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'~~ <br />STAFF 12ESPONSE: <br />With respect to addressing your concerns over compliance with Comprehensive Planning goals, the <br />~' applicant has provided answers to these questions within the body of the application. You are either <br />going to have to agree or disagree. <br />With respect to the second question concerning preservation of existing topography and~natural features, <br />the applicant has indicated within the plan that the buffer areas will be preserved as they exist with the <br />exception of hand clearing to allow for infrastructure installation. The property will be graded, <br />developed, and re-plated with new vegetation is accordance with approved Erosion Control, Site Specific <br />Aevelopment, and Landscape plans that will be reviewed and approved by staff at a later date. <br />question 11 <br />On Exhibit 5 (between pages 38 and 39 of the development application) the applicant is showing a <br />required 150' (Type F) buffer between the proposed development and the existing Clearview residential <br />subdivision. The applicant noted on this plan that the required 150' foot buffer of existing vegetation is to <br />remain undisturbed... except for where it will be cleared to allow for "access, utilities, grading and <br />stormwater facilities." <br />The applicant stated that where the existing buffer is disturbed, it will be replanted/replaced with new <br />vegetation that would be equivalent in planting density and buffer width to a Type C (40') buffer. A Type <br />C buffer is substantially smaller than a Type F buffer (40 feet wide vs 150 feet wide). <br />Since the proposed `replacement' buffer would be significantly smaller (40' wide) and potentially less <br />effective (as a buffer) than the required 150' wide buffer, and since this buffer is located between a <br />commercial development and a neighboring residential development... and since this is a land use buffer <br />intended to mitigate the conflicts between Z different land uses (residential subdivision vs retail mall)... <br />and since there seems to be seems to be a significant level of `activity' planned for an area that is intended <br />to be left undisturbed... <br />Please show on the landscape plan the extent of the buffer area that is intended to be cleared for `access, <br />utilities, grading and stormwater facilities' as described in the application. <br />STAFFRESFONSE: <br />One (1) of the conditions associated with this project, that staff is recommending, is that the one hundred <br />fifty (150) foot wide buffer shall be properly maintained at all times. Exhibit Five (5) makes an erroneous <br />statement concerning the standard that will .have to be adhered to if the buffer is disturbed. <br />With respect to the request for a detailed landscape plan, please refer to previous comments contained <br />within. this document. <br />** NOTE: Questions Twelve (12) through Sixteen (1~ will be answered by the Planning Staff and <br />the Developer as soon as practical *X <br />