11 ATTACHMENTS 9 -16 - Laserfiche WebLink

single contour for making a determination. Notice that Staff didn't cite any use of their IP criteria, in fact their example from the engineer highlights the issue with their proposal. For ridge definition, I never found anything that resembled Staff's last hill definition. I'm can only assume Staff didn't either given it is not referenced. Instead most agencies resort to mapping for ridges (Orinda is the closest example of mapping). This avoids the difficulty of definitions and allows everybody to have a clear picture of what is developable and what is protected. I think this is best answer for Pleasanton, but it must be done as part of a public process,not done in a backroom on individual projects which is what occurred on this project. The developer has invested lots of money and resources relying on Staff's suggestions of what a ridge and what is not. Everybody would be better served by a map which lays out the ridges for all Pleasanton once and for all. Access Road: Much of the public discussion about this project has centered on the access and the implication of PP on ability to build a road connection to Sunset Creek. The underlying issue whether a road is a structure. Staff has taken both sides of this issue, at first arguing that a road is structure when it seemed the access road from Sunset Creek would be exempt from PP. The Council and Planning Commission agreed as well. Only when this specific access road was determined to controlled by PP did Staff and Council reverse themselves.That reversal prompted several letters to the Council, which I have attached. Those letters make it clear the legal issues the Council was facing if it attempted to modify PP by redefining terms referenced on the initiative. Especially if that reversal was to allow a specific project to avoid to requirements of PP. While many question where a road is indeed a structure, a retaining wall is absolutely a structure. It is specifically designated as such in the California Building Code (section 1.1.3.1.2). Even the current mayor of Pleasanton proclaimed that a wall definitely is a structure during the Council meeting of 2013. At the Planning Commission workshop the civil engineer for the project indicated the probable need for a retaining wall to construct the access road and the Staff report suggests that as well. If a retaining wall is in fact required, there can be no doubt that PP applies. Staff suggests that perhaps if the retaining wall is required for a road then perhaps it somehow is not a structure.Please consider carefully where that kind of logic leads. I believe the Commission and Council should take a conservative position on this question and assume that a road is a structure for the purposes of PP. If the road from Sunset Creek is to be built it should be specifically authorized by a vote of the citizens of Pleasanton as an exception to PP. Sincerely Allen Roberts