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EXC-2019-003 - PC Reso 6955 Rainbow hillside exception RESOLUTION NO. 6955 A RESOLUTION OF THE CUPERTINO PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVING A HILLSIDE EXCEPTION TO ALLOW A MAINTENANCE ROAD WITHIN AN EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ON SLOPES GREATER THAN 30%. LOCATED 21750 RAINBOW DRIVE (APN: 366-03-064) SECTION I: PROJECT DESCRIPTION Application No.: EXC-2019-03 Applicant: Bruce and Joyce Steakley Location: 21750 Rainbow Drive (APN:366-03-064) SECTION II: FINDINGS FOR A HILLSIDE EXCEPTION: WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Cupertino received an application for a Hillside Exception as described in Section I of this Resolution; and WHEREAS, the necessary public notices have been given as required by the Procedural Ordinance of the City of Cupertino, and the Planning Commission has held at least one public hearing in regard to the application; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA") and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et seq.) ("CEQA Guidelines"), the City prepared an Initial Study and proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration ("Project"); and WHEREAS, on July 12, 2022, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing to receive public testimony on the Project, including the Initial Study and proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration, and reviewed and considered the information contained in the staff report pertaining to the Project, all other pertinent documents, and all written and oral statements received by the Planning Commission at or prior to the public hearing; and WHEREAS, the applicant has met the burden of proof required to support said application; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission finds as follows with regard to this application: Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 1. The proposed development will not be injurious to property or improvements in the area nor be detrimental to public health and safety; The proposed site is surrounded by existing hillside single-family residences. A mitigated negative declaration has been prepared to mitigate any impacts to less than significant. The project has been designed to ensure that the improvements do not impact the Creek or public health and safety. Therefore, the development will not be injurious to property or improvements in the area nor be detrimental to the public health and safety. 2. The proposed development will not create a hazardous condition for pedestrian or vehicular traffic; The proposed maintenance road will be located completely on private property. Therefore, the development will not create a hazardous condition for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. 3. The proposed development has legal access to public streets and public services are available to serve the development; The property is accessed by the private Rainbow Drive. In addition, water and sewer connections are available in the street. The proposed project does not propose any changes to such access or services. Therefore, the development has legal access to public streets and public services to serve the development. 4. The proposed development requires an exception which involves the least modification of, or deviation from, the development regulations prescribed in this chapter necessary to accomplish a reasonable use of the parcel; Any construction of a structure andlor disturbance of land greater than 500 sf on slopes greater than 30% requires a Hillside Exception. The proposed development cannot feasibly occur on the property without a Hillside Exception request as the site is constrained by the fact that allowing reasonable access to the lower portion of the property would require disturbing slopes greater than 30%. The siting and design of the accessory structures will follow the contours of the site to minimize grading, minimize the removal of landscaping and reduce the visibility of retaining walls necessary on site to develop the property in a manner consistent with the Residential Hillside Ordinance. 5. All alternative locations for development on the parcel have been considered and have been found to create greater environmental impacts than the location of the proposed development; The site is constrained by steep slopes that limit areas where a maintenance road, or any mode of reasonable access to the lower portion of the property may occur. The siting and design of the maintenance road will follow the contours of the site to minimize grading, minimize the removal of landscaping and reduce the visibility of all retaining walls necessary 2 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 to develop the property in a manner consistent with the purpose of the Residential Hillside Ordinance. Other alternative locations for development on the parcel would result in greater grading on the site and removal of additional landscaping andlor native trees. The proposed development is located to minimize environmental and grading impacts on the site. 6. The proposed development does not consist of structures on or near known geological or environmental hazards which have been determined by expert testimony to be unsafe or hazardous to structures or persons residing therein (See General Plan Policies 2-49); The geotechnical report and peer review do not indicate any significant conflicts with geological or environmental hazards. Additionally, all recommendations of the geotechnical engineers have been incorporated into the conditions of approval in order to ensure structural stability of the proposed maintenance raod. Therefore, the proposed development does not consist of structures that have been determined by expert testimony to be unsafe or hazardous to structures or persons residing therein. 7. The proposed development includes grading and drainage plans which will ensure that erosion and scarring of the hillsides caused by necessary construction of roads, housing sites, and improvements will be minimized (See General Plan Policies 2-53, 2-54 and 2-57); The proposed development follows, as closely as possible, the primary natural contours of the lot to minimize erosion and scarring of the hillsides caused by necessary construction of the housing site and improvements. Drainage and grading plans have been reviewed and will continue to be reviewed by the City Engineer and the City's consultant geotechnical engineers to ensure the safety of the development and of those neighboring residences. 