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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/30/1994440 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Approved 12/14/94 Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, November 30,1994,7:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road cc: Cassettes #21-94 (2) 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Chairman Schreiner, Commissioners McMahon, Gottlieb, Cheng, Doran & Stutz Absent: None Staff: Linda Niles, Planning Director; Jeff Peterson, City Engineer; Suzanne Davis, Planner; Land Lonberger, Planning Secretary 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR None. e 2 Lh 3.1 LANDS OF LOHR, 24012 Oak Knoll Circle (lot 20), (162-94-ZP-SD-GD); A request for a Site Development Permit for a new residence(continued from November 9, 1994). Staff noted that the applicant had provided another cross section of the plan for their review. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING Steve Lohr, 586 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, J. Lohr Properties, summarized the changes made to the plans: fill section behind the house was reduced by half (originally 5,000 c.y. of fill, now 2,700 c.y. of fill); keeping the garage at the east side of the lot, working the driveway with the contours of the land; some fill required to support the driveway; new cross section shows the difference in the slope fill from the previous plan; used decks instead of terraces behind the house; small section of fill behind house to create small flat area to support the foundation and also from the bottom of the property for a buffer from the Vidovich project; stepped down foundation so a good portion of the back side Planning Commission Minutes Approved December 14,1994 November 30,1994 Page 2 of the house is stepping down; and modified rooflines to break up elevations on both the eastern and western sides of the house which lowers the pitch. He looked at bridging for the garage, however he felt it was important for the overall subdivision as well as the surrounding neighbors not to raise the house, keeping it low (top of the roof is only 2 1/2 feet up above the road). Commissioner Schreiner asked if he had considered stepping the house even more then shown. Mr. Lohr commented the house is not stepped more due to his clients being older and their concern regarding ease of getting around the house, particularly as they age. They did step the garage from the living area and stepped rear decking. Commissioner Gottlieb suggested changing the driveway. Mr. Lohr commented that the only way to have an eastern entrance would be to have a very large candy cane design going into the garage. This would produce a very steep slope (over 20%). He also looked at raising the garage thereby decreasing the slope of the driveway. This would create the garage dominating the front elevation and the garage would be much higher above the road, blocking some views of the hills. He felt neither of the two ideas worked well with the lot. CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner McMahon appreciated the cross section provided by Mr. Lehr. She did feel, with a house with a 120 foot drop, a flat house is not conforming with the ordinances which ask that a house follow the site. The house is proposed not at the flattest area but one of the steeper areas with a flat lot design. The house does not fit the site as well as it could due to proposed flat lot design. The one foot floor level change on a lot that drops 120 feet is not in compliance with Town guidelines or ordinances. She noted that the garage design appears to have changed to look less attractive on the front elevation from the previous plans (the deletion of the second floor deck). She could not support this design. Commissioner Gottlieb noted that the subdivision ordinance discusses lots more than 30% should have a step down foundation. The development area is almost maxed. She could not support the project. Commissioner Doran discussed the reduction in fill, however agreed with Commissioners Gottlieb and McMahon in their comments noting that they still do not have a steep slope lot design as yet. Commissioner Cheng noted that she had listened to the previous meeting's tape and felt the house should be stepped to better fit and flow with the land. Commissioner Stutz felt the applicant had tried hard to step down the house. She also felt part of the problem with this lot was created by allowing the subdivision. The appearance of a flat lot house design is not as bad as previously presented. She would Planning Commission Minutes Approved December 14,1994 November 30, 1994 Page 3 not find the design objectionable as there are stepping elements from the driveway level and decking. Chairman Schreiner felt this lot was created by the subdivision, allowing this situation to occur. She would have liked to have seen a more physical step down of this house. She was concerned with setting a precedence in approving this as a stepped house. She was happy with the amount of fill that has been eliminated. She did agree with the explanation regarding the driveway design. She asked the applicant if there was any way to give a visual appearance from the outside of having this follow the contour better. Jerry Lohr, J. Lohr Properties, explained that they could lower the foundation to have the appearance of a stepped foundation from the outside but have a higher finished floor and increased crawl space. This would allow their clients, Dr. and Mrs. Peters, not to have a step down floor plan. This change would also reduce the amount of fill. This would result in a drop foundation, but would not change the floor line inside. He demonstrated the change on the plan. He would like to keep the garage at the same elevation for reasons previously discussed. Commissioner Gottlieb questioned the angle of the drive and garage. Mr. Lohr stated that the driveway needs to be at a right angle for safety reasons (maneuvering and to meet Town standards). The City Engineer concurred with Mr. Lohr's statement. Commissioner Doran agreed with the applicants' 4W solution as it gives the Commission what they were looking for and meets the clients needs. Conditions #1 (type of modifications), #2 (landscaping), and #8 (debris boxes) were discussed. The applicants were asked if they could return the next evening (which has already been scheduled for a special public hearing meeting) with new renderings. This would allow the Commission to review the proposed changes before voting on the application. The applicants agreed to the continuance. MOTION SECOND AND PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Motion by Commissioner Doran, seconded by Commissioner Stutz and passed by consensus to continue the application to December 1st at 5:00 p.m. 3.2 LANDS OF HORTON, 26030 Altamont Road, APN 182-25-001 and 182-25-008 Altamont Road (181-94-ZP-LLA); A request for a Lot Line Adjustment. (This application continued to the December 14th meeting to allow additional information to be submitted.) 