Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 07/17/2017

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Board Member Hiatt stated that he drove through the development portion to the south and noticed that it is fairly open, although meeting the requirements of the City. Board Member Covart asked and received confirmation that a pond would be created with this development as part of the stormwater management requirements. City Planner Anderson noted that per the City ordinance, the trees needed to be removed for the stormwater pond are not counted towards the total loss of trees. He noted that required trails and major/connector streets are also exempt from the tree removal total. Councilmember LeTourneau referenced the lots that meet up with more rural lots from the development southeast of this parcel and received confirmation that the density transitioning required for those lots would be similar to what is required for this development. Chairperson Stodola asked if there is consideration to making these lots larger. City Planner Anderson replied that the City does not have to approve a zoning or Comprehensive Plan amendment, but noted that there is something to be said that these lots would be consistent with the existing portion of the development. Board Member Hiatt stated that if there is a way to preserve that oak forest, it should be. He noted that if two to three homes were constructed under the current zoning, that would preserve more of the oak forest. Chairperson Stodola stated that there are a lot of trees being removed with this plan and therefore he would not support the Tree Plan and Landscape Plan as proposed. City Planner Anderson stated that the request meets the minimum requirements under City Code. He stated that the application is not deficient in meeting the minimum standards and therefore if this were challenged legally the City would have no legs to stand on. Board Member Hiatt agreed that this is too many oak trees going away from a mature area and the City should fight hard to preserve that. He noted that the zoning would need to be changed to support this plan and therefore he would ask that the zoning amendment not be approved further along in this process. Board Member Trossen asked how many trees would be saved with fewer lots. City Planner Anderson stated that you likely would preserve more trees but you would still need stormwater treatment and septic system drain fields, which would both require tree removal. He stated that he was unsure that the rate of removal would be considerably less than that proposed. He stated that the Board could state that because of the zoning and Comprehensive Plan amendment are required and that the oak forest was identified as moderate value, the Board could recommend denial of the request Motion by Chairperson Stodola and seconded by Board Member Hiatt to recommend denial of the Tree Plan and Landscape Plan because of the impacts to the oak forest and the need for the zoning and Comprehensive Plan amendments. Environmental Policy Board / June 19, 2017 Page 6 of 10