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Home My WebLink About08/07/2014 1 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, August 07, 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: Suzanne Avila, Interim Planning Director; Nicole Horvitz, Assistant Planner; Cynthia Richardson, Consultant Planner; Steve Padovan, Consultant Planner; Jaime McAvoy, Planning Secretary 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR There were no presentations from the floor. 2.A NEW BUSINESS/CONSENT CALENDAR 2.A. Filing of Stirling Tentative Map; 28030 Natoma Road, File # 193-14-TM; (Staff- C. Richardson). Consultant Planner Cynthia Richardson briefed the Commission on the item before them, and requested they acknowledge the submittal. Commissioner Abraham requested a notification when there is preparation of any negative declaration or an EIR filing as he would like to review it. Chair Mandle noted a correction to the check list. Chair Mandle opened the floor to questions from the public. Bill Balson, Los Altos Hills, asked how the family had been treated by the Town, and inquired which analysis the Town was performing on the public health effects of animals as a result of this development. Ms. Richardson said this would be analyzed during the environmental aspect of the project, and that the Town had thanked the Stirling family many times for maintaining the land for so long. 2 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Tankha moved to accept the tentative map and accompanying data for filing. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Abraham. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ex Parte Communications: Commissioners Abraham and Couperus and Chair Mandle had no disclosures. Commissioner Partridge stated that he lived in the neighborhood, but not within the 500 foot radius. He also disclosed that he spoke with neighbors Jean-Marc Frailong and Richard Halton. Commissioner Tankha said she had spoken with the appellant Elsa Perring. 3.1 LANDS OF DANIEL; 27798 Via Ventana; File #378-13-ZP-SD-GD; An appeal of a Site Development Permit for a 4,968 square foot two story new residence (Maximum height 26') with a 3,175 square foot basement, attached second unit, and a 480 square foot swimming pool approved at the Fast Track hearing on July 8, 2014. The applicant is also requesting to remove a multi trunk heritage oak tree. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303 (a) & (e) (Staff- N. Horvitz). Assistant Planner Nicole Horvitz presented the staff report. Commissioner Partridge asked questions pertaining to the removal of the oak trees and protecting the trees at the driplines. Commissioner Tankha inquired about the appellant's concerns about the applicant's sewer system. Ms. Horvitz deferred to the applicant's engineer. Commissioner Couperus asked when the house was originally built, and if it was on septic at the time. Chair Mandle opened the PUBLIC HEARING. 3 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 Appellant Elsa Perring, Los Altos Hills, explained why the Fast Track approval should be overturned. Commissioner Abraham asked Ms. Perring about her qualifications and if she had any experts working for her to come to these conclusions. Ms. Perring stated she did not. Chair Mandle asked the appellant to clarify her water concerns with the tree. Ms. Perring said she believed the water for trees in the area was dependent on this property. Carl Sherwood-Combs, Architect, represented the Daniels. He spoke on behalf of the project and asked the Commission to uphold the Fast Track decision. Commissioner Partridge asked what efforts were made to preserve tree #4. He also inquired about a retaining wall that was proposed to be "right against the roots of a tree". Ms. Horvitz stated that this wall would allow the applicant to have the required 26 feet of back up space for vehicles in the driveway. Commissioner Tankha also inquired about the removal of tree #4. She asked if the tree was actually sick, or if it was only sick because they wanted to place a patio there. Mr. Sherwood-Combs stated the patio was suggested after the tree was designated sick. Larry von Gronagen, Bay Area Tree Specialists, answered questions about the arborist’s report. Ms. Perring gave her closing comments. Seeing no one else wishing to speak, Chair Mandle closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commissioner Couperus stated that he did not feel the tree could be saved in the long run, and the neighborhood water runoff had little to do with this property as it was downhill from the others. He did not feel it was worth changing the house for a tree that probably will not last. Commissioner Partridge agreed they cannot control the groundwater the way Ms. Perring mentioned. There are many things that may or may not have an effect on the runoff. He said that he was not convinced the applicant made the level of effort to preserve the trees that he would have liked. Commissioner Abraham agreed with Commissioner Couperus, and the Commission should enforce the recommendations in the arborist's report. If the tree is a major concern, the Commission could ask the applicant to replace the tree at a 3:1 ratio. He said he did not feel there was sufficient research done by the appellant 4 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 to make a case against what the applicant had proposed, and supported the staff’s recommendation. Commissioner Tankha said she would like to see all efforts made to preserve the trees, and is not totally convinced the tree has been looked at to see what could have been done to save it. With concern to the groundwater, she said she trusted the experts hired by the applicant, but would like to see the appellant and the home owner work together to save the trees. Chair Mandle said she could see the appellant really cared, but all the experts agreed the development would not affect the water supply to the neighboring trees. She said that tree #4 is a heritage oak and that she was torn because the Town protects them, but it is growing on fill. She said she would listen to the experts and support the tree’s removal, as well as support the 3:1 ratio for replacement. She expressed concern that the trees on the driveway are at risk. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Abraham moved to uphold the Fast Track approval for the requested Site Development permit for a new residence with basement and swimming pool subject to the recommended conditions of approval in Attachment 1. Additionally the applicant will plant one (1) 48 inch and two (2) 24 inch box oak trees at appropriate locations that are compatible with the remaining heritage oaks on the property. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Couperus. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle NOES: Commissioner Partridge ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. 