HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal Letter_8-18-20_signedZ-4146,
NewBridge
Homes
August 18, 2020
Mayuko Nakaj ima
City of Diamond Bar
Planning Division
Subject: Crooked Creek Project (Vesting Tentative Map 54081, Development Review, Conditional Use
Permit, Tree Permit No. PL2017-203)
Project Location: Southern Terminus of Crooked Creek Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 (Assessor's
Parcel Number 8714-028-003)
Dear May,
We are pleased to present the attached updated submittal package for the Crooked Creek project (VTM
54081) in the City of Diamond Bar. The project, based on the new design, involves subdividing the
existing 13-acre parcel into 7 new residential lots ranging in size from 7,500 SF to 15,930 SF, with each
home averaging approximately 4,000 SF. Below is a summary of the changes that were made to the 11 lot
version of the plan that you reviewed previously.
The overarching theme of the changes was to substantially reduce the overall project impacts, including
reducing the number of lots, reducing the height and width of the retaining walls, reducing the amount of
overall grading, reducing the number of trees impacted by the project, and providing aesthetically
pleasing architecture that will be complementary and an enhancement to the surrounding community.
The total number of lots has been reduced from 11 homes to 7 homes, a reduction of 37%. The lot count
was lowered to reduce the overall project footprint area and to allow the main access road to curve away
from the hillside area, thereby substantially reducing the retaining wall requirements and slope impacts on
the easterly edge of the site. By making these changes, we were able to eliminate the need for a multi -tier
soil nail wall that had significant impacts to the slope and required the removal of a significant number of
trees. The new proposed wall is a conventional type retaining wall that will be planted with trees and
climbing vines at the base of the wall and trees with cascading plants on the top of the wall to help screen
the wall from the street.
A previous version of the plan showed a total of 307 trees directly impacted by the proposed project,
including 220 California walnut trees and 77 coast live oak trees, however, based on the new project
design, the number of trees directly impacted has been reduced to approximately 60 total trees. While the
new design reduces the number of native trees directly impacted by the project by approximately 80%,
the project will still impact approximately 60 trees that will be mitigated with replacement trees planted
throughout the property in both the onsite open space areas and the residential lots. Previous mitigation
proposed to focus on the inclusion of native and drought tolerant ornamental trees within the project
landscape area, which our landscape plan is also proposing. Fortunately, due to the significant reduction
in tree impacts, we anticipate that all tree mitigation can occur onsite.
500 Newport Center Drive, Suite 550 • Newport Beach, CA 92660 • P: (949) 344-2701 • F: (949) 344-2702
Page 2 of 3
The grading was also greatly reduced, from a previous total of 35,000 CY of grading and 20,000 CY of
import with the prior 11 unit plan to 21,270 CY of grading and 5,760 CY of import with the new
proposed design, an overall reduction in grading of 40% and dirt import of 72%. The reduction in grading
will result in significantly shorter duration of grading operations and a large reduction in truck trips
related to the import of dirt to the site. The onsite grading is still proposing to remove and re -stabilize the
portion of the site showing evidence of a historic landslide, which will help eliminate any risks to future
homeowners related to this potential unstable soil condition.
In moving forward, the project team has added an award -winning planning and design firm, BGA —
BUCILLA GROUP ARCHITECTURE, that has a 20+ year track record of designing highly creative
successful residential communities and neighborhoods throughout Southern California.
The objective for the architectural character — Italian Tuscan — was to design an architectural style that
successfully blends into hillside conditions for flat and terraced lots, along with exhibiting a higher sense
of luxury living that homeowners seek. In other words, a residential enclave (infill) that defines sense of
neighborhood thm site creativity, high residential value, stylized formal character, and a projected
lifestyle for today's new homebuyers.
While the in -fill lots and SF of homes are larger than surrounding neighborhoods, the enclave is designed
to current market sizes for new residences, rather than to smaller SF range of homes built 50 years ago.
The site designed enclave uses flat, terraced and large lots to articulate stepped massing, varied character
of materials, defined color, and screened landscaping surrounding the site.
Additionally, existing neighborhoods resemble ranch style architecture, which works for older homes and
master planned communities, but not for smaller designed enclaves today. The more preferred style is a
unified architectural character that raises the street presence and frontage for the neighborhood.
The reality for planning and design of small residential enclaves today is not derived in relating to
existing neighborhoods, but to raise the market value of surrounding residential areas with this new
development.
We are excited to present you with our revised project plan and hope you agree that the changes we are
proposing are a substantial improvement over the previous concept plan and will result in a better project
for the City and surrounding community.
Respectfully,
C NEW�BRIDGE\\\Homms LLC
Ian Harvey
100'1�
NmBrid�e
—Homes
500 Newport Center Drive, Suite 550 • Newport Beach, CA 92660 • P: (949) 344-2701 • F: (949) 344-2702
Page 3 of 3
Application Submittal Documents
The following items are included with this application:
• Site Plan
• Conceptual Grading Plan
• Tentative Tract Map
• Natural Features Exhibit
• Slope Analysis Exhibit
• Low Impact Development Plan
Preliminary Hydrology and Hydraulics Report
a Architectural Design Package
o Elevations and Floorplans
o Window and Door Schedule
o Color and Material Summary
• Landscape Plans
/•�
Newerid-ge 500 Newport Center Drive, Suite 550 • Newport Beach, CA 92660 • P: (949) 344-2701 • F: (949) 344-2702
—Homes