Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/09/2015

Home

City Planner Anderson stated that every request or proposal is unique and that everything cannot be accounted for in an ordinance. Having flexibility and checking in with various advisory boards protects the City from setting undesirable precedents. Board Member Valentine stated that he felt another developer would try to take advantage of a precedent if it was advantageous to them, but that checking in with the various advisory boards should protect the City. City Planner Anderson stated that Staff is supportive of what is being proposed in this case as meeting the City's overall ordinance. He is hoping to get feedback from the Board in terms of policy direction moving forward and would like direct feedback on perimeter plantings in the rear yards of properties. He stated that it is Staff's opinion that it should be a stage one improvement and should be the developer' s responsibility to install the trees. He is seeking feedback from the Board on Staff's recommendation that excluding the two front yard trees, the remainder of the plantings be the responsibility of the developer as a stage one improvement. He is seeking a motion to recommend that the landscaping and tree preservation plans are acceptable. Board Member Lewis would like to get additional feedback on the recommendation. He would like to take a look additional plantings at the perimeter to avoid it being mowed grass and to make sure that these plantings are part of the original plan. City Planner Anderson stated that Staff is open to additional plantings around the perimeter. He stated that the City' s engineering staff would have to determine that the plantings would not cause any additional maintenance issues. Board Member Lewis stated that his intention is not to interfere, but to enhance the area. Motion by Board Member Valentine and seconded by Board Member Hiatt to recommend Option 1; to include Staff's recommendation that excluding the two front yard trees, the remainder of the plantings be the responsibility of the developer as a stage one improvement; and to explore the potential for additional plantings around the rim or perimeter of the area between Block One Harvest Estates and Block One Harvest Estates Second Addition. City Council Liaison LeTourneau suggested adding the recommendation that the plantings be the responsibility of the developer in the phase one improvement clause also. Board Member Valentine accepted that as a friendly amendment. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Stodola, Board Member Valentine, Hiatt, Bernard, and Lewis. Voting No: None. Absent: Board Member Bentz.