8. The proposed development does not consist of structures which would disrupt the natural silhouette of ridgelines as viewed from established vantage points on the valley floor unless either: a. The location of a structure on a ridgeline is necessary to avoid greater negative environmental impacts; or b. The structure could not otherwise be physically located on the parcel and the size of the structure is the minimum which is necessary to allow for a reasonable use of the parcel (See General Plan Policies 2-46, 2-47 and 2-48); The parcel is not on a ridgeline. 9. The proposed development consists of structures incorporating designs, colors, materials, and outdoor lighting which blend with the natural hillside environment and which are designed in such a manner as to reduce the effective visible mass, 3 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 including building height, as much as possible without creating other negative environmental impacts (See General Plan Policies 2-46, 2-50, 2-51 and 2-52); The applicant is required to use natural earth tone and/or vegetation colors for the retaining walls, which blend with the natural hillside environment (as a condition of approval). 10. The proposed development is located on the parcel as far as possible from public open space preserves or parks (if visible there from), riparian corridors, and wildlife habitats unless such location will create other, more negative environmental impacts (See General Plan Policies 2-55, 5-14 and 5-28); The parcel is located adjacent to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. Notices have sent to Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for comment and no comments have been received that would raise any concerns. The maintenance road is sufficiently setback from the riparian vegetation dripline in accordance with CMC 19.40. Further, the mitigated negative declaration includes mitigation measures that would require coordination with State and Federal Agencies to ensure that grading does not disturb the Regnart Creek watercourse. 11. The proposed development includes a landscape plan, which retains as many specimen trees as possible, which utilizes drought-tolerant native plants and ground covers consistent with nearby vegetation, and which minimizes lawn areas (See General Plan Policies 2-54, 5-15 and 5-16); A preliminary landscape plan has been evaluated and the project is conditioned to provide a landscape plan to be reviewed and approved prior to Building Permit issuance. The project shall also comply with Chapter 14.15: Landscape Ordinance of the City of Cupertino Municipal Code (CMC). Additionally, since the site is located in an area designated as Wildland Urban Interface by CMC Chapter 16.74, fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches are strongly discouraged. In conformance with California Public Resources Code Section 4291, plants shall be selected, arranged, and maintained to provide defensible space for wildfire protection. The installation of invasive plant species and noxious weeds is also prohibited. Further, Residential Hillside homes are required to minimize turf areas on hillsides and turf may not be planted on slopes greater than 25%. No trees are proposed to be removed and a vast majority of the plantings are native and all are WELO compliant. Through the proposed site design and conditions of approval, which limit invasive species of plants and turf areas, a balance between the residential development and preservation of the natural hillside setting can be maintained. 12. The proposed development confines solid fencing to the areas near a structure rather than around the entire site (See General Plan Policy 5-17); and 4 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 To allow free movement of animals, in compliance with the RHS fencing standards, only 5,000 square feet (excluding the principal building) of net lot area may be enclosed with solid fencing. No solid fencing is proposed as part of this approval. 13. The proposed development is otherwise consistent with the City's General Plan and with the purposes of this chapter as described in Section 19.40.010. The development meets all the development standards for RHS zoned properties and is consistent with the City's General Plan and with the purposes of Chapter 19.40 as described in Section 19.40.010. These have been described in detail in each of the findings above. WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has independently reviewed and considered the Project and the basis for the mitigated negative declaration (EA-2022-001) prior to taking any approval actions on the Project, and exercising its independent judgment, based upon the entire record before it, has approved the mitigated negative declaration (EA-2022-001; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission determined that the mitigated negative declaration (EA-2022-001) has sufficiently reduced any impacts to less than significant; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission takes the following actions: 1. Exercises its independent judgment and determines that the Project sufficiently mitigated any impacts to less than significant. 2. Approves the application for a Hillside Exception, Application no. EXC-2022-03 subject to the conditions which are enumerated in this Resolution beginning on page 6. The conclusions and subconclusions upon which the findings and conditions specified in this resolution are based, including those contained in the Public Hearing record concerning Application no. EXC-2022-03 as set forth in the Minutes of Planning Commission Meeting of July 12, 2022, are hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are included herein by reference as findings. SECTION III: CONDITIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPT. 1. APPROVED EXHIBITS Approval is based on the plan set consisting of 21 sheets, labled Sheets C-1 through C-16, and L-1 through L-4 entitled, "Plans For The Improvements of Access Road 5 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 21750 Rainbow Drive, Cupertino, CA," drawn and submitted by Activewayz Engineering, and Catherine L. Kauer, Landscape Architect. 