Capital Hill PUD Page 27 of 63 <br />Planned Unit Development Application - Tentative Stage - Written Statement <br />March 3, 2017 <br />In addition, there is a proposed private drive that follows an existing driving area on the <br />property as closely as is practical. This area is currently used as access within the property and <br />is located on a part of the property that is fairly level. <br />The decision to place the proposed private drive in approximately the same place as the <br />existing access drive is grounded in common sense. This location would require the least <br />amount of cut and fill and disturbance to natural resources, while providing required access to <br />the proposed lots. <br />(g) That planned unit development shall be based upon a recognition of both public and private <br />interest. In areas of significant conflict (e.g. locating development in a highly visible area as <br />opposed to a less visible area or in an area of significant vegetation as opposed to a relatively <br />open area) which could be resolved through use of an alternative development plan, primacy <br />shall be given to the public interest in any determinations. <br />This Planned Unit Development proposal is required to meet the public policy direction <br />contained in the South Hills Study for development in areas having significant vegetation and <br />other sensitive characteristics such as steep slopes, wetlands, and drainage ways. This <br />development proposal attempts to balance the private interest to develop the property for low <br />density residential use, along with the public interest for minimizing the impact to the natural <br />character of the site. <br />In this instance the public interest is served by <br />• Minimizing impacts to the site existing trees and vegetation; <br />• Minimizing disturbance of some of the steepest slopes; <br />• Minimizing the impact to the site but proposing density that is well under the 5 units <br />per acre allowed; <br />• Preserving large contiguous areas of open space, forest canopy and wildlife habitat, <br />• Providing wildlife corridors; and <br />• Providing connection to the existing Ribbon Trail recreation path to Hendricks Park. <br />(with a short connection along the existing right of way). <br />This proposal is consistent with the applicable South Hills Study policy direction. <br />(h) That all developments shall be reviewed for potential linkage with or to the ridgeline trail <br />system <br />While the original intent was likely to have the Ridgeline Trail on the ridge, there are some <br />places within the city that acquiring and building the trail on the highest elevations is not <br />possible. This is one of those cases. Exactly 100 years ago, the existing house shown on Lot <br />24 was constructed at the very highest point on the property (elevation 924). A's you can see <br />from the map below, the Ridgeline Trail (in black running through the green area) was not <br />designed through private property nor was that property acquired. <br />Dedication to the City of Eugene of the south 25' of the property (Tract E on the Site Plan) for <br />connection of the property to the Ribbon Trail, which connects to the ridgeline trail system, will <br />satisfy this policy direction. This assumes the City of Eugene will accept the donated property. <br />Schirmer Satre Group • 375 West 4" Avenue, Suite 201, Eugene, OR 97401 • (541) 686-4540 <br />