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Home My WebLink About10/27/1969PLANNING COMMISSION TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS MINUTES OF A REGULAR ADJOURNED MUETING October 27, 1969 Chairman William A. Perkins called the Regular Adjourned Meeting of the Planning Commission of the Town of Los Altos Hills to order at 7:48 P. M. at the Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California. The follow- ing members answered roll call: Present: Commissioners Dawson, Hibner, Lachenbruch, Minckley, Weisbart, Chairman Perkins. Absent: Commissioner McReynolds. COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE: Councilman Walter A. Benson APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 13, 1969. Amendments: 1) Page 1, 1st para., Roll Call should indicate Commissioner Dawson was absent. 2) Page 1, Council Referral, Motion should read "......that the Commission set a Public Hearing on this matter for the next meeting." Commissioner Minckley moved, seconded by Hibner and carried unanimously that the Minutes of October 13, 1969 be approved as amended. COMMUNICATIONS: 4W 1. Mrs. Carl Djerassi, 527 Cresta Vista Lane, Portola Valley, dated September 23, supporting low density development adjoining Arastradero Road. 1. Stanford Research Institute has completed its Convention Center/Arena Report, which will be distributed in the near future and presented at 7:30 P. M. on November 13 in the County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room. _2. Staff presented a request for change of alignment of Peck Road at the entrance to the Rhus Ridge Ranchos Subdivision. Commission concurred this matter should be agended following the Public Hearing on the agenda. 3. Chairman Perkins stated the proposed joint Study Session with the Palo Alto Planning Commission had been set for December 10, 1969 and the tentative agenda suggested by the Commission had been accepted by Palo Alto. 4. City Manager reviewed Staff meeting with Palo Alto Staff to discuss Arastradero Road between Foothill Expressway and Horseshoe Lane, noting cooperative Staff meetings would continue and that, due to forecast of significant traffic increases, it appeared Arastradero Road would likely be a four lane road although there were numerous questions as to design and standards. 5. City Manager reported on Staff meeting with Cupertino re sphere of influ- ence between communities, noting Staff objected to the Cupertino proposal which would establish the sphere of influence boundaries at Permanente Creek. Commission requested Staff to report at the next Study Session and present recommendations for proposed boundaries. Mr. A. Laws, 11210 Hooper Lane, urged the unincorporated area be included within the sphere of influence determinations. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. Commissioner Weisbart reviewed the Land Resources Corporation proposal for the Foothills development, which was presented to the City of Palo Alto October 15th, noting the Palo Alto School District estimated new schools at a cost of approximately $5,000,000 would be required to service a develop- ment of this proposed density. 2. Commissioner Weisbart stated the City of Palo Alto on October 22nd had rezoned 33 acres of Coyote Hill property from Light Manufacturing to Agriculture/Conservation. 3. Commissioner Weisbart stated the Palo Alto Planning Commission had dis- cussed the proposed joint meeting with the Town Commission and the major question raised had been whether public participation should be allowed during the Study Session. Mrs. Weisbart stated her support for allowing the public to speak at some point during the joint meeting. COUNCIL REFERRAL: 1. L. J. ALPINIERI, 10632 Magdalena Avenue - Request to allow fence encroachment in public right-of-way. Staff reviewed this request which the Council had referred to the Commission for recommendations. Commission concurred the request should be agended for the November 10th meeting. NEW BUSINESS: 1. PUBLIC HEARING and Discussion re: Control of Vicious Dogs. Staff report was presented noting the Town has adopted County Ordinance NS -600.4 (regulating animals), exclusive of Section 4.3.4-1, which prohibits stray animals to run at large. City Manager noted the County Ordinance as adopted by the Town does prohibit vicious animals upon streets or other public places within the Town. The following communications were read in their entirety in chronological order: a) Support for stronger dog restrictions: Mrs. E. R. Hansen, 12395 