2. ANNOTATION OF THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL The conditions of approval set forth shall be incorporated into and annotated on the first page of the building plans. 3. ACCURACY OF PROJECT PLANS The applicant/property owner is responsible to verify all pertinent property data including but not limited to property boundary locations, building setbacks, property size, building square footage, any relevant easements and/or construction records. Any misrepresentation of any property data may invalidate this approval and may require additional review. 4. EXTERIOR BUILDING MATERIALS/TREATMENTS Final building exterior treatment plan (including but not limited to details on exterior color, material, architectural treatments and/or embellishments) shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of Community Development prior to issuance of building permits. The exterior colors and materials of the retaing walls shall be natural earth tones and have low light reflectivity values of 60 or less. The final building exterior plan shall closely resemble the details shown on the original approved plans. Any exterior changes determined to be substantial by the Director of Community Development shall require a minor modification approval with neighborhood input. 5. PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN Prior to commencement of construction activities, the applicant shall arrange for a pre-construction meeting with the pertinent departments (including, but not limited to, Building, Planning, Public Works, Santa Clara County Fire Department), prior to issuance of grading and/or building permits, to review an applicant-prepared construction management plan including,but not limited to: a. Plan for compliance with conditions of approval b. Plan for public access during work in the public right-of-way c. Construction staging area d. Construction schedule and hours e. Construction phasing plan, if any f. Contractor parking area g. Tree preservation/protection plan h. Site dust, noise and storm run-off management plan i. Emergency/complaint and construction site manager contacts 6 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 6. DUST CONTROL The following construction practices shall be implemented during all phases of construction for the proposed project to prevent visible dust emissions from leaving the site: a. Water all exposed surfaces areas (e.g., parking areas, staging areas, soil piles, graded areas, and unpaved access roads) at least twice daily and more often during windy periods to prevent visible dust from leaving the site; active areas adjacent to windy periods; active areas adjacent to existing land uses shall be kept damp at all times, or shall be treated with non-toxic stabilizers or dust palliatives. b. All haul trucks transporting soil, sand, or other loose material off-site shall be covered. c. All visible mud or dirt track-out onto adjacent public roads shall be removed using wet power vacuum street sweepers at least once per day. The use of dry power sweeping is prohibited. d. All vehicle speeds on unpaved roads shall be limited to 15 mph. e. All roadways, driveways, and sidewalks to be paved shall be completed as soon as possible. Building pads shall be laid as soon as possible after grading unless seeding or soil binders are used. f. Idling times shall be minimized either by shutting equipment off when not in use or reducing the maximum idling time to 5 minutes (as required by the California airborne toxics control measure Title 13, Section 2485 of California Code of Regulations [CCR]). Clear signage shall be provided for construction workers at all access points. g. All construction equipment shall be maintained and properly tuned in accordance with manufacturer's specifications. All equipment shall be checked by a certified mechanic and determined to be running in proper condition prior to operation. h. Post a publicly visible sign with the telephone number and person to contact at the Lead Agency regarding dust complaints. This person shall respond and take corrective action within 48 hours. The Air District's phone number shall also be visible to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. i. The applicant shall incorporate the City's construction best management practices into the building permit plan set. 7. NESTING BIRDS Nests of raptors and other birds shall be protected when in active use, as required by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the California Department of Fish and Game Code. a. Construction and tree removal/pruning activities shall be scheduled to avoid the nesting season to the extent feasible. If feasible, tree removal and/or pruning shall 7 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 be completed before the start of the nesting season to help preclude nesting. The nesting season for most birds and raptors in the San Francisco Bay area extends from February 1 through August 31. Preconstruction surveys (described below) are not required for tree removal or construction activities outside the nesting period. b. If construction activities and any required tree removal occur during the nesting season (February 1 and August 31), a qualified ornithologist shall be required to conduct surveys prior to tree removal or construction activities. Preconstruction surveys shall be conducted no more than 14 days prior to the start of tree removal, pruning or construction. Preconstruction surveys shall be repeated at 14- day intervals until construction has been initiated in the area after which surveys can be stopped. During this survey, the ornithologist shall inspect all trees and other possible nesting habitats in and immediately adjacent to the construction areas for nests. c. If the survey does not identify any nesting birds that would be affected by construction activities, no further mitigation is required. If an active nest containing viable eggs or young birds is found sufficiently close to work areas to be disturbed by these activities, their locations shall be documented and protective measures implemented under the direction of the qualified ornithologist until the nests no