HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/28/1981PLANNING CON04ISSION
Town of Los Altos Hills
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, January 28, 1981
Reel 91, Side I, Tract II, 156 -End; Side II, Tract II, 000-156
The meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order by Chairman Kuranoff
at 7:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners Carico, Dochnahl, Kuranoff, Lachenbruch, Rydell, Stewart
Absent: Commissioner vanTamelen (excused absence)
Also Present: City Engineer/Planner John A. Carlson; Assistant Planner Pat Webb;
Secretary Leslie Penfold
CONSENT CALENDAR:
The following items were removed from the Consent Calendar: 1) Minutes of January
14, 1981
MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl and
seconded by Commissioner Stewart that the balance of the Consent Calendar be approved.
The minutes of January 14, 1981 were amended as follows:
1) On page two, second paragraph, Commissioner Lachenbruch requested that the word
"vehicular" be added before access. Paragraph four was amended as follows: 1)
Remove driveway including paved portion that projects downward toward O'Keefe
Lane about thirty-five feet (35'); 2) excavate, plant and cultivate the entire
driveway area.
The minutes as amended were unanimously approved.
REPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 21, 1981: Commissioner Dochnahl reported
that the City Council is going to reconsider the recommendation of Terrasearch, as the
geotechnical engineer for the Lands of Los Altos Hills, (formerly Palo Alto School
District Land), as per request of Councilman McReynolds. He also reported that the
Lands of Gerard, "Tanglewood", was on the Agenda for approval of Street Improvements,
but was denied.
PUBLTC HEARINGS:
1. Lands of Wheeler, File #A 4933, 26530 Weston Road, Request for Approval of Site
Development Permit for a Swimming Pool.
Mr. Carlson referred the subject application to the full Planning Commission due to
the amount of impervious surfacing and the intense development of the property located
close to Fremont Road.
The public hearing was opened for discussion.
Mr. Peter Shaw, Landscape Architect, spoke in favor of granting approval for the
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF .JANUARY 28, 1991
PAGE TWO
Lands of Wheeler, (continued)
swimming pool, indicating that the calculations of impervious surfacing are
less that the current ordinance requirements.
Commissioners discussed the amount of impervious surfacing and the development
area of the property, noting that the development of the property is not too
intense for the lot and felt the request should be granted.
The Public Hearing was then closed.
MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and
seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl to approve the request for a swimming pool for
the Lands of Wheeler, File #A 4933.
Commissioner Lachenbruch noted that he voted in favor of this request, because
there is no basis for denial per the Municipal Code at this time.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Report on Secondary Dwellings
Commissioner Stewart referred to the report dated December 10, 1980, prepared by
himself and Mrs. Carico, and requested input from Planning Commission and Staff.
Commissioners and Staff reviewed the report and discussed in detail the proposed
changes to the Ordinance. The proposed changes are as follows:
I. On a parcel that allows not more than a single lot unit, the secondary
dwelling can have a square foot area up to 1,000 square feet maximum.
II. On a parcel which allows two or more lot units, the secondary dwelling
can have a square foot area of 2,000 square feet,
III, If the secondary dwelling is over 1,000 square feet on a parcel which
allows two or more lot units, the applicant will show the secondary
dwelling on a separate potential lot unit with setback requirements
satisfied.
IV. (Change Section 9-5.703(k), Secondary Dwellings. Where any such parcel
contains less than is sufficient to permit two lots, pursuant to the
lot area requirements of Section 9-5.501 of Article 5, as amended of
this Chapter, and the requirements of Chapter 4 of this Title, no more
than one bathroom with plumbing and facilities and outside house bibs
can be installed in a secondary dwelling, No other plumbing will be
allowed for any other facilities. (The remaining portions of Section (k)
remain as written in the Municipal Code).
Commissioner Lachenbruch indicated the proposed secondary dwelling ordinance
offers the property owners a variety of options for the use of his property.
