HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/14/1979L PLANNING COMMISSION
Town of Los Altos Hills
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, February 14, 1979
Reel 76, Side 1, Tr. 2, 539 to End; Side 2, Tr. 2, 001 to 291
Chairman Stewart called
in the Council Chambers
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners
Absent: Commissioners
that the reco
Also Present: City Eng
CONSENT CALENDAR
the meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:47 p.m.
of the Town Hall.
Carico, vanTamelen, Dochnahl and Stewart
Rydell, Lachenbruch and Kuranoff (Chairman Stewart asked
rd reflect that Commissioner Kuranoff's absence was excused.)
ineer/Planner John Carlson, Secretary Ethel Hopkins
Item 2 on the Consent Calendar, the Approval of Minutes for the meetings of
January 24 and January 31, was removed from the Consent Calendar and continued
40 to the meeting of February 28.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve of Item 1 on the Consent Calendar, namely the
Acceptance for Filing of the following Tentative Maps:
(a) LANDS OF CONN, File #TM 2096-79, West Sunset Drive, John Riley, Engineer
(b) LANDS OF MELCHOR, File #TM 2097-79, Westwind Way, John Riley, Engineer
(c) LANDS OF JOHNSON, File #TM 2098-79, Stonebrook and Prospect, Paul Nowack
and Associates, Inc., Engineer
OLD BUSINESS:
1. LANDS OF A
Joseph Louis, Louis and Diederich, Inc., Engineers, 480 North First Street,
San Jose, discussed with the Commissioners the following: 1) the change of
ownership and developer for the subject final map to Parnas Corporation, 2) the
hydromulching of cut and fill areas, 3) whether concrete or asphalt would be used
for the driveway areas, and 4) the slope of the proposed driveways. Mr. Louis asked
that the Planning Commission approve the plans as submitted.
Planning Commission consensus, however, was that the plans as presented were incom-
plete. It was decided that the engineer should submit new plans with specific attention
to the condition requests (Conditions 1(c) and 3), and that this agenda item would be
`r the first item of business at the meeting of February 28.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Page two
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. LANDS OFHOM, File #TM 2
Request for Reconmendati
P1ap - Continued to the m
2.
February 14, 1979
:V
Mr. Carlson discussed the above request as detailed in his staff report with
attachments dated February 9. Also included with Planning Commission material
on the request was the City Attorney's memorandum of February 9. Thereafter
the hearing was opened to the public discussion.
Paul Nowack, Paul Nowack and Associates, En ineer, 220 State Street, Los Altos,
reaffirmed that the Lands of Love was a valid vilding site, asked that the
road -in -lieu fee reflect the actual road frontage of the lot, and requested
approval of the BSA application.
The public hearing was closed, and discussion returned to the Planning Commissioners.
Questions were asked regarding the right-of-way easement and the width of the right-
of-way for access to the lot. Conditions were reviewed, and the following comments
and/or changes were made:
Condition 5: PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To amend Condition 5 to read: Landscape screening
shall be placed along the southerly and easterly property line from the
freeway. A landscape plan which takes into consideration the recommenda-
tions of the Scenic Highway Element of the General Plan shall be sub-
mitted for the approval of the City Engineer and the Environmental Design
Committee. All landscaping shall be designed by a landscape architect
and shall be installed within three months of the approval of the BSA
by the City Council. No building permit shall be issued prior to installa-
tion of the required landscaping. The owner shall also provide maintenance
for the landscaping for two years, and shall post a bond as recommended
by the City Engineer to ensure this maintenance.
Commissioners discussed with Mr. Carlson measures that would be taken to mitigate
noise problems (Condition 6A) and how access to the subject property would be handled
(Conditions 6B and 6C). Also reviewed were setbacks from the fault line (Condition 6D)
and the property lines as indicated by the location of the dwelling as shown on the
BSA map.
Paul Nowack stated that Mrs. Gibson would retain an easement on the Lands of Love for
access to her own dwelling (APN 336-19-16) when she sells the Love property.
Condition 7(b): Total fee for the road -in -lieu fee was changed to $122.50. Overall
total fees was chanced to $658.36.
MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Carico and
seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl to recommend approval for the Lands of Love,
File #BSA 6105-77, with conditions as amended.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - February 14, 1979
Page three
OLD BUSINESS:
2087-78. Central and Buena Vista
Chairman Stewart reviewed the requests for conditional exceptions to ordinance
requirements as requested in the City Engineer/Planner's memo of February 9,
and it was the consensus of the Planning Commission that these exceptions should
be recommended for approval. The hearing was opened to the public discussion.