longer contain eggs or young birds. d. Protective measures shall include establishment of clearly delineated exclusion zones (i.e. demarcated by identifiable fencing, such as orange construction fencing or equivalent) around each nest location as determined by the qualified ornithologist, taking into account the species of birds nesting, their tolerance for disturbance and proximity to existing development. In general, exclusion zones shall be a minimum of 300 feet for raptors and 75 feet for passerines and other birds. The active nest within an exclusion zone shall be monitored on a weekly basis throughout the nesting season to identify signs of disturbance and confirm nesting status. The radius of an exclusion zone may be increased by the qualified biologist, if project activities are determined to be adversely affecting the nesting birds. Exclusion zones may be reduced by the qualified biologist only in consultation with California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The protection measures and buffers shall remain in effect until the young have left the nest and are foraging independently or the nest is no longer active. e. A final report on nesting birds and raptors, including survey methodology, survey date(s), map of identified active nests (if any), and protection measures (if required), shall be submitted to the Planning Manager, through the building permit review process, and be completed to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director prior to the start of grading. 8 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 8. NOISE MANAGEMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION At least 10 days prior to commencement of construction activities, the applicant/property owner shall post a sign at the entrance(s) to the job site, clearly visible to the public, which includes permitted construction days and hours, as well as the telephone numbers of the City's and contractor's authorized representatives that are assigned to respond in the event of a noise or vibration complaint. In addition to the posted sign, the project applicant shall send notices of the planned activity by first class mail to off-site businesses and residents within 500 feet of the project site at least 10 days prior to the start of any demolition, ground disturbing, or construction activities. If the authorized contractor's representative receives a complaint, they shall investigate, take appropriate corrective action, and report the action to the City within three business days of receiving the complaint. The applicant shall provide all documentation required to determine compliance with Cupertino Municipal Code Section 17.04.050. 9. GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION HOURS AND NOISE LIMITS a. All grading activities shall be limited to the dry season (April 15 to October 1), unless permitted otherwise by the Director of Public works. b. Construction hours and noise limits shall be compliant with all requirements of Chapter 10.48 of the Cupertino Municipal Code. c. Grading, street construction, underground utility and demolition hours for work done more than 750 feet away from residential areas shall be limited to Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Grading, street construction, demolition or underground utility work within 750 feet of residential areas shall not occur on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and during the nighttime period as defined in Section 10.48.053(b) of the Municipal Code. d. Construction activities shall be limited to Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Construction activities are not allowed on holidays as defined in Chapter 10.48 of the Municipal Code. Night time construction is allowed if compliant with nighttime standards of Section 10.48 of the Cupertino Municipal Code. e. Rules and regulations pertaining to all construction activities and limitations identified in this permit, along with the name and telephone number of an applicant appointed disturbance coordinator, shall be posted in a prominent location at the entrance to the job site. f. The applicant shall be responsible for educating all contractors and subcontractors of said construction restrictions. The applicant shall comply with the above grading and construction hours and noise limit requirements unless otherwise indicated 9 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 10. LANDSCAPE PROTECT SUBMITTAL: The applicant shall submit a full landscape project submittal, per sections 490.1, 492.1, and 492.3 of the Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, for projects with landscape area more than 500 square feet; the applicant shall submit either a full landscape project submittal or submit the Prescriptive Compliance Checklist per Appendix D of the Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance for projects with landscape area more than 500 square feet and less than 2,500 square feet. The Landscape Documentation Package or Prescriptive Compliance Checklist shall be reviewed and approved to the satisfaction of the Director of Community Development prior to issuance of building permits. 11. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS The applicant is responsible to consult with other departments and/or agencies with regard to the proposed project for additional conditions and requirements. Any misrepresentation of any submitted data may invalidate an approval by the Community Development Department. 12. INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY As part of the application, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the applicant shall agree to indemnify, defend with the attorneys of the City's choice, and hold harmless the City, its City Council, and its officers, employees, and agents (collectively, the "indemnified parties") from and against any liability, claim, action, cause of action, suit, damages, judgment, lien, levy, or proceeding (collectively referred to as "proceeding") brought by a third party against one or more of the indemnified parties or one or more of the indemnified parties and the applicant related to any Ordinance, Resolution, or action approving the project, the related entitlements, environmental review documents, finding or determinations, or any other permit or approval authorized for the project. The indemnification shall include but not be limited to damages, fees, and costs awarded against the City, if any, and cost of suit, attorneys' fees, and other costs, liabilities, and expenses incurred in connection with such proceeding whether incurred by the Applicant, the City, or the parties initiating or bringing such proceeding. The applicant shall agree to (without limitation) reimburse the City its actual attorneys' fees and costs incurred in defense of the litigation. Such attorneys' fees and costs shall include amounts paid to the City's outside counsel and shall include City Attorney time and overhead costs and other City staff overhead costs and any costs directly related to the litigation reasonably incurred by City. The applicant shall likewise agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the indemnified parties from and against any damages, attorneys' fees, or costs awards, including attorneys' fees awarded under Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5, assessed or awarded 10 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 against the indemnified parties. The Applicant shall cooperate with the City to enter a Reimbursement Agreement to govern any such reimbursement. The Applicant shall agree to (without limitation) reimburse the City for all costs incurred in additional investigation or study of, or for supplementing, redrafting, revising, or amending, any document (such as an Environmental Impact Report, negative declaration, specific plan, or general plan amendment) if made necessary by proceedings challenging the project approvals and related environmental review, if the applicant desires to continue to pursue the project. The Applicant shall agree that the City shall have no liability to the Applicant for business interruption, punitive, speculative, or consequential damages. 13. NOTICE OF FEES, DEDICATIONS, RESERVATIONS OR OTHER EXACTIONS The Conditions of Project Approval set forth herein may include certain fees, dedication requirements, reservation requirements, and other exactions. Pursuant to Government Code Section 66020(d) (1), these Conditions constitute written notice of a statement of the amount of such fees, and a description of the dedications, reservations, and other exactions. You are hereby further notified that the 90-day approval period in which you may protest these fees, dedications, reservations, and other exactions, pursuant to Government Code Section 66020(a), has begun. If you fail to file a protest within this 90-day period complying with all of the requirements of Section 66020, you will be legally barred from later challenging such exactions. SECTION IV: CONDITIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1. BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION All reviews (civil and structural plans) will be deferred to the building permit applic ation stage and until after project received Planning and Environmental Reviews and Approval. 2. GRADING &DRAINAGE Drainage/Grading plans shall be as approved and required by the Director of Public Works in accordance with Chapter 16.08 of the Cupertino Municipal Code. 401 Certi fications and 404 permits maybe required. Please contact Army Corp of Engineers an d/or Regional Water Quality Control Board as appropriate. All storm drain inlets shall be clearly marked with the words "No Dumping — Flows to Creek" using permanently affixed metal medallions or equivalent, as appr oved by the Environmental Programs Division. 11 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 3. C.3 REQUIREMENTS C.3 regulated improvements are required for all projects creating and/or replacing 10,000 S.F. or more of impervious surface (collectively over the entire project site). The developer shall reserve a minimum of 4% of developable surface area for the placement of low impact development measures, for storm water treatment, unless an alternative storm water treatment plan, that satisfies C.3 requirements, is approved by the Director of Public Works. The project is proposing permeable pavement for the maintenance roadway so the entire project site will have less than 10,000SF. Therefore, a Maintenance Plan and an Operation and Maintenance Agreement, and certification of ongoing operati on and maintenance of permeable pavement are each required. As part of C.3 impervious surface data form, provide a map that correlates to the location and square footage of the existing and proposed impervious surface areas. 4. IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT The project developer shall provide payment of fees, including but not limited to checking and inspection fees, storm drain fees, park dedication fees and fees for under grounding of utilities. Said fees shall be executed and paid prior to issuance of Building permit. Fees: a. Checking &Inspection Fees: Per current fee schedule ($891) b. Grading Permit: Per current fee schedule ($3,059 or 6% of improvement costs) c. Storm Drainage Fee: Per current fee schedule ($3,645 per DU) Bonds: a. On-site Grading Bond: 100% of site improvements. The fees described above are imposed based upon the current fee schedule adopted by the City Council. However, the fees imposed herein may be modified at the time of recordation of a final map or issuance of a building permit in the event of change or changes, the fees changed at that time will reflect the then current fee schedule. 5. EROSION CONTROL PLAN Developer must provide an approved erosion control plan by a Registered Civil Engineer. This plan should include all erosion control measures used to retain materials on site. Erosion control notes shall be stated on the plans. 6. WORK SCHEDULE Every 6 months, the developer shall submit a work schedule to the City to show the timetable for all grading/erosion control work in conjunction with this project. 12 Resolution No.6955 EXC-2019-003 July 12,2022 PASSED AND ADOPTED this 12 th day of July, 2022, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Cupertino, State of California, by the following roll call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Scharf, Madhdhipatla, Kapil, Wang NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMISSIONERS: Saxena ATTEST: APPROVED: Piu Ghosh Steven Scharf Planning Manager Chair, Planning Commission 13