The Ordinance is intended that property which is subdividable shall be
planned so that placment of the primary and secondary dwellings is compatible
with future subdivision of the land. Alternatives for property owners are
indicated as outlined above.
2. Lands of Oskay, Update Report
Ms. Webb distributed copies of letters written to City Attorney and Mr. Oskay
dated January 22, 1981. She indicated that Mr. Oskay will write a letter to the
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 28, 1981
PAGE THREE
Lands of Oskay, (continued)
#4W Planning Commission noting his intentions for landscaping and mitigating the
driveway problem for the secondary dwelling. Commissioners felt it would be
necessary for Mr. Oskay to submit a landscape plan prior to approval of the
Conditional Use Permit. Commissioner Stewart suggested that Pat Webb and he
should meet with Mr. Oskay to review all suggestions prior to the next Planning
Commission meeting.
3. Saddle Mountain Estates, Improvements
Mr. Carlson indicated that the City Council approved street improvements for
Saddle Mountain Estates and an Agreement was executed by the Town and Bas Homes.
The Agreement is for the purpose of processing Site Development Permits, A special
Site Development Committee was formed to cover these subject lots. Appointed
to the Committee were Commissioner Stewart, Dochnahl, vanTamelen, Carice (as
an alternate).
4. Definitions of Walls and Fences Ordinance
Commissioner Lachenbruch gave a brief explanation of the changes he made to
the ordinance, they are as follows:
Section (b) Walls and Fences. Walls and fences (herein referred to collectively
as "fences")... PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the height of any fence along a road shall
be determined by the openess...
6 Section 2. (a) Three feet (3') for a fence with less than 50% open area (when
viewed perpendicular to the plane of the fence).
Section 2. (b) Four and one-half feet (4-1/21) for a fence with no less than
So% open area.
A new section will be added to the ordinance under "Definitions" as follows:
Walls or Fences: A constructed barrier or screen composed of wood, metal,
masonry, glass, plastic or any other construction material, (not including
graded berms or living hedges).
MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY CONSENSUS: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart
and seconded by Commissioner Rydell to approve as amended and return this subject
to the City Council for their next scheduled meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Lands of Los Altos Hills, File #PM 1-81, (formerly Lands of Palo Alto School
District), Acquisition.
Mr. Carlson referred to his staff report dated January 22, 1981 indicating that the
Planning Commission is required to state a motion that the subject acquisition is
in conformance with the General Plan.
Commissioners discussed with Mr. Carlson the subject property and the use of the
`, open space land and development.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 28, 1981
PAGE FOUR
Lands of Los Altos Hills, (continued)
`, MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and
seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl to report to the City Council that the acquisition
of the Palo Alto School Site located adjacent to Page Mill Road, opposite Page Mill
Road/Alexis Drive/Paseo Del Roble intersection, conforms with the General Plan
based on use of land which has a twenty (20) lot minimum, with the purpose of sub-
division for single family residential lots and provide a development that is
sensative to the area and has at least twenty-five (25) acres of conservation
easement and open space preservation easement distributed amont the twenty (20)
lots of the subdivision.
2. Paul Reneau's letter regarding Lands of Los Altos Hills, dated January 26, 1981
Commissioner Kuranoff will write a letter to Paul Reneau indicating at the time of
Tentative Map approval the concerns expressed in the letter would be taken
care of.
3. Commissioner Rydell informed the Planning Commission that he attended the
General Plan seminar in San Francisco on January 13, 1981. He indicated that
most of the discussion was regarding the new housing element that will be in
effect October 1, 1981, he felt the Commission needed guidance as to the legal
stand the Town would take. Mr. Carlson noted that the City Council has authorized
Mr. Gillio, (City Attorney) and Mr. Mader direction on this matter, he indicated
he would check with Mr. Mader to see when he could speak to the Commission
on this matter.
4. Ms. Webb gave a brief review of the rate of returns for the Medfly flyers
mailed to all Los Altos Hills residents. There are still 82% of the residents
that have not responded at this time.
There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Leslie Penfold
Engineering/Planning Secretary