00563140TION TO'AMEND CARRIED. THE MAIN MOTION, AS AMENDED, THEN CARRIED.
HEARING ON PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL - "BROOKVIEW" (FILE P-148)
Assistant City Planner Noelle Charleson said this was a 10-lot subdivision, also
in an area with steep slopes and with two ravines and an intermittent stream.
This is not an environmentally sensitive area, however. The zoning is RS-12, and
the lots are on a bluff and most will have views of Puget Sound. She showed
slides of the site, noting that previous development on this street had been
accomplished on fill. She said questions to consider were how imuch of.the
existing terrain, topography, and existing stream should be.preserved on.the
site. She said the homes will be in the $150,000 price range, and a big issue
was access to Lots 8, 9, and 10. The developer proposed to fill and culvert a
portion of the gully adjacent to the access easement,over which gully access would
be -provided -to Lots 8, 9, and 10. She said that portion of the gully presently
is full -of brush and brambles but it could be improved. All trees of 8" or larger
diameter which are located outside any roads, drives, or structures must be
retained. Ms.. Charleson displayed the site plan, noting that no dirt or fill
would be permitted to.go beyond the .lines indicated on each lot. With the
exception of the access to Lots 8, 9, and 10, she said the site was not difficult
to develop. A 50' wide right-of-way was proposed, and the Planning Commission
had recommended a sidewalk be located on the north side of the street. She said
that would pose some problems in terms of the gully if it was to be preserved.
She said the Council could waive the sidewalk requirement if they felt the
topography did not require a sidewalk. The Planning Commission had recommended
that the paved portion of 175th St. be pushed as far north as possible to save
a stand of trees. The Crater in the gully comes from three drain lines in the
area and the gully has been culverted to the east. A letter from Jerry Lovell,
engineer for -the proposal, indicated 1,700 cu. yds. of fill would go into the
gully and the gully would be devegetated before filling. The length of the.fill
would be 170'. Ms. Charleson said the Planning Commission had approved this, but
the Planning Staff had some reservations as to whether it met the Policy Plan.
She said the Planning Commission had recommended a modification to 28' of pavement
for 175th St., instead of 32'. A modification was also recommended on the lot-
width,dimension ratio for Lots 8, 9, and 10, and Ms. Charleson said that posed
no problem on lots as'large as these. She recommended approval of both modifica-
tions. The public portion of the hearing was opened.
Jerry Lovell of Lovell-Sauerland and Associates, Inc. explained that when this
area had been subdivided by Philo Lund he had retained 25' of property over
which he gave an access easement to the O'Briens and the Lunds, directly west of
him. The easement road dipped to the south in order to stay away from the gully
and be on stable land. Mr. Lovell said they proposed to fill a portion of the
gully with good fill from the top of the knoll above the gully. Bernie Baker of
7605 175th S.W. elaborated on the streams which run into the gully. John Strand
of 911 Sea Vista P1. said he was interested in owning a home in this development
and he had walked the area and it was his opinion, for safety's sake, that it
would be best to fill the portion of the gully proposed by the developer. He
said it has a very steep drop and was dangerous. Paul 0:'Brien of 7812 17th S.W.
asked that the Council require that the developer spare the bank and the trees
located 50' from h-is house, where the extension of 175th St. was proposed. Mr.
Lovell said he thought that could be done by centering the roadway in the right-
of-way.
Community Development Director John LaTourelle said he and his Staff found very
little to recommend the filling in of that gully and stream. He said they felt
it should be retained. lie pointed out that the long-range effect of picking away
at the small tributaries is that the sponge effect disappears and the soil does
not have the opportunity to retain the moisture that feeds the creeks, and in
the winter months you get high velocity water and in the summer it dries up. He
said they are trying to preclude that, and he pointed out the scouring effect
high velocity water has on the ravine. Mr. LaTourelle said they felt also that
the paving in front of the O'Brien property can and should miss those trees.
Further, they found little need for sidewalks of any kind as the area is sparsely
EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Page 7 - February 7, 1978