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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/09/1979PLANNING COMMISSION Town of Los Altos Hills 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California Wednesday, May 9, 1979 Reel 78, Side 1, Tr. 1, 845 to End; Side 2, Tr. 2, 001 to 529 Chairman Stewart called the meeting of the Planning Commission to order in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall at 7:45 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Lachenbruch, vanTamelen, Dochnahl, Kuranoff, and Stewart Absent: Commissioners Carico and Rydell (both excused absences) Also Present: City Manager Robert Crowe, City Engineer/Planner John Carlson, Secretary Ethel Hopkins APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Minutes of the April 25 Planning Commission were corrected as follows: On page three, on Condition 4.D: Place a period after "standards" and delete "prior to the filing of the final map. On page five, under the motion on the Lands of Oliver, 40 add the following vote tally: AYES: Commissioners Dochnahl, vanTamelen, Kuranoff, Stewart NOES: Commissioner Rydell ABSTAIN: None. On page seven, item five, third line, delete "has" and add 'he' instead to make the end of the sentence read "...where he had recently moved." MOTION SECONDED AND CARRED: It was moved by Chairman Stewart and seconded by Commission- er vanTamelen to approve the Minutes of April 25 as amended. All Commissioners present voted for the approval of the Minutes except Commissioner Lachenbruch who abstained. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. OFFICIAL PLAN LINE FOR THREE FORKS AND SOUTH FORK LANE, Request for Recommendation of Approval of Negative Declaration and Official Plan Line: (Continued from April 11) Mr. Carlson reviewed the latest events on the above request, referring Commissioners to his May 4 memo and items of information requested as a result of the neighborhood meeting on May 1. He asked Commissioners to list any further items needing clarification so that all the information on the development of the Three Forks area might be presented at the same time. Commissioner vanTamelen suggested that rather than develop an "Official Plan Line" for the area, a better way would be to develop a Circulation Study for a Sub -area as was done for the Chaparral Way area. The difference between the two approaches to the areas being developed was discussed, and the consensus was that Commissioner vanTamelen's suggestion to develop a Circulation Study for the area of Three Forks Lane was the preferred method for outlining and delineating the area's development. V Chairman Stewart read into the record a letter from Wallace Stegner of 13456 South Fork Lane, and Commissioner Kuranoff responded to the request made by Mr. Stegner for Three Forks traffic to go out via the Via Feliz exit to Page Mill Road. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 9, 1979 Page two kW PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 1. OFFICIAL PLAN LINE FOR THREE FORKS AND SOUTH FORK LANE: (continued) Commissioner Kuranoff noted that Mr. Stegner's intent was to express a preference in the light of impending development. Should development not occur, Mr. Stegner would prefer that Three Forks Lane remain as it is at present, an opinion stated in discussion with Mr. Kuranoff and echoed, Mr. Kuranoff reiterated, at the neighborhood meeting of May 1. Commissioner Lachenbruch asked that while staff is preparing information requested in the May 4 memo, that staff address those areas which should be preserved in con- servation easements in the Three Forks area and that the reasons for holding these easement areas in conservation be stated. He suggested that the Chaparral Way study method of identifying all possible development in the area, possible phases for this development, and access and traffic yield as it related to lot development be used in the Three Forks area study, and other Commissioners concurred in this. The hearing was opened to the public discussion. Robert Bahr, 13464 Three Forks Road, noted that Carl Cottrell could not attend the May 7 meeting because of getting an agenda date too late. The public hearing was closed, and discussion returned to the Commission. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Three Forks and South Fork Lane Study be continued to the meeting of June 13 so that Mr. Carlson may develop further information on a Specific Plan Line study to include the three items listed on the owr May 4 memo from Mr. Carlson and other items named by Commissioners in discussion re road plans, street improvements, conservation easements and project development. The motion was made by Chairman Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl, and passed with the unanimous consent of all Commissioners. Commissioners noted that the Three Forks information developed for the June 13th meeting would be reviewed in a study session before it is sent to the Council for approval. 2. CIRCULATION ELEMENT OF THE LOS ALTOS HILLS GENERAL PLAN for the Chaparral Way Sub -area Located Generally between Moody Road and Altamont Road and Julietta Lane: Mr. Carlson discussed the background of the above request as detailed in his April 16 staff report and procedure for implementing the proposed amendment to the Circulation Element of the General Plan as outlined in sections of the Government Code and in the memorandum from City Attorney Gillio dated May 4, 1979. He reviewed maps showing the various alternatives for the development of the Chaparral Way area. Commissioners discussed the need for a drainage study for the Chaparral Way Sub- area and surrounding lands so as to ensure that the whole area is properly provided for when future development occurs. Chairman Stewart noted that professional help should be available to Mr. Carlson out of Planning Commission budget should the need occur during the study. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Chairman Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl to request Mr. Carlson to develop a drainage study for the sub -area, giving particular consideration to the Chaparral and Moody Road area. Commissioner Lachenbruch noted that engineering standards for Chaparral Way development should be addressed in the specific plan study. He pointed to the wishes of area PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 9, 1979 Page three PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) T rTQr111ATTnN FIFMFNT OF THE LOS ALTOS h residents to keep the road as rural as possible. Other items cited by the Commissioner to be considered were trails in the area and who would be responsible for the maintenance of the fire road. Thereafter the hearing was opened to the public discussion. Bob Poole Chaparral 4i4y, commended the Town on the Chaparral Way study, stated that drainage problems could be handled by proper engineering techniques when development occurs, discussed the cost of the maintenance on Chaparral Way, spoke of the problem with outside traffic in four-wheel drive vehicles using the road for sport, noted that provision should be made for future development but advocated if possible to keep the road as it exists or as a cul-de-sac to be as private and rural as possible, and spoke against an assessment district to pay for road improvement. He noted that Alternate 28, Exhibit 7 was his preference for road design if something must be recommended to the Council. He asked also that when development is planned for that he be allowed access to the flat area of his property, and for an easement through the Horton property to Altamont Road. Mrs. Nancy Horton, 505 Lau relwood Road, Santa len discussed her subdivision of t e adjacent Lands of Horton, expressed er preference for the "do nothing" plan preferred by Mr. Poole and her desire to keep the cul-de-sac on her property as a private road, spoke against an easement across her property to Altamont Road, and noted her concern for outside traffic as an unwanted intrusion, and noted that her 41 engineer Mr. Sandis had made a study of drainage in the area of her subdivision. fir' Bob Looper 27369 Chaparral Way, agreed with Mr. Poole in stating that Chaparral Way is a safe road, and expressed a preference for the "do-nothing" plan for the road. GayKrause, 27275 Julietta Lane, asked what effect this area development would have on Ju Tetta Lane and was Lulu that Julietta was not really affected by the Chaparral Way development. Thereafter, the public hearing was closed. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Chairman Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl to continue the Circulation Element of the Los Altos Hills General Plan for the Chaparral Way Sub -area until the meeting of May 23 or until the Staff and the Commission have had an opportunity to study the drainage for the area. At 9:35 p.m. a short recess occurred. The meeting resumed at 10:53 p.m. 3. LANDS OF CHU, File #VAR. 7058-79, 26701 Palo Hills Drive, Request for Recommendation of Approval of Variance for Pool and Tennis Court: Mr. Carlson discussed the request as reviewed in his staff report of April 25, and as reviewed by the Variance and Permit Commission at their April 25 meeting. He noted that it was determined at that time that the pool could be built without a variance, and instead a variance was being sought for the construction of a tennis court. Chairman Stewart discussed the location of Dr. Chu's tennis court as it related to `„ a tennis court constructed on the adjacent Sisson property and landscaping Dr. Chu could provide to screen the court from neighbor's view. Discussion by other Commissioners concerned the number of variances that had recently been requested to construct tennis courts, Town policy on the granting of variances in light of Resolution 694 and whether this policy regarding tennis courts and variances should be revised by the City Council, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 9, 1979 Page four PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 3. LANDS OF CHU, File #VAR. 7058-79: (continued) and the need for a search through the variances that had been granted for tennis courts to discover what underlying reason motivated the granting of the variances. Chairman Stewart noted that a variance had been granted to the Kubby land for a tennis court, and thereafter the hearing was opened to the public discussion. Dr. Chu, Applicant, reiterated that the swimming pool had been removed from the variance req ue en�i - en reviewed the six reasons he had provided to affirm that the variance should be granted. He discussed landscaping and the need for a regulation -size court, the location of the court as proposed by Chairman Stewart, and the fact that Sissons have no objection to the court being closer to their property. He requested a recommenda- tion of approval for the variance. Mel Micheletti, 26724 Palo Hills Drive, noted that there was no neighbor objection to the variance request. He urged the Commission to recommend approval. Norman Rossen, 26763 Palo Hills Drive, stated that the site proposed was the logical use of t at ind of and. He again noted that there was no neighbor objection to the tennis court proposal, and called attention to the letter from the Kull family dated May 7 which gave support for approval. The public hearing was closed, and Commissioners discussed whether they could justify the granting of the variance beyond doubt because of affirmative responses to Section 9-5.1107 (b) of the Municipal Code. It was acknowledged that affirmative responses y could not, be given on points (1), (2) and (3) of this section, and the following motion was passed: MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch and seconded by Commissioner vanTamelen that the application for the Lands of Chu, File #VAR. 7058-79, be denied without prejudice due to the lack of justification for Item #1 of Title 9, Article 5, Section 9-5.1107(b), Variance of the Planning and Zoning Ordinance. The variance for a tennis court within the building setback line does not meet the criteria of extraordinary circumstances