3.2 ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 8 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE (Building Regulations); To adopt the 2013 California Building Standards Code, including but not limited to Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire, and California Green Building Standards Codes with local amendments. File #380-13-MISC, CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15061(b) (3) (Staff- S. Padovan). Consultant Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report. Commission asked questions of staff and discussion ensued. 5 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 Chair Mandle opened the public hearing. Bill Balson, Los Altos Hills, stated his opposition to the proposed Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map adoption. Chair Mandle closed the PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commisisoner Tankha moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to the look at the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Map to determine whether or not it reflects the fire hazard accurately; and, if appropriate, create a subcommittee to work with the fire department to create a new WUI map. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Partridge. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Couperus moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to accept amendments B2, B3, C3, C4, E4, E5, E6 and E8 of the May 22, 2014 Subcommittee Voting Summary and Results for 2013 California Building Code amendments as stated in Attachments 3 and 4. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Abraham. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. 6 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Partridge moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to accept items D2, D3 and E9 of the May 22, 2014 Subcommittee Voting Summary and Results for the 2013 California Building Code amendments as stated in Attachments 3 and 4. 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. Chair Mandle suggested forwarding the remainder of the building code updates to the next meeting, given the current staff report and discussion amongst the Planning Commission. The rest of the Commission agreed. 3.3 LOS ALTOS HILLS GENERAL PLAN CIRCULATION & SCENIC ROADWAYS UPDATE: FILE #79-12-MISC; CEQA Review: Negative Declaration (Staff- N. Horvitz). Assistant Planner Nicole Horvitz presented the staff report. Chair Mandle opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Samuel Broydo, Los Altos Hills, stated no changes needed to be made to the Town other than the behavior of the cyclists. He said there were no "musts" in this document, and that it was only an item for discussion. Bill Balson, Los Altos Hills, stated that the Town had already incorporated most of the suggestions in the Complete Streets proposal, and while well-intentioned, he was concerned it may affect the Town's rural atmosphere. Sue Welch, Los Altos Hills, spoke against the usage of sharrows, as they were designed for streets that are wider than those in Los Altos Hills, and would not have an impact on bicycle traffic or safety. Chair Mandle closed the PUBLIC HEARING. 7 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 Commissioner Couperus expressed his disdain for the document, but that it was an improvement on what had been presented in the past. He stated that the proposal required further revisions. Commissioner Abraham suggested the planning staff revise the document and return with a proposal that is more appropriate for Town residents. Commissioner Partridge suggested the Commission communicate to staff any ideas that they may have to improve the document, and have staff incorporate them in a revised proposal to bring back to the Commission. Commissioner Tankha reiterated that the purpose of the document was to make the streets in Town safer, and she felt that the Town had already made the necessary steps towards safety. Chair Mandle clarified that the document was not stating the Town had to have every street be complete, but there needed to be a network of safe roadways. She said she felt the Town already had that in place, and supported moving this to a future meeting after some revisions. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Abraham moved to return the document to staff for revisions, and that the Commission would send suggestions to staff via email. 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 4.1 LANDS OF TOPRANI; 26630 Ascension Drive, File # 118-14-ZP; Status Update (Staff- S. Padovan). MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Partridge moved to continue this item to the next meeting so the applicant could be present. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Abraham. 8 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. 5. Intentionally Left Blank 6. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for August 21 - Commissioner Couperus 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for September 11 - Commissioner Partridge 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for October 16 - Commissioner Tankha 6.4 Planning Commission Representative for November 20 - Chair Mandle 7. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK MEETINGS - none 8. REPORTS FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS - JULY 29, AUGUST 5, 2014. 8.1 LANDS OF 12401 HILLTOP DRIVE LLC; 12401 Hilltop Drive: File #120-14- ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening for a new 8,632 square foot two story residence with a basement, detached garage, secondary dwelling unit, pool house, swimming pool/ spa, and a sports court, approved at the August 20, 2013 Fast Track meeting. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (staff- N. Horvitz). 8.2 LANDS OF RODE AND BERRY, 14350 De Bell Road; File #124-14-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening for a new 5,808 square foot two story residence with a basement, detached garage, and swimming pool, approved at the May 14, 2013 Fast Track hearing. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff- N. Horvitz). 9 Planning Commission Meeting Regular Minutes August 7, 2014 8.3 LANDS OF MORITA; 27960 Roble Alto: File #45-14-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for an 860 square foot, second story addition to an existing two-story single-family dwelling with minor interior remodeling, the partial removal of an existing pool house and the removal of hardscape in the rear yard area. The roof height over the western portion of the dwelling will be increased from 15 feet to 25 feet (Existing structure maximum height is 26 feet). CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15301(e) - (Staff- S. Padovan). 9. ADJOURNMENT Respectfully submitted, Jaime L. McAvoy Jaime L. McAvoy Planning Secretary