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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />OCTOBER 24, 2007 <br />stated that he is amazed at the verbiage of the City Planner on this. <br />Roycraft noted that when he served on the City's Planning Commission, a <br />Variance was an exception that was based on a hardship. Roycraft felt <br />that the City Planner was providing the developer with the basis of his <br />Variance request, and Roycraft took exception to that. <br />Roycraft pointed out the City Engineer's previous report that indicates that <br />there are poorer soils as the property gets nearer to Arcade Street. <br />Roycraft felt that the City was forgetting this fact because it wants to get <br />development beyond the Richie Plat. <br />Roycraft urged the Council to limit the cul-de-sac length to 500 feet and <br />stated that there is no hardship present to justify a Variance. Roycraft also <br />stated that he is disappointed with the meetings that have been held on this <br />matter and felt that the City Planner has displayed a lack of <br />professionalism. Roycraft stated that he would like to be present the next <br />time the City Planner's contract is considered for renewal. <br />Gary Quam, 2920 LaBore Road, reported that the developer did make an <br />honest mistake when he cut across a corner of his property and plowed <br />over some trees. Quam reported that the developer did apologize for it. <br />Quam reported that he does not have any designs for the future <br />development of his property. He indicated that he likes his neighbors and <br />would not want to see their property landlocked. Quam felt that his <br />neighbors did have the right to develop in the future. Quam stated that his <br />position was that he wanted to be sure that as development of the area <br />proceeds that it is done right. Quam also expressed concern about the <br />current Watershed model and felt it was not working. Quam pointed out <br />some of the retention pond leading into Gervais Lake and indicated that <br />the quality of the water in these ponds is very poor, thus Gervais Lake <br />water quality is deteriorating. Quam also noted that the holding pond in <br />the Gervais Hills development is full, and thought that part of the purpose <br />of this pond was for infiltration. Quam noted the need for holding ponds <br />and water treatment when vegetation is being replaced with hard surface. <br />He also pointed out the existence of a ravine through the Richie property <br />as well as his own that is lower than the proposed holding pond in the <br />Richie plat. Quam again pointed out that the existing Watershed models <br />are not working. He noted that this is a very sensitive area, and wanted to <br />make sure the project was done correctly. <br />Blesener stated the he did not necessarily disagree, but pointed out that the <br />Richie plat as proposed meets the City's Code requirements. He pointed <br />out that the Council held a workshop meeting to discuss Codes and the <br />need for more stringent standards in environmentally sensitive areas. <br />However, the Richie Place plat can only be held to the Codes that are in <br />effect today. <br />16 <br />