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Home My WebLink About06/15/2022Approved July 7, 2022 Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Commission Special Meeting June 15, 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 June 15, 2022 Planning Commission Special meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco Absent: Administrative Clerk/Technician Brunner Staff: Planning Director Mangalam, Principal Planner Padovan, Associate Planner Loh 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. Commissioner Patel requested the Consent Calendar motion be separated by item number because he planned to vote differently on each. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Chair Indaco moved to approve the Planning Commission of the Town of Los Altos Hills continue meeting virtually through teleconference meetings and making related findings pursuant to AB 361. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Waschura. MOTION PASSED: 5-0-0-0-0 AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 3.2 Approval of May 12, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Chair Indaco moved that the May 12, 2022 Planning Commission Special Meeting Minutes be APPROVED. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Waschura. MOTION PASSED: 4-0-1-0-0 AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Couperus, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco NOES: None ABSTAIN: Commissioner Patel RECUSE: None 2 Planning Commission Special Meeting June 15, 2022 Minutes ABSENT: None 4. STUDY SESSION 4.1 Study Session to consider text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance (Title 10, Chapter 1) of the Municipal Code to include additional language, to provide clarifications, and to correct grammatical and typographical errors Project Planner: Jeremy Loh Chair Indaco opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Associate Planner Loh presented the staff report. Commissioner Couperus offered comments. Vice-Chair Waschura asked for clarification on how the Commission would present their comments. Planning Director Mangalam offered guidance comments. A question-and-answer session between the Commissioners and staff ensued. Public Comment Carol Gottlieb, a resident of Los Altos Hills, noted her two concerns: the definition of the 35- ft. height and the development area when houses are demolished. Kjell Karlsson, a resident of Los Altos Hills, offered comments on the topic of bunkers. Chair Indaco closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commissioner Discussion Commissioner Patel offered comments suggesting order of operations for Commissioner comments. Chair Indaco offered comments regarding adding clarifying language to some of the items. A question-and-answer session between the Commissioners and staff ensued. Suggestions for alternate grading language were offered by the Commissioners. Commissioner Couperus offered comments regarding the language around ADU’s, driveways, hot tubs, and spas. More Commission discussion ensued. NO MOTION 4.2 Study Session to consider an update to the Outdoor Lighting Policy to include regulations for outdoor lighting at construction sites in Town. Project Planner: Sofia Mangalam Chair Indaco opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Planning Director Mangalam presented the staff report. A question-and-answer session between the Commissioners and staff ensued. Public Comment 3 Planning Commission Special Meeting June 15, 2022 Minutes Carol Gottlieb discussed limiting the tree lights. We haven’t designated the number of tree lights in the policy and suggested clarifying tree lighting policy. Peter Brown also commented on tree lighting that the idea was to have one or two tree li ghts per tree for safety reasons and should be limited to one or two trees. Chair Indaco closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commissioner Discussion Commission Smith expressed concern that limiting light at entrance points might be an issue if someone is breaking through the fence other than the access points, and more perimeter coverage may be needed. Vice-Chair Waschura noted that if many lights are coming on and off at different timings, so a compromise would be to have a minimal amount of lighting. He also noted that temporary lighting should go away when construction is concluded, and staff can determine during the review of construction plans the number of lights needed. He offered that we should also investigate when the lighting shall start. Chair Indaco noted that policy should consider stopping the light where construction has been discontinued or abandoned. She discussed the recent planning approval of a house containing tree lights on 15 trees and offered comments on tree lights to allow for safety purposes only. Also, limit it to two trees per lot, not to be used in combination with another outdoor lighting, and limited to 15 feet in height. Commissioner Patel directed staff to check the lumen and kelvins of the available security lighting. He also noted that these lights should be LED lights. For tree lighting, he commented that it is accent lighting and not safety lighting and should be with limited lumens. NO MOTION 5. ONGOING BUSINESS 5.1. Housing Element Update 2023-31 Planner: Steve Padovan Principal Planner Padovan provided the staff report. A question-and-answer session between the Commissioners and staff ensued. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Motion of the Planning Commission to provide input to Town staff on “indoor and outdoor spaces needed” in Los Altos Hills Planning Director Mangalam presented the staff report. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice-Chair Waschura moved that the Planning Commission prioritize any requirements for keeping town staff and facilities commensurate with services that we must provide to the residents. The motion was seconded by Chair Indaco. MOTION PASSED: 5-0-0-0-0 AYES: Commissioner Patel , Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Couperus, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco NOES: None 4 Planning Commission Special Meeting June 15, 2022 Minutes ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 7. REPORTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS 7.1 Past Meeting • May 25, 2022 – Vice-Chair Waschura Vice-Chair Waschura provided highlights of the past City Council meeting. 7.1 Upcoming Meeting Assignments • June 16, 2022 – Chair Indaco • July 21, 2022 – Commissioner Smith Chair Indaco confirmed upcoming meeting assignments. 8. REPORT ON PAST FAST TRACK/SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS 8.1 MAY 17, 2022 13940 La Paloma Rd – File #SD21-0091 – Lands of Wang Site Development Permit for landscape screening, fencing and driveway gate for an approved new residence. APPROVED 24752 Olive Tree Ln – File #SD21-0096 – Land of Duong Site Development Permit for landscape screening and associated hardscape improvements. APPROVED 8.2 MAY 24, 2022 CANCELLED 8.3 MAY 31, 2022 CANCELLED 8.4 JUNE 7, 2022 26296 Fremont Rd – File #ZP22-0009 – Lands of Purple Orchid Properties LLC Zoning Permit for a new 6’-0” tall fence along three sides of the property. APPROVED 8.5 JUNE 14, 2022 24005 Oak Knoll Circle– File #SD22-0016 – Lands of Davila Site Development Permit for landscape screening and fencing for an approved new residence. 12815 Deer Creek Lane – File #PM22-0002 – Lands of Sattar and Imam Site Development Permit Modification to modify a previously approved residence and construct a 6,469 square foot, two-story residence with an attached 433 square foot garage and an attached 1,090 square foot ADU. One heritage oak is proposed for removal and the existing tennis court and road access will be demolished and filled to restore the property to is approximate original site contours. Planning Director Mangalam provided highlights on past Site Development/Fast Track hearings and noted that the 24005 Oak Knoll Circle and 12815 Deer Creek Lane projects were approved. 7. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT Planning Director Mangalam provided these highlights in her report to the Planning Commission: 5 Planning Commission Special Meeting June 15, 2022 Minutes • There is June 20th Joint Special meeting scheduled to discuss housing site inventory. Staff had an informal meeting with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to get feedback regarding additional documentation required for housing sites. Staff is working on releasing a draft of the Housing Element by the end of July. • The staff has been working with Fire Department and hoping to have a representative from the dept to discuss requirements pertaining to road widening and so on for new homes and additions. • She responded to Vice-Chair Waschura’s the Planning Commission reorganization takes place at the beginning of the next regular meeting, which is the July 7, 2022. • She also advised the Commission that an appeal has been filed on behalf of 12869 La Cresta, regarding the Planning Commission’s decision. 8. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 9:52 PM by Chair Indaco. Respectfully submitted, Keren Brunner Planning Technician