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Commissioner Brown further clarified that the church and Mr. Hu were actually asking for the 18-inch retaining wall and a six-foot fence, therefore, seven and a half feet in total. Mr. Barton continued to explain what was being requested, stating there are crimes that occur, and this height would help someone who was trying to flee the property going that direction. The most common scenario is customers parking along the row of parking and entering and exiting while visiting the 7-Eleven. To clarify, the applicant is just proposing the 18-inch retaining wall and staff is conditioning wrought iron on top of that. Commissioner Balch said staff is addressing Condition No. 11 which is currently stated as four feet and clarifying because the work session indicated four feet and there was a grade elevation change. He did not think the fence was declining in height as it gets to the sidewalk, but it does stop 20 feet from the property line. Commissioner Brown referenced the site rendering which shows that as it gets towards the street, the retaining wall itself does decrease in height above grade, although the top is still level. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED Mr. Schafer spoke in regard to the grade changes of the retaining wall on the site and said the 18-inches will continue to the back or southwest corner and around the other side. Heading towards Hopyard Road, the wall is proposed to remain at 18-inches until the 20-foot section and then gradually fade in. Commissioner Balch confirmed the proposal is for an 18-inch retaining wall from the 20-foot point all the way to the back side of the property from Hopyard Road. Commissioner Brown said he thinks the top of the wall is supplanted by the landscaping, and Commissioner Balch confirmed. Commissioner Pace asked what is planned for the 20-foot distance between the sidewalk and start of the fence and asked if there is shrubbery. Mr. Schafer responded that there is landscaping all along that area per the landscape plan. Chair Allen questioned the barrier and whether it is something people can trample over. Commissioner Pace asked for a visual of the landscape plan, and Mr. Schafer presented the plan. In response to a query from Commissioner Brown, Mr. Schafer noted that the area would be landscaped with bushes at three to four feet in height, with a variety of heights. The closer to the street the smaller the hedges. Mr. Hirst stated they have made a number of changes to accommodate neighbors to the south. What they originally proposed was a bioswale area which is a ponding area and it would discourage people from walking across it, particularly in wet weather. When they submitted the plan to the City, the City's arborist said if they have a bioswale they would have to remove a Excerpt: Planning Commission Minutes, August 28, 2019 Page 4 of 7