or conditions that warrant a variance; the house design and location precludes a tennis court within the setback lines; and the original developer did not design or locate the house to accommodate a tennis court. AYES: Commissioners Lachenbruch, vanTamelen, Dochnahl, and Kuranoff NOES: None ABSTAIN: Chairman Stewart Chairman Stewart requested that a note be sent to the City Council with the variance request recommendations, stating that the Commissioners could not agree on the affirmative answers to points (1), (2) and (3) of Section 9-5.1107(b) of the Code, but that they could find positive justification for items (4), (5), and (6) of this section. He informed the Chus that they could appeal the recommendation of the Planning Commission and that the policies of granting variances would be reviewed shortly and perhaps new recommendations would be made. OLD BUSINESS L 1. LANDS OF STAMSCHROR-SILVER, File #CU 8029-78, 25231 La Rena (Secondary Dwelling) J Chairman Stewart noted that the above item would be continued until a later date be- cause the City Attorney had not had an opportunity review file information and respond to Planning Commission questions on this matter. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 9, 1979 (( Page five 4r OLD BUSINESS: (continued) 2. LANDS OF HOM, File #TM 2084-78, Elena and Robleda Roads, John Riley, Engineer: Commissioner Lachenbruch stated that a technical problem existed on Lot 4 of the Lands of Hom subdivision. Lot 4 of the development could not accommo- date a 160 foot circle. He could not find in the record that this had been mentioned in the discussion. He was informed, however, that the subdivision had been recommended for denial without prejudice and that the applicant would be coming in with a smaller, three lot subdivision. NEW BUSINESS: Dates for Public Hearings for It was moved by Chairman Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Lachenbruch and passed unanimously that the following public hearings be set for May 25: Variance and Permit Commission: Lands of Warren, File #VAR. 7059-79 Lands of Binder, File #VAR. 7055-78 Lands of Closs, Files BSA 6100, 6101 and 6105-77 Planning Commission: Lands of Tryon, File #CU 8034-79 The Adobe Creek ,Use Permit, File #CU 8035-79 2. Report from the City Council Meetin of Ma 2, 1979: Commissioner Dochnahl reported on t e ity ounce passage of t e Lands of Low, Fi e #TM 2088-78 and the Lands of Love, File #BSA 6103-77. Commissioner Lachenbruch asked that Commissioners, at the time of site development, require,for the Lands of Love that the combined structural coverage not exceed 15% of the acreage and the combined impermeable surface not exceed 40% of the whole acre. No action was taken by the Commission on this suggestion. 3. Election of Officers for the Planning Commission: On the Motion of Chairman Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Lachenbruch, Commissioner vanTamelen was nominated as Chairman of the Planning Commission. Thereafter, it was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl and seconded by Commissioner vanTamelen that the nominations be closed and that the secretary cast a white ballot for Mary vanTamelen as Chairman of the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Chad;rman Stewart. On the motion of Commissioner vanTamelen, seconded by Commissioner Kuranoff, it was moved to nominate Commissioner Dochnahl as Vice -Chairman of the Planning Commission. Thereafter, it was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch and seconded by Commissioner vanTamelen that the nominations be closed and that a white ballot be cast for the election of Joseph Dochnahl as Vice -Chairman of the Planning Commission. Chairman Stewart thanked everyone on the Planning Commission for their tremendous help and cooperation during his term as Chairman. He turned the gavel over to the newly -elected Chairman vanTamelen who in turn commended Commissioner Stewart for two years of great leadership. �✓ 4. Demolition of Structure at Altamont and Black Mountain: Commissioner Lachenbruch note tat a structure at the a ove ocation was being demolished. His concern was that the demolition of older dwellings would become a common practice in favor of PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 9, 1979 Page six 1J NEW BUSINESS: (continued) the construction of very large, new dwellings. Mr. Carlson responded that a demolition permit had been issued to take the building down to the foundation, and then a new structure would be built. Commissioner Lachenbruch requested that the Commission be informed on the size of the new structure to be built, as this kind of development could have important implications for the future of the Town. 5. Site Development en Packets: Commissioner Lachenbruch requested that Planning Commissioners be called whtheir Site Development packets will be delivered or sent out late. He noted that when packets are received late there is little time to inspect sites. The suggestion was made that it would be just as easy for the Commissioners to pick up their packets on the way to inspect rather than wait for a late delivery and then have no opportunity to prepare properly for Site Development. 6. Altamont and Pa a Mill Structure: Commissioner Dochnahl expressed concern on a house eing constructed y Munsey Development at the above location. He was informed that the house would have a stepped foundation. 7. Committee Assignments for Next Year: Newly -elected Chairman vanTamelen proposed that Committee assignments be eight weeks in duration rather than the present month- long assignments. Commissioner Kuranoff expressed some concern, however, on the 4W site of work that would have to be missed over an eight week period if, for instances site development was once a week for this long a period. No further action was taken. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further new or old business, the meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 11:30 p.m. by Chairman vanTamelen. Respectfully submitted, Ethel Hopkins Secretary J