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Home My WebLink About03/03/2022Approved May 12, 2022 1 Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 3, 2022 Minutes Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 3, 2022 Minutes Zoom Meeting and Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Via teleconference according to the Government Code Section 54953(e), Chair Indaco called the March 3, 2022 Planning Commission Regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco Absent: None Staff: Planning Director Mangalam, Principal Planner Padovan, Associate Planner Loh, Management Analyst Einfalt, Administrative Clerk / Technician Brunner, Assistant City Attorney Claire Lai 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Chair Indaco opened PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. No presentations from the floor. Chair Indaco closed PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. 3. CONSENT CALENDAR 3.1 Motion of the Planning Commission of the Town of Los Altos Hills to continue meeting virtually through teleconference meetings and making related findings pursuant to AB 361. 3.2 Approval of February 3, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice-Chair Waschura moved to APPROVE the CONSENT CALENDAR. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Patel. MOTION PASSED: 5-0-0-0-0 AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Couperus, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS Planning Commission Ex Parte Vice-Chair Waschura had communications with Bob Elson and Kit Gordon on Item 4.2. Chair Indaco had communications with Kit Gordon on Items 4.1, and received email communications from Kit Gordon, Michael Grady, Charles Bronitsky, and Sue Welch on Item 4.2. Commissioner Couperus had email communications with Kit Gordon and Sue Welch on Item 4.2. Commissioners Smith and Patel received email communications from Sue Welch, Kit Gordon, and Charles Bronitsky on Item 4.2, but did not respond. Approved May 12, 2022 2 Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 3, 2022 Minutes 4.1 26070 Newbridge Drive – File #MA22-0001 – Lands of Mousavi Map Adjustment request to remove a recorded Conservation Easement, remove a five- foot Public Utility Easement, and record a new segment of ten-foot Public Utility Easement on a portion of Lot 2 of Tract 6527, now part of 26070 Newbridge Drive. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15305 Project Planner: Jeremy Loh Chair Indaco opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Associate Planner Loh presented the staff report. The applicant, Nadar Mousavi, offered comments in support of his proposal. Chair Indaco asked Mr. Mousavi about the lack of easement for power poles on his property. Mr. Mousavi responded that he had an inquiry out with PG&E to resolve that issue. He noted that the power line bisected his property instead of around the periphery. Public Comment No public comment. Chair Indaco closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission Discussion Vice-Chair Waschura and Chair Indaco thanked staff and the applicant for their diligence and work providing all the information on this project. Chair Indaco noted that the open space easement is 16,000+ square feet, where the conservation easement is only 13,000 square feet, which is smaller. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to ADOPT a Certificate of Correction Amending a recorded Final Map to remove a recorded Conservation Easement, remove a five-foot Public Utility Easement, and record a new segment of ten-foot Public Utility Easement on a portion of Lot 2 of Tract 6527, now part of 26070 Newbridge Drive, subject to the Findings and Conditions of Approval in Attachment 1. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. MOTION PASSED: 5-0-0-0-0 AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Couperus, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 4.2 28001 Elena Road (APN 182-02-016) – File #ZP21-0047 – Lands of Sea Landing LP Zoning Permit for new 6’-0” tall property line fencing and gates. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15301(e) Project Planner: Jeremy Loh Chair Indaco opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Associate Planner Loh presented the staff report. Approved May 12, 2022 3 Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 3, 2022 Minutes A question-and-answer session between the Commissioners and staff ensued. Stephen Pahl, legal counsel representing the applicant, provided comments. Chair Indaco asked Mr. Pahl to restate the information he shared regarding a previously approved fence application. Vice-Chair Waschura asked Mr. Pahl clarifying questions regarding a proposed additional fence placement. Public Comment Mike Grady, a Los Altos Hills resident and neighbor to the applicant, called out one of the owners of the property and provided comments regarding the proposed fencing. Vice-Chair Waschura asked Mr. Grady a question and provided visuals as a reference. Charlie Bronitsky, legal counsel representing a neighbor to the applicant, provided comments regarding the fence project. Chair Indaco asked Mr. Bronitsky a question regarding the surveys conducted by the engineers he hired vs. the surveys being utilized. Kit Gordon, representing the Open Space Committee (OSC), offered comments, noted there may be jurisdictional waterways on the property, and referenced a past committee report for recommendations. Sue Welch, a Los Altos Hills resident, provided comments. George Perlegos, a neighbor to the applicant, offered comments. Alisa Bredo, a Los Altos Hills resident, provided comments related to pathway easements. The Mr. Pahl, representing the applicant, responded to public comments. Commissioner Patel asked Mr. Pahl a question regarding addressing public comments. Mr. Pahl declined to respond to those comments. Vice-Chair Waschura asked Mr. Pahl a question regarding self-closing gates. Mr. Pahl responded that he was not able to provide an answer. Associate Planner Loh located the previously approved by a past Town planner fence permit referenced by Mr. Pahl earlier and shared the information with the Commission and the public. 