John Miller Attorney 385 Sherman Avenue, Palo Alto, spoke for Mrs. Steers and
wanted to express additional concerns regarding the conservation easement area
and the moving of the roadway. He was told, however, to direct his remarks to
the City Council hearing on the matter because the Planning Commission had already
completed its major review of the subject parcel.
The public hearing was closed, and the following motion passed: MOTION SECONDED
AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl and seconded by Commissioner
Carico to recommend the granting of conditional exceptions for the following
sections of Ordinance No. 232: Sections 9-4.506(3), 9-4.506(37), 9-4.506(36)
and 9-4.506(22) as requested on the face of the tentative map for the Lands of
Steers dated February 14, 1979.
AYES: Commissioners Carico, Stewart and Dochnahl
6 NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Commissioner vanTamelen
LANDS OF STAMSCHROR-SILVER File !"8029-78 LaRena Lane (Secondary uwellinq)
Chairman Stewart requested that the above matter be placed on the agenda for
the meeting of February 28 (see the discussion on this item under "Old Business"
in the Minutes of January 24, 1979).
4. Memo re "Commission Assignments for Recommended Actions Items: Chairman Stewart
ase tat comms n ea s assess a amount OT time t ey Will need to complete
their committee assignments and provide this information at the time of the
Joint Meeting with the City Council on February 28. He noted further that
there was no specific deadline to adhere to, but asked that Commissioners assess
their work and try to provide some specific estimate as to when they think it could
be completed.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Lot 4 Tracy Court Chaparral Properties Developer Request for Approval_ of
Driveway Gradng ainage Plan:
Mr. Carlson provided background information on the above request, and a short
discussion among Commissioners followed. Commissioner vanTamelen asked if per-
mission was ever given to pre -grade a site without a site development permit.
Chairman Stewart asked that it be noted on staff reports the name of the Commissioner
attending both the Subdivision and Site Development Committee meettings. It was
`,, noted that Commissioner Kuranoff had referred the above item to the full Planning
Commission. Thereafter the hearing was opened to the public discussion.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - February 14, 1979
Page four
NEW BUSINESS: (continued)
1. Lot 4 Tracy Court Chaparral Properties Developer: (continued)
Paul Nowack, Engineer for the Applicant, noted that development of Tracy Court had
been discussed at const erre enl gth at the Planning Commission review of the sub-
division, that the work had been done exactly as detailed by the tentative map, and
that the lack of a site development permit had been an oversight.
Commissioners'concerns were on when hydromulching would be done and whether the
turn -around on Lot 4 was really necessary.
Ja Mitchell, Architect, Hoover and Associates, Palo Alto, discussed a model of
the proposed dwelling for Lot 4 an requested t at t e Commission grant an exception
to the thirty foot height limit to allow for a chimney on the dwelling to be
a foot or less over the height limit.
MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED: It was moved by Commissioner vanTamelen and seconded
by Commissioner Dochnahl to uphold the thirty foot height limitation.
AYES: Commissioners vanTamelen and Dochnahl
NOES: Commissioners Carico and Stewart
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED: It was moved by Chairman Stewart and seconded by
4 Commissioner Carico to allow the exception to the height limitation, provided that
the height of the structure does not exceed the limitation by.more than �u nefoot. ��
AYES: Commissioners Carico and Stewart T�' ��. �G76D,6 C
NOES: Commissioners vanTamelen and DochnahlN�°°llL`""`?/�
ABSTAIN: None `fd
MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED: It was moved by Commissioner vanTamelen and seconded
by Commissioner Dochnahl that the applicant be fined five times the cost of a site
development permit, i.e., $1,000, .for grading without a permit.
Considerable discussion occurred on the above motion before the vote was taken.
Staff and Planning Commissioners discussed whether the grading without the permit
was done intentionally or in an attempt to avoid code requirements. Mr. Carlson
affirmed that all work had been done according to requirements shown by the tentative
map, that the dirt from the grading operation had been used for fill for the cul-de-
sac area, and that a member of the staff had indeed been present. Mr. Carlson felt
that the mistake had been an honest one, but noted that steps had been taken by staff
to assure that this would not reoccur.Chairman Stewart regretted that the Town had
not been aware of the Larry Dawson subdivision, noting that access could have been
gained through Mir Mirou Drive rather than the steeper access via Tracy Court.
