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Planning Commission Minutes DRAFT December 10, 1997 Page 6 Tom Puorro, 26296 Fremont.Road, would like to see the land developed, however, he was concerned with the development of the natural swale. Safety wise, it was not appropriate to put the driveway.next to the swale. Also, the clumping of redwood trees would need to be removed with the existing driveway design. He requested the driveway be placed on the east side of the property. Fred Osterlund, 26238 Fremont Road, has reviewed the plans and referenced his letter of November 13, 1997. He felt a straight driveway along a flood control channel was not the best solution. He was concerned with the safety of children and vehicles. A straight driveway along a swollen creek could be too inviting for adventurous youth. Regarding vehicular traffic, a straight design on the driveway will increase the speed associated with it. If the major portion of the subdivision drive must skirt the creek as proposed, then the entrance/exit should be positioned to the east of the Maurer redwood grove. This would entail a "snaking" of the drive as it approaches Fremont Road. This would distance the creek from the drive at the point of access. He felt children would be less inclined to associate these two features with one another if they are separated by a grove of trees. The snaking effect will also aid in keeping vehicle speed- to a minimum. Due to the access that needs to be maintained for this channel, there needs to be at least a utility road along there. Commissioner Schreiner asked if the driveway was moved to the other side of the property, will this still give access to.the whole lengthof the channel. The assistance engineer responded any time you have a road next to a channel, it makes it easier to maintain. Sandy Humphries, Environmental. Design Committee, stated even though she is in close proximity to this project, the Committee requested she be their representative. She had knowledge of the tree shown to be removed, providing some history. The concern of the committee is with the road being cut to the left side of the tree, and a cut being made to the right side of the tree for the drainage situation, potentially not having enough root space remaining on the redwoods. They have a very shallow root system going no deeper than six feet into the ground. She felt this tree is a survivor. She has not seen the arborist report provided by the applicant, as yet. The Planning Director reviewed the arborist report. Ms. Humphries noted that there are a number of small seedling trees which are establishing themselves under the redwood tree which the committee would like to promote this in this area. The committee was not as concerned with the Russian olive tree as with the 50 year old redwood since the olive tree is not native. Dave Pefley, 26169 Maurer Lane, has been working with the Town for approximately three years regarding the drainage channel. His first choice for safety and better property usage would be to put an underground storm drain system through this troubled area, although the Town is not going in this direction. His second choice for solutions would be to have an underground system to the tri-point of the Silvestri, Maurer, Pefley properties, then open up, going straight along the Maurer and Pefley border, which he felt would be the next best solution, 'although he was told