down would make it more difficult to plant the vegetation that will <br />provide the screen. <br />Commissioner Pearce noted that there are two Exhibit A's. Mr. Dolan explained that <br />all of the design plans were part of Exhibit A. He explained that the reason the new <br />condition asks for a detailed plan is that Mr. Jeffrey has not done this a lot and it has <br />been difficult to relay to him that a conceptual plan like that in a situation this <br />controversial is not working. He indicated that staff's preference would be to have a <br />detailed drawing to be approved by the City and installed just as it is with very little <br />change. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 24, 2008 Page 13 of 41 <br />