3.3 LANDS OF DRUMM, 12001 Finn Lane (lot 6) (168-94-ZP-SD-GD); A request for a Site Development Permit for a new residence and pool. (This application continued to the December 14th meeting to allow additional `, information to be submitted.) Planning Commission Minutes Approved December 14,1994 November 30, 1994 Page 4 4. CONSENT CALENDAR None •[ s• u • K•]�Ci I u: s 5.1 Commissioner Doran reported the following items were discussed at the November 16th meeting: Lands of Russell; working on the road right-of- way policy (staff and Commissioner Stutz); and all consent calendar items approved. In connection with road right-of-ways, Jean Struthers noted that she has been attending the Fire Commission study of the fire hazardous chaparral in the hillsides. The County Fire Marshall was appalled at the narrowness of some of the roads in terms of getting a fire truck in, out and turned around. RE 5.2 'Planning Commission Representative for December 7th will be Commissioner Schreiner. 6.1 Discussion of the Los Altos Hills Holistic Survey sample submitted by Commissioner McMahon. The Commission discussed the handout by Chairman Schreiner, the Holistic Survey sample by Commissioner McMahon and an old checklist provided by Commissioner Gottlieb. All items listed on the survey were taken out of the Design Guidelines Handbook. It was suggested Commissioner McMahon adding the actual written codes to the back of the holistic survey for reference and also attaching the checklist provided by Commissioner Gottlieb. It was agreed that this would be helpful for the Commissioners, not to be given to the applicants. 6.2 Discussion of public hearing items not being heard after 11:00 p.m. to ensure meetings end by 11:30 p.m. The Commission will continue having the public hearing at 7:00 p.m., not hearing items past 11:00 p.m. Time slots and placing smaller projects such as lot line adjustments on the consent calendar were discussed. The Consent Calendar will follow Presentations from The Floor (#3) and include smaller projects to the discretion of staff - 01 Planning Commission Minutes Approved December 14,1994 November 30, 1994 Page 5 7. OLD BUSINESS 7.1 General Plan Elements -Schedule for work sessions. Scenic Highways and Open Space or Land Use Elements will be put on the January 11th agenda if it is a small agenda. Other scheduled meetings will be January 19th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the regular meeting on the 25th and January 30th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. General Plan items will not appear on the regular agenda unless the agenda is short. 7.2 Procedures for enforcing the completion of landscape requirements and use of landscape deposits and landscape agreements. Ms. Niles will provide the landscape agreement provided by the City Attorney for the next agenda. Commissioner Doran discussed San Jose's bond ordinance. She felt the Town ordinance should be changed to require all landscape to be monitored, not just mitigation landscape. Ms. Niles noted that what the Town has in the form of an ordinance is the allowance to collect a landscape deposit. The deposit is based on the amounts that the Environmental Design and Protection Committee has recommended for certain plants to be bought and installed. Further discussed ensued regarding a landscape bond. The landscape ordinance currently only requires mitigation screening and erosion control. Currently they see many more lots void of landscaping or any existing native trees on them. Ms. Niles noted that the landscape condition could be changed noting that within two to three weeks after framing the landscape plan needs to come in rather than prior to issuance of final occupancy. This item will discussed further at the next scheduled meeting. 7.3 Color Board. Report from the sub -committee. Chairman Schreiner, Commissioner McMahon and Suzanne Davis had met regarding the color board. Commissioner McMahon provided a box of color samples from many paint company suppliers. The color board should including stain, walls, and roof colors. The repainting of existing houses was discussed. A work session will be scheduled for some time in the future. 7.4 Discussion of the In -Lieu pathway fee policy. Katy Stella, Pathways Committee noted that in -lieu fees have been discussed in their meetings, however without any resolution. It was noted that at the Joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting discussion regarding this subject, paths on both sides of the street and what size project would require improvements was discussed asking the Pathway Committee to look into these items. Ms. Niles noted that staff would assist the subcommittee (Siegel, Gottlieb and Schreiner). l:J Planning Commission Minutes Approved December 14,1994 November 30,1994 Page 6 8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 8.1 Approval of the November 9,1994 Minutes. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve the November 9 minutes with Commissioner Cheng abstaining and with the following changes: page 2, first paragraph, add "from top of bank' after "25 feet each side"; page 2, second paragraph, change "bank" to "swale" and add "Commissioner McMahon suggested that Mrs. Brockway find someone to take the barn. Mrs. Brockway agreed to investigate".; page 3, third paragraph, after "configuration," it should read "she would like to see"; page 4, third paragraph, add after "property" "to take from the applicant"; and page 5, third line from the bottom, correcting "camphor" 9. REPORT FROM THE SITE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF NOVEMBER 15.22 AND 29. 1994 9.1 LANDS OF GALLIE/MUNYAK, 12804 Clausen Court; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape plan. Approved with conditions November 15, 1994. 9.2 LANDS OF MASCARENHAS/CHARKOWICZ, 27223 Sherlock Road; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape plan and related improvements. Approved with conditions November 22,1994. 9.3 LANDS OF CHEW, 28380 Christopher's Lane; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape plan and related improvements.. Meeting scheduled for November 29,1994. Continued to December 20, 1994 due to several neighbors' concerns, drainage and retention pond. The Planning Commission requested an update after the next meeting. The pool was originally approved, however, the permit lapsed and will be brought back for approval. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, LaniLonberger v Planning Secretary No