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Council extends settlement timeline for hillside development to five years after developer request
Summary
The council moved item G from consent to discussion after a developer representative asked for a five‑year extension to complete remaining design‑review permits; after staff and council questions about liability and history, council approved a five‑year extension to the settlement agreement to allow the developer time to finish permitted work.
Council debated a Fourth Amendment to a settlement agreement affecting a subdivision (item G) after a public comment by Steven Chen, who spoke for the property owner and requested a five‑year extension because of construction slowdowns and cost increases since COVID.
City staff explained they had initially proposed a two‑year extension and there had been a miscommunication with counsel; the settlement requires that design‑review permits be issued for remaining lots and the extension would preserve the settlement’s design standards while permits are obtained.
Council members discussed potential liability if the city failed to extend agreed entitlements and recognized the settlement’s role in avoiding further litigation. After discussion, the council amended the proposed extension to five years and approved the amendment to the settlement agreement so that outstanding design‑review permit activity can continue under the settlement’s terms.
The city attorney and staff noted the settlement remains in effect until all design permits are issued; once the remaining permits are issued the settlement obligations would conclude.
