Hillside/Ridgeline Review Update
December 2, 2025
Community Road
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve
Twin Peaks
• April 1985 – Resolution No. 85-019 required MDRA approval by City Council in the Hillside/Ridgeline Overlay Area
• November 1985 – Draft Ridgeline/Hillside Study Report • January 1986 – Report recommendations approved
• March 1986 – Considered GPA and Zoning Amendments to
add hillside development policies
• April 1986 – City Council did not adopt the amendments • November 1991 – General Plan Update includes requirements for ridgeline and hilltop development
Hillside /Ridgeline Review Area Background
• February 2000 – Report provided
on Hillside, Ridgeline and Hilltop
Protection
• February 2013 – Resolution No.
13-0001 rescinded requirement
for City Council approval of an
MDRA in the Overlay Area
• May 2024 – Ordinance No. 869
eliminated MDRA requirement for
a single-family home, an addition
and detached accessory buildings
Hillside/Ridgeline Review Area Background(cont.)
Hillside/Ridgeline Review Area Policies
General Plan Policies
Resolution No. 01-103 – Limits
lot size & graded areas based on
slopes
Municipal Code
Habitat Conservation Plan
Fire Code
Landscape & Irrigation Design
Manual
Cultural Resource site avoidance
Designing to provide utilities &
access
• General Plan requires
visual impact analysis if
slopes =>15%
• Used to determine
most suitable location
for building pad
• General Plan prioritizes
evaluating views from
public locations like
scenic roadways
Hillside/Ridgeline Review Area Policies (cont.)
Excerpts from 1985 Hillside Study
Development Process
T entative Map
Visual Impact
Analysis &
Prelim Grading
• Public Hearing
• Approved by
City Council
• Consistent with
Hillside
Standards
Grading Permit
• Ministerial
• Consistent with
Tentative Map
& Hillside
Standards
Building Permit
• Ministerial
• Consistent with
Tentative Map
& Hillside
Standards
Ridgeline
MDRAs Approved by Staff
MDRA 13-0009
Summary
23 Ridgeline Area MDRAs since
2013
22 based on pad location and
elevation shown in Tentative
Maps approved by City Council
1 Ridgeline MDRA approved by
staff based on County-
approved Tentative Map
Amazon Building
Williams Ranch
• Permitted changes limited by State law to compliance with objective design standards irrespective of reviewer
• MDRA process adds costs of $5,500 & 6 months time
• City Council approval provides additional visibility
• Benefit of a public process is limited by ability to only apply objective design standards
• City Council approving majority of grading at tentative map Benefits & Impacts of Changing the Review Process
• Sensitive Lands Acquisition
• 1,300 acres acquired by Poway, 900 acres by others = >38% • Habitat Conservation Plan
• Permanent protection through conservation easements on privately owned properties = 43%
• General Plan Hillside Standards
• Guide development to maintain community character
City Council Actions to Protect Ridgelines
Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council:
1. Receive the report;
2. Accept public testimony;
3. Discuss the item; and
4. Provide direction to staff.