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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/07/2017Approved March 1, 2018 1 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, December 07, 2017, 7:00 PM Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Commissioner Basiji, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Partridge Absent: None Staff: Planning Director Suzanne Avila, Senior Planner Marni Moseley, Assistant Planner Erin Horan, Administrative Technician Frances Reed 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Chair Partridge opened Presentations from the Floor. Seeing none, Chair Partridge closed Presentations from the Floor. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ex parte disclosure: Commissioner Basiji met with Lea & Braze Engineering staff, Applicant Surag Patel's daughter-in-law, and Marni Moseley. Fellow Commissioners did not speak to anyone. 3.1 LANDS OF PATEL; 11637 Dawson Drive; File #188-17-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development permit for a swimming pool and a landscape screening plan for a previously approved two-story estate home approved at the March 5, 2015 Planning Commission meeting. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(e); (Staff: E. Horan) - continued from the regular Planning Commission meeting of November 2, 2017. Assistant Planner Erin Horan presented the staff report. The Commission asked questions of staff and received responses. Chair Partridge opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Approved March 1, 2018 2 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 Karen Atkin, project landscape architect, spoke regarding the proposed landscape plan and addressed the Commissioners’ concerns. Staff clarified that the applicant is allowed to plant in the open space easement so long as the plantings are native species. The Commission asked further questions of Ms. Atkin and received responses. Seeing no further public comment, Chair Partridge closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission discussion ensued. Commissioner Basiji spoke regarding the size of the home and agreed with Commissioner Couperus that no number of plantings in the front of the residence could alleviate the total impact coming from Interstate 280. He stated that the approach of spot covering areas was insufficient and would like to see a more systematic approach to create a grove of trees in the front of the property to mitigate the noise and view over time. He said he is ready to move forward on a motion tonight. Further, Commissioner Basiji commented on the placement of the pool and said that it could pose a danger if the inactive fault ever becomes active. He said it would be logical to move the pool to a different location. Commissioner Mandle agreed that the project needs to be better screened across from Interstate 280 and that plantings should be installed in the conservation easement to mitigate the views from Barley Hill Road. She said she is in agreement with leaving the grove of redwood trees by the oak trees. She stated that she is not concerned with the pool after having read the geology report. Commissioner Tankha said she is also concerned with the front of the property due to the view from Interstate 280 and would like to see significantly more planting to mitigate the impact. She said that she is hopeful that the oak trees and redwood trees can cohabitate and said that she is not concerned with the pool. Commissioner Couperus said he that he is satisfied with the retention of an old oak tree that they were previously proposing for removal. He said he believes that the oak trees along the bottom of the site plan are too close together and would like to see a couple of those trees move to the front of the property in order to get broader and healthier oak trees that will grow faster. Further, he said that you cannot cover the front of the house completely without impacting the view. He spoke of a bare slope where he would like to see native planting installed to breakdown the long grassland and place some of the oak trees in that area. He briefly commented on his concerns regarding the house paint color and stated that an appropriate house color could also help with blending in the residence to the environment. Chair Partridge concurred with his fellow Commissioners. He stated his concerns for the oak trees near the redwood trees and would like to see more space between Approved March 1, 2018 3 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 them. He said he would like to see oak trees added higher up on the slope rather than lower on the hillside to help break up the mass of the house. He stated that putting the oak trees down the slope would detract from their screening purposes. Further, he commented that he is satisfied with the pool in its proposed location. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Mandle moved to approve a request for a Site Development permit for a swimming pool and a landscape screening plan for a previously approved two-story estate home, subject to the recommended conditions of approval in Attachment 1, with the added condition that at least 9 more oak trees be placed between the house and Interstate 280 to mitigate the view from Barley Hill Road. In addition, applicant will work with staff to determine placement of the oak trees on the property line adjacent to the redwood trees. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Basiji. MOTION CARRIED 5-0: AYES: Commissioner Basiji, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Partridge NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 3.2 LANDS OF ROBLEDA LAH LLC; 12950 Robleda Road; File #341-17-ZP; A request for a zoning permit to construct a fence along the property perimeter line. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303 (e); (Staff: E. Horan) Ms. Horan presented staff report. The Commission asked questions of staff and received responses. Chair Partridge opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Grant Bowen, project manager, spoke on behalf of the owner and explained that their goal is to install a fence that can contain children and pets to enjoy the entirety of their twelve-acre lot. He stated that they have addressed neighbor concerns and that they have been in close contact with Cal Water to install the fence down slope to ensure that the entirety of Cal Water’s facilities are outside of the fence. The Commission asked questions of Mr. Bowen and received responses. Cindy Xue, Brendel Drive, spoke against the proposed fence. She stated that she is concerned with the impact on wildlife, merging the current and proposed fences, and the impact on heritage oak trees on property due to the slope. Approved March 1, 2018 4 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 Bennet Gates, La Rena Lane, spoke against the proposed fence. He said he is concerned about the wildlife corridor and fears that the fence will trap debris and the area will become exceedingly difficult to work on. Brook Eaton, W Sunset Drive, explained that he added a fence to his property for the sole purpose of blocking views to his pool. He said he would agree to grant a pathway easement along his property to preserve the common pathway. Further, he spoke regarding the wildlife and said that it is excessive to construct a fence along the property perimeter line. Ben Heng, La Rena Lane, stated that he understood the safety aspect of installing a fence but that the proposal seems more like a property line fence that would disrupt the look and feel of the neighborhood and the town. Sue Welch, Open Space Committee, spoke against the fence. She said that property owners could still use their property even if it is not completely fenced