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well-aware of all conditions attached to his property since January and has chosen to ignore the <br />zoning conditions applicable to his lot. <br />Ms. Johnston said it has been brought up in previous staff reports about the prohibition of re- <br />grading and it is important that two of the other impacted lots that have had re-grading approved <br />were for the removal of grade to install pools. The other impacted lot at 949 Montevino Drive is <br />directly behind the Jeffrey's and staff denied a 19 inch increase of grade due to privacy issues, <br />however with Mr. Jeffrey's project, she was never given a chance to address the grade issue as <br />a concern until the Planning Commission meeting. <br />After the Planning Commission meeting of September 10 and 24`h, she felt they came up with <br />the best possible solution to a bad situation. Condition 3 deals with the rear yard setback of 35 <br />feet. Staff is recommending Council consider a 25 foot setback as this is where the trees and <br />plantings came out to. Their reason for the setback is due to the increased land available and <br />that the yard used to slope significantly in the southwest corner and now it is level. She said its <br />use for above-ground structures is increased as well as their privacy and view shed. Mr. Jeffrey <br />has assured them that he is not planning to put in any permanent structures in the corner of his <br />lot; however, this could change in time. <br />Another condition is for a detailed landscape plan required from a professional landscape <br />architect. She agreed that this is necessary but it could also be prepared by a licensed <br />landscape contractor. The specimens proposed should grow nicely in three years, but she <br />believes additional landscaping is needed in the southwest corner to accomplish privacy, and <br />she asked to be included in the review process of the revised plan. She said the original <br />landscape plan submitted on April 8~" shows proposed vegetation going almost 30 feet back on <br />the property, but now, a very thin border is planted across the property, and 10 feet on the <br />sides. She agrees the berm would provide additional buffering and is appropriate based on the <br />height of the finished grade. The one foot berm Mr. Jeffrey said he installed is not visible to the <br />Planning Commission, and if it did exist, it is now gone. She asked that the berm be placed <br />along the southwest corner of the property which is the most visible impact. The condition <br />pertained to the entire property between the retaining wall and the lawn. She referred to a <br />picture she provided about the positive effects of a 3-foot berm and how it would benefit their <br />privacy, as well as a picture of vegetation prior to it being removed taken from their backyard. <br />Lastly, Ms. Johnston referred to condition 5, stating the Commission recognized Mr. Jeffrey did <br />not like the view of the wall from his home and suggested landscape to soften the effect. This <br />was never a requirement; however, it was the height of the wall that she said she was most <br />concerned about <br />In closing, Ms. Johnston asked the Council to maintain the conditions set forth by the Planning <br />Commission with the exception of Condition 5; anything less would not be satisfactory and <br />asked to return the property to the state prior to any grade changes and prior to installing any <br />landscape. <br />Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked Ms. Johnston to display the diagram that shows when the <br />wall was built and actual grade. A previous home in the area was denied infill in 1990 because it <br />was 19 inches, and she confirmed that staffs recommendation was to deny the increase in <br />grade, but after meeting with both parties, they were able to come up with a plan for more soil <br />and 25 feet back, and they were allowed the 19 inch grade. <br />City Council Minutes 10 December 2, 2008 <br />