roads are designed to parallel existing topographical contours to the extent possible and the <br />existing topography of the subject property and surrounding natural vegetation will generally <br />limit visibility of the proposed roads, consistent with this standard. <br />The Staff Report also notes that, as originally proposed, the site plan did not satisfy this <br />standard. The staff explains that the original, March 3, 2017 site plan included additional lots <br />along the north boundary of the site abutting Hendricks Park. The site plan depicted a private <br />accessway at the end of Capital Drive to private access to those lots. Fire Department comments <br />at that time indicated that an emergency turnaround would be required near the end of Capital <br />Drive. The revised (June 19, 2017) site plan depicted a hammerhead style turnaround between <br />proposed lots 1 and 2, and the elimination of the private drive and several lots along the north <br />boundary of the site. However, that emergency turnaround would have required extensive <br />grading into the hillside and retaining walls due to the site's topography. After further <br />consultation, the Fire Department determined that the elimination of the additional lots and <br />private driveway along the north boundary also eliminated the need for the emergency <br />turnaround. With the resubmitted site plans (August 22, 2017) the emergency turnaround was <br />eliminated. <br />At least one neighbor argued that this revision was based on the applicant's desire to save money <br />and cut corners at the expense of neighborhood safety. To the contrary, elimination of the <br />emergency turnaround and the accessway and the additional lots along the north property <br />boundary results in a plan that, in addition to reducing density, eliminates the need for extensive <br />grade disturbance and cut-and-fill activity at the end of Capital Drive, thereby complying with <br />this development standard. <br />That planned unit development review shall he based upon a recognition of both public <br />and private interest. In areas ofsignificant conflict (e.g., locating development in a <br />highly visible area as opposed to a less visible area or in an area of significant <br />vegetation as opposed to a relatively open area) which could be resolved through the use <br />q f an alternative development plan, primacy shall be given to the public interest in any <br />determinations. <br />Finding: As the Staff Report explains, because of the location of the subject property, review of <br />the proposed PUD must recognize both the public and private interest; and where there is a <br />conflict between public and private interests, and where a modification to the site plan could <br />benefit the public, (e.g., locating development in a highly visible area as opposed to a less <br />visible area or in an area of significant vegetation as opposed to a relatively open area), <br />"primacy shall be given to the public interest." <br />In accordance with this South Hills Study standard, and to minimize the visibility and impact of <br />the proposed development, the proposed site plan clusters the developable areas of the lots in <br />less vegetated areas, through the use of common open space preservation area (Tract A) and <br />individual preservation areas on the eastern lots to provide for a larger overall preserved area on <br />the steepest slopes and most densely vegetated portion of the site. The applicant has attempted to <br />work with the constraints and opportunities of the property, which have dictated the <br />development pattern of the proposal. Based on the site's topography, the proposed sited plan <br />Hearings Official Decision (PDT 17-1) 25 <br />