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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/24/2014 1 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 24, 2014 Minutes of a Special Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, July 24, 2014, 7:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle Staff: Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director; Steve Padovan, Consultant Planner; Jaime McAvoy, Planning Secretary 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Carol Gottlieb, Los Altos Hills History Committee, invited the Commission to an event on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Two of David and Lucille Packard’s children will be giving a presentation on "Growing Up In The Hills". 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ex Parte Disclosures: Commissioner Tankha had no disclosures. Commissioner Partridge disclosed that he lived in the general neighborhood but was not within the 500 foot radius. Commissioner Couperus stated that he spoke with neighbor Kjell Karlsson. Commissioner Abraham stated that he also spoke with Mr. Karlsson, as well as the appellant, John Montrym. Chair Mandle had no disclosures. Chair Mandle proposed the applicant be given 10 minutes for his rebuttal. The Commission agreed. 3.1 LANDS OF HONG; 12501 Zappettini Court: File #12-14-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a new 6,706 square foot, two-story single-family dwelling with a 2,563 square foot basement which includes a 1,000 square foot secondary dwelling unit (Maximum height of 27'). CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) (Staff-Steve Padovan). Consultant Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report. Commission asked questions of staff. Chair Mandle opened the PUBLIC HEARING. 2 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 24, 2014 Appellant John Montrym, Los Altos Hills, explained why the Fast Track approval should be overturned. Chair Mandle asked what needed to be done for the appellant to be satisfied. Mr. Hong presented photos to the Commission and spoke on behalf of his project. Commissioner Partridge inquired how moving the house 10 feet would affect the property. Mr. Hong stated, per his soils engineer, that it would cause them to perform work that would exceed the grading policy. Szuzsanna Mullner, Los Altos Hills, stated her support of the project. Carol Gottlieb, Los Altos Hills Environmental Design and Protection Committee, shared the Committee's recommendations for the landscape of the property and agreed the house should be moved back 10 feet. William McClaren, Los Altos Hills, immediately adjacent to the property, stated his support of the project. Kenneth Lawrence, Los Altos Hills, stated his opposition to the project, as he felt it did not go well with the feel of the neighborhood. Frank Dietrich, Los Altos Hills, stated his support of the project. Mr. Bowling, Los Altos Hills, expressed concern over parking for the workers and trucks and the impact on the neighborhood. Mr. Montrym provided a closing statement and responsed to the comments of his neighbors. Commissioner Abraham asked if Mr. Montrym shared his neighbor's concerns about construction traffic. He said he was more concerned with the end result of the house. Commissioner Tankha asked Mr. Montrym if he would be open to working with the Hongs on their landscape screening plans. Mr. Montrym stated that regardless of the end result that he would be very interested in being a part of it, but expressed concern that the current proposal would be difficult to screen properly. Chair Mandle closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission discussion ensued. Commissioner Tankha stated that the house met all the requirements set forth by the Town and had existing mature landscape. She would support moving it back slightly, but as the design stood currently it required no grading exception. 3 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 24, 2014 Commissioner Abraham agreed with the appellant, and stated the house was overpowering and had a lack of features. He felt the house could be moved back 30 feet without affecting the structure, and would support a grading exception of up to six (6) feet to do so. He further stated he did not feel that moving the house would affect trees that the Environmental Design and Protection Committee were concerned about. Commissioner Partridge expressed concern that certain trees that would assist with screening are being removed. As the house is on a gentle slope, he did not feel moving the house back would cause a major issue. Commissioner Couperus reminded the Commission that not all the residents wanted the house moved. His initial response was that the house met Fast Track qualifications, and a strong case would need to be made to override those facts. He said that he would have to see strong justifications to force Mr. Hong to re-design the house, but agreed that the house should be able to be moved based on what he saw of the topography. Moving the house as it is would raise it up on the property but the Town could ask the applicant to apply for a grading exception. He asked Community Development Director Debbie Pedro if moving the house would push the parking spaces into the setback. Director Pedro confirmed it would, but there would be room for reconfiguration. Commissioner Abraham mentioned the Town's tandem parking rule for the fifth space. Director Pedro confirmed that the fifth space could be tandem. Chair Mandle agreed the house looked imposing, but relative to other houses along Altamont, the house was not significantly different. The mature vegetation is an advantage, and adding a house to a once empty lot will cause an impact. She also stated that this was Fast Track house that met all the rules. She was open to moving the house but not the 30 feet earlier mentioned. She suggested 10 feet from Zappettini Court. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Abraham moved to sustain the appeal and requested the applicant return with new plans that will move the home 20 feet to the west and 10 feet to the south; the applicant is directed to work with staff to reconfigure the driveway and parking area to accommodate four (4) parking spaces. Additionally, the Commission is willing to grant a grading exception of up to three (3) feet if needed. