CCMIN092099 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Tarver believes there should be a Vineyard Avenue school and it should have been under construction already. This application is for 27 units right next to the proposed school location. There should not be discussion as to whether or not there will be a Vineyard Corridor school. The School Board seems to think there will be a direct effect from the CAPP Initiative on whether or not it proceeds with the Vineyard Corridor school. He believes there should be a Vineyard Avenue school and he did not want to add fuel to the fire by approving more development without a decision about the school site. It has always been his impression that the Vineyard Avenue Corridor infrastructure included a school. By conditioning the road before the school, that was a way to say we need the school. Ms. Michelotti believed had been an opportunity through a development agreement to get Vineyard Avenue realigned, the sewer, the road to the school, and the school site. Council would not be now considering only 27 units to build millions of dollars worth of infrastructure. Mr. Tarver did not want to get into the debate about needing growth to build infrastructure. Ms. Dennis asked Council to add a condition to the landscaping and fencing section, Condition #20, and to the condition regarding grading. She appreciated the photo montage showing what will happen with development. She wanted to preserve the view of the exiting residents and she would like to soften the view of the house on Lot 7 with landscaping. However, landscaping grows and she was concerned about obscuring the views unless the grade is lowered to 490 feet. She is aware of the impact of irrigation on the existing oaks, but she is also concemed about the views. Could landscaping be done using drought tolerant native species to distract the eye from the proposed house. That would take care of the view and also screen of the houses on Lots 6, 7 and 8. She was also concerned about fire danger from the slope. Mr. Swift said the grading will be before the Planning Commission with the tentative and not before Council unless there was an appeal. Ms. Michelotti wanted to be certain the natural oaks that currently exist are preserved. She was concerned that additional grading would have a negative effect on the existing oaks. Mr. Swift explained the grading plan reflects a 505 foot elevation with the house tops about three feet higher than the ridge. If the elevation were 500 feet, the roof of the houses would be below the ridge. The key issue as raised by Councilmember Dennis is that if you plant trees they will eventually grow up to block the view of Mt. Diablo. It is only this narrow elevation band where this is an issue. Most of the other properties in Foxborough can't see Mt. Diablo at this elevation because it is off to the left and the ridge is higher with trees. 26 09/20/99 Pleasanton City Council Minutes