Minutes - Environmental Policy Board - 03/30/2015 - Special

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Board Member Lewis asked if there is any possibility for additional plantings in that area. City Planner Anderson replied that it may be a possibility and the Board could make a recommendation to explore the possibility of additional plantings at the rim of the ponding area. Board Member Valentine stated it was worth looking at it if it wasn't going to create interference with storm water management. Community Development Director Gladhill stated this is an excellent example of how the ordinance is being applied and that we have more plantings with the reforestation requirements. He stated that Staff is looking for a policy direction on how the ordinance is interpreted and calculated to make sure the Board is accomplishing what it intended. Board Member Valentine stated that the ordinance would be unworkable without some flexibility and he is comfortable with the City's interpretation of the ordinance in this case. City Planner Anderson stated that this is one of the benefits we should see with the Board reviewing proposed development plans. Board Member Hiatt said he could see the logic of two options and asked if the City is setting a precedent for other developers. He asked if the Board is giving flexibility without giving precedent. 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 intent of the 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 at 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. Environmental Policy Board/March 30, 2015 Page 3 of 9