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5.01: Consider Natural Resources Aspects Related to a Proposed Major Plat Known as <br />Cedar Acres (Project No. 22-136): Case of Tom Dehn <br />Senior Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that the City has received an <br />application from Tom Dehn for a proposed three lot subdivision known as Cedar Acres. The <br />proposal is to split the property located at 15060 Armstrong Boulevard into three parcels. The <br />existing home would retain its access from Armstrong Boulevard while the two new lots would <br />gain access from the extension of the existing 151st Lane cul-de-sac. Due to the extension of a <br />public road, this application is being processed as a Major Plat (it otherwise would have been <br />processed as a Minor Plat, which would have only been received by City staff and City Council). <br />Board Member Hiatt asked if this development is within the MUSA or would use well/septic. <br />Senior Planner Anderson replied that this property would be served by private well and septic <br />systems as it is not within the MUSA service area. He identified the primary and secondary <br />locations for septic for the lots as proposed within the plat. <br />Board Member Hiatt asked if the lot sizes require a variance. <br />Senior Planner Anderson confirmed that part of the application is a variance request from the <br />minimum lot size. He noted that all of the lots to the west are similar in size and therefore these <br />lots would fit within the existing character of the neighborhood. He stated that the Planning <br />Commission would review these requests at its October meeting. <br />Board Member Little asked for details on the elm trees mentioned. <br />Senior Planner Anderson replied that generally speaking any of the elms would be Siberian elm. <br />Motion by Board Member Little and seconded by Board Member Hiatt to recommend approval of <br />the Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan. <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Moore, Board Member Little, Hiatt, Arts, Bernard, and <br />Fetterley. Voting No: None. Absent: None. <br />5.02: Discussion Item: Density Transitioning Standards <br />Senior Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that over the coming months, <br />Planning staff will be bringing forth various discussion topics to the Planning Commission to <br />consider potential updates to the Zoning Code (needed to ensure that the Zoning Code successfully <br />achieves the intended outcomes of the Comprehensive Plan). One such topic is density <br />transitioning, which is required when a higher density development is proposed adjacent to an <br />existing lower density neighborhood. While there are multiple options to satisfy density <br />transitioning, landscaping (or preservation of existing trees) is almost always the tool utilized. <br />However, there are challenges with the current density transitioning standards and ideally, the <br />standards could be modified to alleviate some of the more common issues. <br />Chairperson Moore commented that the photos within the case help to provide a comparison <br />between what happens in person versus what it looks like on paper. She commented that there <br />Environmental Policy Board / October 17, 2022 <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />