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. November 13, 1979 Honorable ~1ayor and City Council SUBJECT: IMPLEMENT,n.TION OF PROPOSITION R. Voter approval of proposition R (Attachment 1) will require various City Council actions over the next several months to fully implemen~'l.ll of i':s provisions. The Council is being requested at this ti~e, however, to (1) approve the administrative approach for applying the new and expanded RC Zone provisions of Proposition R to various properties in the city; (2) approve a formula for determining "average natural slope"; and (3) authorize the necessary public hearings to be held to formally incorporate various Proposition R provisions in the City's subdivision and zoning regulations. 1. Application of RC Zone: Proposition R states that properties having average natural slopes ranging from 15 to 30 percent are placed in the RC Zone and restricted to minimum 2 acre residential development while properties having average natural slopes in excess of 30 percent are likewise placed in the RC Zone and restricted to minimum 5 acre residential development. Traditional zoning practice requires each affected property to be defined by a detailed legal description and specifically identified on official zoning maps. However, lack of detailed information relative to slope characteristics of all properties potentially affected by Proposition R preclude using this traditional approach without extensive research and commitment of staff time. An alternative approach that would appear to satisfy both the intent of Proposition R and fit into already established administrative procedure would be to implement the new and expanded RC Zone provisions through the overlay zone concept. Under this technique, certain hilly areas of the city would be identified as containing substantial property that is subject to the 2 acre and/or 5 acre residential limitation. The staff is presently preparing a map that identifies these areas. Generally, properties lying southeasterly of the Gage Canal and easterly of Washington Street would be included in the RC overlay zone area as would all of the Norco Hills and a large portion of La Sierra including the Lionhead and Twin Buttes areas. Portions of the bluffs along numerous arroyos and the Santa Ana River also appear subject to the slope criteria. 2. Formula for determining "average natural slope": Proposition R uses the term "average natural slope" for determining residential densities in certain hillside areas. In order to provide a common and consistent standard of measure for average natural slope, it is suggested that the formula outlined in Attachment II be adopted. This formula is widely recognized and used by several jurisdictions throughout the state in hillside development ordinances. It is also suggested that average natural slope computations using this formula be a part of development applications submitted in RC Zone designated areas and such be certified by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor. Exceptions to this requirement could be at the discretion of the Public Works Director where appropriate. '1 \91~ ,~llo\(r If1