Plymouth – The Plymouth City Council had its eyes on the scenic views surrounding the city on August 13th, when it approved its long-sought General Plan Update. The element that mentioned the “view sheds” in the document was subject of discussion, and ultimately left to be further interpreted on the “project level.” Mayor Jon Colburn asked about the views from Main Street, and surrounding areas, that were mentioned as part of the “view shed” protections. He worried that the document was not specific enough, and left out details that could make it more meaningful. View points from surrounding areas onto the city of Plymouth were among the areas he questioned, including high points looking down. Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin said about one of those viewpoints mentioned in the General Plan: “From the top of Shenandoah Road, you can see the Bay Area on a clear day.” Baldwin thought they should change the wording in that section to include only views on Highway 49 up until the city limits. Councilman Mike O’Meara disagreed, saying they should leave Shenandoah Road in the descriptions. Councilwoman Pat Fordyce said she was glad they were surrounded by agricultural land, and that several surrounding ranchers that night said they intend to keep their ranches open. Fordyce asked City Planner Paula Daneluk to explain the difference in “view shed” terminology between the words “ridgeline” and “hilltop.” Daneluk said it was an issue of semantics and they are one and the same. She said in a definition in an ordinance, the city could say “you want to have natural terrain as the last thing you see before you see sky.” The object of the language was to limit the positioning of houses to make the views of hills and treetops, rather than the lines of roofs. O’Meara said the General Plan “is not a blueprint to plaster houses all over Plymouth,” but rather a plan to control where houses are put. And the loose language of the “view shed” protection would give more control at the planning commission or city ordinance level, on a case-by-case basis. Daneluk said it was project-level work to look at things like sight-lines and more particular information. She said Planning Commission and City Council control at project level was the ultimate goal. Colburn, in voting no, said he was “not allowed to put input into things he was concerned about,” and “the people of Plymouth never endorsed this attempt to increase the population of the city by 10,000 people.” The General Plan and accompanying EIR passed, 4-1. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.