Commissioner vanTamelen felt the ordinances should be upheld.
VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Carico and Stewart
NOES: Commissioners vanTamelen and Dochnahl
ABSTAIN: None
Chairman Stewart drew attention to the February 14 letter from the Pathway Committee
requesting a pathway connection to the Lands of Larry Dawson via Tracy Court.
Fran Stevenson, Pathway Committee, spoke for the pathway request, noting that the
pathway proposEd would e a way for children to get from the Dawson subdivision to
Tracy Court and avoid the dangers of Arastradero Road.
PLANNING COMPASSION MINUTES - February 14, 1979
Page five
v NEW BUSINESS: (continued)
1. Lot 4 Tracy Court Chaparral Properties, Developer: (continued)
JaMitchell, Architect, noted that the owners of Lot 4, Mr. and Mrs. Lee, could
ave some concern a out a pathway on their property.
Paul Nowack, Engineer, questioned whether the proposed pathway could be imposed
a is ime on an approved map.
Commissioner Carico drew attention to the probability that Page Mill and Arastradero
Roads would be widened in the future and spoke for the wisdom of providing for the
safety of children. She said, however, that she was ambivalent about requiring
a path to be installed and that an easement would be preferable.
MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED: It was moved by Commissioner Carico and seconded by
Commissioner vanTamelen that a pathway easement, as recommended in the memorandum
from the Pathway Committee dated February 14 re Lands of Chaparral Properties,
Trace Court, Lot 4, be recommended for approval.
AYES: Commissioner Carico
NOES: Commissioners Dochnahl, vanTamelen and Stewart
ABSTAIN: None
Discussion returned to the site development plans submitted. Mr. Carlson recommended
screening landscaping for areas bordering Mir Mirou and Paseo Del Roble and to soften
the toe of the fill areas, but the feeling of the Commissioners was that such land-
scaping could block views from the Dawson subdivision and recommendations on land-
scaping should only be made to mitigate severe problems. Since the area was to be
hydromulched, further landscaping would not be necessary. Although the construction
of a pool was not to be a part of the subject site development request, a future
pool site was noted on the plans. Mr. Carlson requested that a formal plan be
submitted by the applicant to 'show either a concrete swale or a drainage pipe to
carry water away from the building pad area and pool area and into the driveway
area of Tracy Court as a means of preventing erosion. Commissioner Dochnahl requested
that the draitane olan be required at the time of site development.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl and seconded by
Commissioner Stewart to approve the site development request for the Lands of
Chaparral Properties, Lot 4, for the residence and for the driveway and grading
plans, file #A4272. The vote for the approval of the request was unanimous.
2. LANDS OF HIGHTOWER, File #FM 3070-79, O'Keefe Lane, Paul Nowack and Associates,
Engineers Panning Commission Review of Improvement P ons:
Paul Nowack, Engineer, discussed tree removal on the proposed subdivision, noting
that every attempt was made to save trees. As a result, no more than half a dozen
small trees would be removed.
Richard Schadt, Schadt and Associates, San Francisco discussed the proposed plan,
the trees to be removed, and the fencing to be provided.
Commissioners commended Mr. Schadt on the proposed flan, but requested that the small
rail fence to be installed not be white as this woud not be rural. It was also noted
that the plan would be sent to the Environmental Design Committee for approval or commen
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - February 14, 1979
Page six
NEH BUSINESS: (continued)
2. LANDS OF HIGHTOWER, File #FM 3070-79: (continued)
MOTI N SEC D WED UN 40US Y: It was moved by Chairman Stewart
and seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl to approve the improvement plans submitted
for the Lands of Hightower, File #FM 3070-79.
3. SETTING OF DATES FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS:
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To set the date of March 14 as the date of Variance and
Permit Commission public hearings for the following items:
1. Lands of Alhouse, File #BSA 6110-78
2. Lands of Soares, File #BSA 6111-78
3. Lands of Faroudja, File #VAR. 7056-79
No further items other than the continued Lands of Hom, File #TM 2084-78, were
set for hearings before the Planning Commission for the meeting of February 28.
(No Variance and Permit Commission meeting was scheduled for February 28 because
of the joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council to be held
from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman
Stewart at 10:37 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on February 28.
Respectfully submitted,
Ethel Hopkins
Secretary
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