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Partridge. 4 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 24, 2014 AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge NOES: Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. 3.2 INTRODUCTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE EMERGENCY SHELTER AS AN ACCESSORY USE IN THE R-A (RESIDENTIAL - AGRICULTURAL) ZONING DISTRICT. (Section 10-1.702 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code) (Staff- Steve Padovan). Consultant Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report. Commissioner Partridge asked if "homeless" included living in a car. Mr. Padovan stated that it referred to people who did not have a house, but they could be living in a car. There were no reports from the Sheriff’s Office of people living in cars in Town. Commissioner Tankha asked about collaborating with a neighboring community, as the Town has zero (0) homeless people. This way the Town would have no responsibility, only to assist in providing an opportunity. Commissioner Abraham was opposed to partnering with another City over something that may never affect Los Altos Hills. Chair Mandle opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Seeing no one wishing to speak, Chair Mandle closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commissioner Couperus asked what direction the Commission was to take. Director Pedro confirmed that a recommendation was needed to be made to the City Council to adopt the ordinance. Commissioner Partridge did not support a homeless shelter in the Town. He stated it was disingenuous as the number of homeless people in the Town is low. Commissioner Couperus suggested the Fire Station, as it has a room that had been used as a required shelter in the past. Chair Mandle stated that this was a good way to comply with the law, and there are practical ways for it to be implemented that do not need to be discussed at this time. 5 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 24, 2014 Director Pedro suggested changing the language to say the facility "will have at least one (1) bed" as opposed to "will have one (1) bed". MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Abraham moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow emergency housing as a permitted use in the R-A district of Title 10-1.702 j of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code, and to modify the language to read "will provide at least one (1) bed". The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tankha. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. 4. OLD BUSINESS - none 5. NEW BUSINESS 5.1 Discuss a Standard Ending Time for Planning Commission Meetings (Chair Mandle). Chair Mandle asked the Commission if they would like to ask the City Council to allow them to create a standard ending time for their meetings. The Commission decided to continue as is. 5.2 Designate a Planning Commission representative to the Subdivision Committee for the Stirling Subdivision (Staff- Cynthia Richardson). Director Pedro discussed the purpose of this request, as a new subdivision had been submitted to the Town. Commission discussion ensued. Chair Mandle appointed Commissioner Partridge to represent the Planning Commission on the Subdivision Committee. 6. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for July 16 - Commissioner Abraham Commissioner Abraham presented a report on this meeting. 6 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 24, 2014 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for August 21 - Commissioner Couperus 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for September 11 - Commissioner Partridge 6.4 Planning Commission Representative for October 16 - Commissioner Tankha 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7.1 Approval of the June 24, 2014 Minutes MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Abraham moved to approve the June 24, 2014 Minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tankha. AYES: Chair Mandle, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. 8. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK MEETINGS - JULY 15, JULY 22, 2014. 8.1 LANDS OF GLASSMAN, 2000 Old Page Mill Road, File #42-14-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a new 3,900 square foot pool and hardscape to replace an existing pool and hardscape to be placed in a Conservation Easement which has a Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303. (Staff-Cynthia Richardson). 8.2 LANDS OF URBAN WEST, LLC; 12179 Hilltop Drive, File #82-14-ZP-SD-GD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a new 4,108 square foot two story residence (maximum height 26'9") with an 875 square foot basement and a 1,068 square foot attached garage. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) (staff-Suzanne Avila). 8.3 LANDS OF ZHANG; 11565 Old Ranch Road, File #88-14-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a 5,343 square foot two story new residence (Maximum height 27') with a 734 square foot basement. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303 (a) (Staff-Nicole Horvitz). 7 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 24, 2014 8.4 LANDS OF KARAMCHETI FAMILY TRUST, 27955 Roble Blanco Drive; File #103-14-ZP-SD-GD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a new 672 square foot first and second story addition (Maximum height 27') and major interior remodel. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303 (a) (Staff-Nicole Horvitz). 9. REPORTS FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS - JULY 22, 2014. 9.1 LANDS OF DENG; 12100 Foothill Lane, File #108-14-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for minor modifications to the front entry and roofline of an existing two-story single-family dwelling, the relocation and modification of the existing driveway, and new landscaping and hardscaping throughout the property. No increase in roof height is proposed (Existing maximum height is below 26'). CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15301(e) (Staff- Steve Padovan). 10. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Jaime L. McAvoy Jaime L. McAvoy Planning Secretary