Council continues Avamore height‑waiver request, asks for grading and drainage analysis

Residents from the Avamore cove and the homeowners seeking to build on Lot 70 debated a conditional use permit request that would classify a daylight basement as part of the measured building height under Avamore code. City engineer and planning staff explained that under Title 11B (the Avamore code) building height is measured "from the finished floor elevation closest to the corresponding finished grade to the top of the roof," a method that yields a height of roughly 43–44.5 feet for the proposed house — above the 35‑foot maximum.

Neighbors characterized the proposed home as disproportionately tall for the cul‑de‑sac and repeatedly pressed the city and applicant for a site‑specific drainage and grading analysis, citing hillside runoff, existing gullies and previous hillside failures in other neighborhoods. One neighbor pointed to an engineering firm’s earlier work for the subdivision and asked who would be liable if drainage changes damaged adjacent homes. Applicant Jordan Devey and builder Todd Amicks said the planned house sits within the existing graded pad and that engineers would design drainage to remain on‑site; builder Amicks told council the project would not move berms or change the natural drainage lines.

After extended public comment and council discussion, the council voted to continue the item and remand it to staff to coordinate a grading and drainage report (to be prepared by the applicant’s engineer and reviewed by the city engineer) before the council takes final action. Councilmembers said they wanted the technical plans and city review in hand to address neighbors’ concerns before approving or denying the waiver.