in. Mr. Bowen acknowledged all of the public comments and concerns and stated that arborists and landscape architects have confirmed that a five-foot fence would not block the passage of deer. Chair Partridge closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission discussion ensued. Commissioner Mandle stated that she walks the pathway between Brendel Drive and Vista Serena often and has witnessed all of the town's common wildlife in that area. She stated that the fact that so much of the proposed fenced area qualifies as open space, it tells her that the fence does not belong in that area. She said that it is a big enough property that by keeping the fences out of what is essentially an open space area, there is still plenty of room to enclose a large area to enjoy and remain safe without installing a complete perimeter line fence. Commissioner Tankha agreed with Commissioner Mandle and said that she is interested in maintaining the wildlife corridor. Commissioner Couperus spoke briefly regarding Mr. Gates' supplemental document. He spoke of the town's open space component. He stated that there are ways for property owners to mark the boundaries of their properties without closing off open space. He referenced code section 10-1.507 regarding open space conservation easement perimeter fencing and stated that a wildlife permeable fence is more like a split rail fence rather than a wire gauge fence. Commissioner Basiji agreed with fellow Commissioners. He said he walked the property and saw that the proposal is clearly a perimeter line fence. He referenced Approved March 1, 2018 5 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 the Conditions of Approval and said that if the applicant would like to fence off the area, he needs to make it a split rail. Chair Partridge concurred with fellow Commissioners. He stated that the town values a rural environment with meadows, open spaces, trees and views and that split rail fences, typically three-feet high, around town fit in quite well. He mentioned that although deer can jump five-foot fences, they rarely do and would rather move elsewhere. He said he would like the applicant to come back to the Commission with modified plans. The Commission, staff, and applicant further discussed what they would like to see from the applicant in terms of modifying their proposal. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Couperus moved to continue item 4.2 to a future meeting date to allow the applicant time to re-design the proposed plan based on the discussion and feedback provided by the Commission. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mandle. MOTION CARRIED 5-0: AYES: Commissioner Basiji, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Partridge NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 3.3 LANDS OF EVERSHINE LLC; 12815 Deer Creek Lane; File #332-16-TM; A request for approval of a Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide a 4.32-acre property into two lots. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15315; (Staff: M. Moseley) Senior Planner Marni Moseley presented the staff report. The Commission asked questions and received responses. Chair Partridge opened the PUBLIC HEARING. David Chan, applicant, spoke regarding his project. He explained the history behind the subdivision. The Commission asked questions and received responses. Chair Partridge closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission discussion ensued. Approved March 1, 2018 6 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 Commissioner Tankha spoke regarding the applicant's decision to subdivide the lot into two parcels instead of the three and stated that it works in favor of maintaining a rural environment with less constraints. Commissioner Couperus stated one concern regarding the engineering of the driveway for Parcel B due to the steepness of the slope. The Commission and staff further discussed the driveway. Commissioner Basiji stated that any future fencing would have to be minimal due to the surrounding open space. He said that the subdivision is potentially in the wildlife corridor that extends into Stanford land and fencing should be minimal and wildlife friendly. Further, he asked whether fencing restrictions could be added with the subdivision approval. Commissioner Mandle said that she is completely satisfied with the subdivision plan and does not feel there is enough information known about the surrounding properties to engage in fencing decisions. Chair Partridge concurred that the subdivision is straight forward and is not sure there is precedent for imposing fencing requirements in with the subdivision approval. The Commission, staff, and applicant further discussed retention or removal of the access bridge. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Couperus moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to approve the Tentative Parcel Map based on the findings in Attachment 1 and subject to the conditions of approval in Attachment 2 with the modification to condition 14 to include the words, "except for the driveway bridge." The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tankha. MOTION CARRIED 5-0: AYES: Commissioner Basiji, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Partridge NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 4. OLD BUSINESS – None 5. NEW BUSINESS Approved March 1, 2018 7 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 5.1 Discussion of Planning Commission procedures. The Commission and staff discussed the proceedings of the November 2, 2017 approval of Lands of Top Elegant Investment, LLC (previously the Natoma Subdivision). 6. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for November 16 – Commissioner Tankha Planning Director Suzanne Avila shared her observations of the November 16, 2017 City Council Meeting. 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for December 14 – Commissioner Mandle 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for January 18 – Commissioner Basiji 6.4 Planning Commission Representative for February 15 – Commissioner Couperus 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None 8. REPORTS FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS - NOVEMBER 14 & 28, 2017 8.1 LANDS OF RAMPELL; 26355 Esperanza Drive; File #239-17-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a previously approved new residence. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) – new landscaping; (Staff: E. Horan) 8.2 LANDS OF ARORA; 12670 Corte Madera Lane; File #97-17-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a previously approved addition/remodel and second unit. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b); (Staff: M. Moseley) 8.3 LANDS OF SHALON; 26160 Rancho Manuella Lane; File #329-17-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a swimming pool. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303 (e) Accessory structures including swimming pools; (Staff: E. Horan) 9. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK MEETINGS - NOVEMBER 14, 2017 9.1 LANDS OF KOLTEK; 12520 Barley Hill Road; File #196-16-ZP-SD-GD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a new 5,314 square -foot two-story residence (Maximum height 26’) and pool. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) – construction of a new single-family residence in a Approved March 1, 2018 8 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 7, 2017 residential zone; (Staff: M. Moseley) 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Veronica Flores Veronica Flores Administrative Technician The minutes of the December 7th, 2017 regular Planning Commission meeting were approved as presented at the March 1, 2018 special Planning Commission meeting.