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Mr. Dolan reiterated that the appeal did not request that the Zoning Administrator's <br />decision be thrown out but that some of the conditions be modified. He noted that the <br />first request, Item 2, was to lower the wall, and Item 4 asks for a minimum height <br />requirement on the screening plants, additional trees along with the Pittosporum plants, <br />replacement of the plants if they were to die, and re-evaluation of the plant species and <br />their growth in 6 to 12 months to provide adequate screening. <br />Chair Blank asked Mr. Dolan about Item 3. Mr. Dolan replied that he first thought this <br />related to the height of the wall, but this is consistent with comments made suggesting <br />that the fill be removed. <br />Chair Blank recalled that at the last meeting, Mr. Roush stated that if the Zoning <br />Administrator's decision were vacated, the wall would have to be redone, the grading <br />would have to be taken out, and the property would have to be put back in its original <br />condition. He noted that Mr. Dolan's response sounds like a change from Mr. Roush's <br />answer. Mr. Dolan stated that from a practical viewpoint, this would be the most difficult <br />way to address the problem. He noted that the appellants have asked to change the <br />conditions and that this would be an interesting, theoretical discussion point. <br />Chair Blank stated that from reading the Minutes of the last meeting, there appear to be <br />three options: the Commission can uphold the Zoning Administrator's approval without <br />any changes; the Commission can uphold the Zoning Administrator's approval with <br />modified conditions; or the Commission can vacate the Zoning Administrator's decision. <br />He inquired if this is still the case. <br />Ms. Decker replied that if the appeal is upheld, the Commission would be overturning <br />the Zoning Administrator's approval and therefore requiring that the property be <br />returned to its former state, which would mean removing all grading, the retaining wall, <br />the irrigation system, all plants which have been planted, and the screening trees which <br />have been planted for the neighbors. <br />Ms. Seto stated that this could be one case, but there could also be other direction from <br />the Commission or discussion regarding whether or not the Commission would ask that <br />the applicant re-apply. She added that during that interim period, the Commission <br />would not require something be simply torn out as long as the applicant diligently <br />pursues the new application, whether it be for something new or for what is already <br />existing. <br />Commissioner Fox stated that there are a couple of options on the table and inquired if <br />it would be appropriate to conduct a poll among the Commissioners to determine what <br />each one is thinking, given that there was atwo-week break and the Commission <br />believed that a compromise had been reached. <br />Chair Blank indicated that he was fine with that <br />EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 24, 2008 Page 7 of 14 <br />