Melody Lane, dated August 29 and October 27, 1969 Mr. William Elliott, Principal Fremont Hills Elementary School, dated September 15, 1969 Mrs. James Mueller, 12723 La Cresta Drive, dated September 18, 1969 Mr. S. L. Pfefer, 26083 Todd Lane, dated September 20, 1969 Mr, Bradley H. Young, 13850 Campo Vista Lane, dated October 22, 1969 b) Opposition to stronger dog restrictions: Mr. William W. Auxier, 12930 La Cresta Drive, dated September 17, 1969. City Manager stated Mrs. Smith, Principal of Gardner Bullis Elementary 4WSchool, had expressed support for stronger dog restrictions. At 3:39 P. M., Chairman Perkins declared the Public Hearing open. -2- ( NEW BUSINESS: Public Hearing re Control of Vicious Dogs cont'd.: The following residents spoke in support of stronger dog restrictions: Mrs. James Mueller; Mrs. Harold Schick, 26400 Weston Road; Mr. B. L. Pfefer; Mrs. Frank Wezniak,12374 Melody Lane; Mr. Larry Watkins, 27200 Altamont Road; David Jansson, 27440 Sherlock Road; Frank Downs, 26323 Purissima Road; Mrs. J. G. Ronsiek, 13023 Vista del Valle Court; Mrs. L. J. Alpinieri, 10632 Magdalena Road; and Mrs. E. R. Hansen. Mrs. Catherine Ward, 14116 Seven Acres Lane, spoke in opposition to stronger dog restrictions and opposed initiating of fencing requirements. The following also participated in general Floor discussion: Mrs. Florence Fava, 26391 Moody Road; Mr. James Bell, 27421 Sherlock Road; Mrs. Anne Spencer, 27490 Sherlock Road; and Mr. Byron Dieterle, 27112 Moody Court. During Floor discussion, the following points were raised in support of stronger dog restrictions: 1) Testimony by parents whose children had been bitten. 2) Testimony that present authority and enforcement by the County Health Department is inadequate. 3) The total number of dogs and the frequency of dogs running in packs has increased considerably during the last few years. 4) Hazards to children exist on school grounds and on Town paths and streets. At 9:43 P. M., Chairman Perkins declared the Public Hearing closed and the following points were clarified during Commission discussion. 40 1. Commissioner Lachenbruch stated a study is underway by a plastic surgeon, who resides within the Town, to determine if only a few breeds of dogs are responsible for bites or attacks that occur. 2. Commission concurred prime areas of concern were dogs running in packs and control of dogs on school grounds. It was noted that School Districts could impose their own restrictions on dog control. 3. Commission concurred this appeared to be a legislative, police and social matter, which should be studied by a Council Committee. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Hibner moved, seconded by Minekley and carried unanimously, that the Commission inform the Council that a Public Hearing has been conducted and it is the consensus of opinion of the Commission that present regulations relative to vicious animals present a problem of enforcement and therefore the Planning Commission recommends increased enforcement and cooperation with Town citizens, and feels it would be prudent to adopt, as a temporary stop -gap measure, Article 4, Section 4.3.4-1 of the County Animal Regulations, with the hope that this additional legislation will assist in alleviating the problem; in addition, the Planning Commission recommends immediate adoption of legislative action and formation of a Citizens Committee to make a further study of this problem. RECESS: 9:57 P. M. to 10:11 P. M. 2. Request for change of alignment of Peck Road at the entrance to the 4W Rhus Ridge Ranchos Subdivision. City Manager submitted maps and photographs and reviewed the request to narrow Peck Road from 16' to 12' paved traveled way for a 30' section of Peck Road, noting the applicant desired to preserve existing trees. -3- 4W NEW BUSINESS: Peck Road cont'd.: MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Dawson moved, seconded by Minckley and carried unanimously, that the proposed narrowing of Peck Road to 12' be approved as presented, subject to approval of this deviation by the Fire Chief and subject to adequate signing indicating the pavement narrows. ADJOURNMENT: At 10:22 P. M., Chairman Perkins adjourned the meeting to: STUDY SESSION to consider the following items: 1. Discussion re Sherlock Road. 2. Revisions to Site Development Ordinance No. 133. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1969 at the Town Hall. DRL/mam 10/27/69 4W Respectfully submitted, PRISCILLA R. WEISBART Secretary Planning Commission Town of Los Altos Hills 10