27580 Arastradero Rd. is the property that has this approved fence. Vice-Chair Waschura asked staff the same question regarding self-closing gates. Commissioner Couperus provided insight into an earlier fence project. Assistant City Attorney Lai provided clarifying comments regarding pathway easements. Chair Indaco closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commissioner Discussion Vice-Chair Waschura noted three options the Planning Commission had at this point: continue, deny, or approve, and highlighted the possible actions of each decision. Commissioner Patel offered comments regarding the Planning Commission's possible actions. Approved May 12, 2022 4 Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 3, 2022 Minutes Commissioner Couperus offered comments and noted he had some slides to share. Commissioner Smith offered comments regarding the Planning Commission's role in this item. Vice-Chair Waschura offered comments regarding wildlife considerations. Chair Indaco noted she had prepared a slide to share with the Commission. Commissioner Couperus offered further comments regarding wildlife-friendly fencing and his prepared presentation. He then shared his slides that addressed several things. Commissioner Patel commented on preserving the waterway. Chair Indaco commented on preserving the northwest area of the property and shared a marked map of the property. The Commissioners itemized the sections of the property and discussed fencing possibilities for each section. Assistant Attorney Lai offered comments to the Commission on using the language provided in other legal documents when preparing a motion. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel moved to adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) to APPROVE the Zoning Permit for fencing on 28001 Elena Road, subject to the listed conditions of approval with these changes: 1. Modifications for fencing designs based on a map presented to the Planning Commission with letters A-L designations and the changes as read into the record by the commission and staff. 2. Staff is directed to prepare a final clean up version of the map along the changes read into the record. 3. To add “swales” to the end of proposed Conditions of Approval #5 to prohibit fencing in that location. Approved May 12, 2022 5 Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 3, 2022 Minutes The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Waschura MOTION PASSED: 5-0-0-0-0 AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Couperus, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 5. ONGOING BUSINESS 5.1. Evaluation of Existing Housing Element Programs Principal Planner Padovan Principal Planner Padovan provided the staff report. A question-and-answer session between the Commissioners and staff ensued. Planning Director Mangalam offered comments and noted there was a meeting scheduled for March 24, 2022. NO MOTION. 6. REPORTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS 6.1 Past Meeting • February 17, 2022 – Commissioner Smith Commissioner Smith provided highlights of the past City Council meeting. Approved May 12, 2022 6 Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 3, 2022 Minutes 6.1 Upcoming Meeting Assignments • February 17, 2022 – Commissioner Smith • March 17, 2022 – Commissioner Patel • April 21, 2022 – Commissioner Couperus • May 19, 2022 – Vice-Chair Waschura • June 16, 2022 – Chair Indaco Chair Indaco confirmed upcoming meeting assignments. 7. REPORT ON PAST FAST TRACK/SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS 7.1 FEBRUARY 8, 2022 CANCELLED 7.2 FEBRUARY 15, 2022 26616 Westwind Way – File #PM22-0001 – Lands of Chakravarthy and Purushotham Permit Modification to the Site Development Permit SD20-0096 to increase the height of the residence by one foot. The structure will remain at or below the 27-foot maximum height limit. APPROVED 7.3 FEBRUARY 22, 2022 February 22, 202212930 La Cresta Drive – File #SD21-0086 – Lands of Chan Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence. APPROVED 7.4. March 1, 2022 25959 Alicante Lane – FileSD21-0088 – Lands of Liu Site Development Permit for a new 5,338 square-foot two-story residence with a 2,757 square-foot basement, an attached 853 square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a 271 square-foot cabana, a 1,131 square-foot swimming pool, and a 5,897 square-foot tennis court. Planning Director Mangalam provided a summary of past Site Development / Fast Track hearings. 7. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT Planning Director Mangalam noted that at the March 17, 2022 City Council meeting, staff will be presenting annual progress report on the General Plan and Housing Element. She also noted that there would be a community meeting on Housing Element on March 24, 2022, at 6 pm, and post cards will be mailed to residents to advertise for this meeting. Director Mangalam provided a participant count to the Housing Element survey that was conducted. She also noted RHNA numbers for the Town. 8. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 10:36 PM by Chair Indaco. Respectfully submitted, Keren Brunner Administrative Clerk/Technician Keren Brunner