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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/29/1993`' Minutes of a Regular Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Council cc: CasE September 29, 1993, 7:30 P.M. mbers, 26379 Fremont Road APPROVED 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Chairman Comiso, Commissioners Cheng, Schreiner & Stutz Absent: Commissioners Ellinger, Sinunu & Takamoto Staff: Linda Niles, Town Planner; Jeff Peterson, City Engineer; Suzanne Davis, Assistant Planner; Lani Lonberger, Planning Secretary 2. PI J131JC HEARINGS 2.1 LANDS OF JABBOUR, 24704 Voorhees Drive -Lot 4; A request for a Site Development Permit for a New Residence, Pool and Tennis Court (continued from September 22,1993). Staff requested the deletion of the last sentence in Condition 11 as it did not pertain to this applicant. Deletion so noted by the Planning Commission. Commissioner Schreiner noted that the Lot Unit Factor was .99 on a newly created lot. She questioned whether this was due to the right-of-way dedication (bulb turn around). Ms. Niles commented that this was one of those situations where the original survey may have been an aerial and the survey for the site development on the property was a field survey. The methods and engineers used for doing the surveys may create the difference. Commissioner Schreiner asked if Ms. Niles felt the measures they have put in place will correct this in the future. Ms. Niles responded yes. She also questioned the status of the pathway along Voorhees. The pathway, showing on the construction plans, goes up Voorhees Drive to Clausen Court and then goes to the end of Clausen Court. It does not show it continuing up Voorhees Drive above Clausen Court. It was noted that through the site development process the Planning Commission could condition the path. Planning Commission Minutes APPROVED September 29, 1993 Page 2 Chairman Comiso requested changing the wording in Condition 7 regarding skylights, and including wording relating to fluorescent lighting. The noise levels not to exceed 45 dB ldn as noted in Condition 9 were also discussed. It was noted that noise measurements would be performed by a noise consultant chosen by the applicant and approved by the Town prior to issuance of the final occupancy permit. Chairman Comiso suggested changing the word "available" to "connected" in Condition 13. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING Randy Robinson, 1068 Alderbrook Lane, San Jose, project architect, explained that the tennis court was smaller than regulation size (120x60) or "championship court" size in order to reduce the MDA and to save oak trees in the area of the court. The pool was made smaller also to stay within the setback area and to reduce MDA. These changes have reduced the grading volume. He discussed the location of the house, saving as many trees as possible, and keeping the house as far as possible from the house below. Photographs were submitted showing the relation of the proposed house to the neighbor's house. He further discussed the letter from Nowack and Associates; the revised site plan presented to the Planning Commission; moving the fourth parking space next to the garage and the removal of some trees, replanting with either 24" box trees or 15 gallon trees for any tree removed. He pushed the house up the hill, keeping the roof line below the house above them. Nader Zatparvar (constructing the house on lot 3 adjacent to subject site at 12813 Clausen Court), was concerned with the pad level being proposed. In the subdivision plan, there were pad levels established for each lot, which related to noise mitigation, and viewing. What is being lost is privacy. He objected to the view of the tennis court and suggested turning it. He would also like to see the pad level lowered (his pad level is 308). Ms. Niles commented that lot 4 is shown at 318 elevation on the tentative map and the house is proposed at 325. There were no conditions specified in the approval of the tentative map on required pad elevations, although the noise study used these pad locations when conducting noise readings, site research and recommending noise mitigation. Commissioner Stutz asked Mr. Zatparvar if he had built up his pad for his house. He replied yes. Some fill was done and the grading was balanced on the site. No excess had to be removed from the site and the pad was made level. Mr. Robinson stated that some special construction techniques would be necessary to meet the 45 dB or less requirement. Commissioner Schreiner asked if the house could be stepped down or moved to a lower ( `, elevation as she was concerned with the house above the site. Mr. Robinson stated the Planning Commission Minutes APPROVED September 29,1993 Page 3 house was sited to gain a view from the second floor, to locate the tennis court, and to save trees. Chairman Comiso asked if the house across from this site would look up at 10' of fill below the tennis court. Mr. Robinson responded they were cutting into the hillside on the upper end and will have a retaining wall built into the hillside. On the downhill side, there is another retaining wall. The existing oak trees help with screening and the landscape plan will show how they accomplish screening the retaining wall area around the bottom of the tennis court. The fill area is all below the pool and the house which will not be a steep embankment of fill. Carol Gottlieb, Pathway Committee, requested a Type IIB path be installed along Voorhees Drive in the road right-of-way and that the driveway be a roughened surface where it crosses the path. She commented that in the subdivision Noise Mitigation Conditions, it mentions a Covenant being recorded concurrently with the recording of the Final Map. She thought that may be where the pad elevations were mentioned. Ms. Niles will investigate the CC&Rs. Commissioner Schreiner asked if the pad elevations were required as part of the subdivision review. Chairman Comiso commented that pad elevations were not included in the conditions of approval for the subdivision. kMs. Niles commented that it appeared that this house should not need any mitigation other than construction techniques in order to meet noise level requirements at 325 elevation for the pad. Commissioner Stutz asked if the pad level could be lowered by two feet? Perhaps crawl space could be reduced. She believed that the neighbor above the site would have their entire view cut off if this house is built at the proposed location. The cut and fill was discussed allowing 135 cu. yds. for driveway, another 180 cu. yds. for the house. Commissioner Stutz felt this was too much cut and fill. She thought they have chosen the steepest part of the lot for the house. She could not support this proposal. She liked the design, although she did not think this was a hillside house. CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner Schreiner agreed with Commissioner Stutz. Design guidelines are to protect residents' privacy and views. This house will definitely be in direct line of sight of the uphill neighbor. She suggested a re -design based on their discussion. Commissioner Stutz would like the application restricted to a one story, if proposed in the same location. L Planning Commission Minutes September 29,1993 Page 4 APPROVED MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Commissioner Schreiner and seconded by Commissioner Stutz to continue the application for re -design. This will be continued to the October 13,1993 meeting. AYES: Chairman Comiso, Commissioners Cheng, Schreiner & Stutz NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Sinunu & Takamoto It was suggested to have the Planning Commission discuss the Town's adopted color board. This will be placed on a future agenda. 3. ADTOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, LaniLonberger Planning Secretary 160