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ITEM 8.c. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 4/7/2026 Meeting Type: Town Council Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Development Services Prepared by: John Wesley, Development Services Director Staff Contact Information: Phone: 480-816-5138 Email: jwesley@fountainhillsaz.gov Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approving a request for a CUT/FILL waiver for 16512 E. Trevino Dr. to allow fill in excess of 10' on a portion of the property. (CFW26-000003). Staff Summary (background) The owner of the property at 16512 E. Trevino Dr. is preparing plans to build a new single- family home on this lot. The plans submitted for this 37,723 square-foot lot show a total disturbance area of 12,200 sq. ft. The total building area under roof is 5,990 sq. ft. This odd- shaped lot was created by a lot split from the lot to the west. A variance has been granted by the Board of Adjustment to reduce the front yard setback from 40' to 20' to allow the property owner to take advantage of the area of the lot along Trevino that is not as steep as the rest of the lot. The area of the lot immediately behind the house has an approximately 28% slope. The plans for this home show a finish floor elevation of 1719. The high point on the property is in the southwest corner at an elevation of 1727. This area will be cut to provide access to the driveway and the garage. Fill be brought in to create the level building pad. The house plans include an outdoor covered patio at the rear of the house. The excess fill will occur in this location. The area of excess fill is about 480 sq. ft. and the maximum fill is about 13'. The shape and slope of this lot result in a limited buildable area. The plans are for a one- story home that runs parallel to the contours. The area that will have the excess fill is under the covered outdoor patio at the back of the house. Staff has identified three objectives in reviewing cut and fill waiver requests. Those objectives are: 1. To reduce the visual impacts of the proposed development as viewed from the adjacent properties and the right of way. Given the odd shape of this lot and the steep slopes, it is practically impossible to design a home that will not have a significant side facing a public street. The landscape plan submitted with the building permit includes a combination of boulders and cactus to screen the base of the stem wall. 2. To review the measures applied by the designer to minimize the amount of fill on the lot. The house has been moved as far west on the lot as possible to take advantage of the less steep area near Trevino. The house has been designed to run parallel to the contours to reduce the impact. 3. What are alternatives to the proposed plan that would conform to the cut/fill requirements? Options to remove the excess fill area would be to either reduce the size of the covered patio area or to step it down. The main part of the patio is about 14' deep with about half of it with the excess fill. Dividing the patio in half or adding in stairs from the various access points will significantly reduce the functionality of the patio. Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Subdivision Ordinance, Article 5, Section 5.03 D Subdivision Ordinance, Article 5, Section 5.06 D Risk Analysis N/A Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) N/A Staff Recommendation(s) The amount of excess fill is minimal on this very steep, odd-shaped lot. The applicant has worked on the design to minimize the impacts and screen the stem wall below the patio. Staff recommends approval of the fill waiver. Suggested Motion MOVE TO APPROVE a CUT/FILL waiver for 16512 E. Trevino Dr. (CFW26-000003). FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: N/A Budget Reference: N/A Funding Source: N/A ATTACHMENTS 1. Case Details Maps