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Minutes of a Special Meeting <br /> January 14, 1999 <br /> Town of Los Altos Hills <br /> City Council Special Meeting <br /> Thursday, January 14, 1999 7:00 P.M. <br /> Bullis School, 25890 Fremont Road <br /> 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL <br /> Mayor Johnson called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. at <br /> Bullis School. <br /> Present: Mayor Johnson and Councilmembers Casey, Dauber, Finn and <br /> Siegel <br /> Staff: City Manager/City Engineer Jeff Peterson, City Attorney Sandy <br /> Sloan, Planning Director Curtis Williams, Assistant Planner <br /> Shaunn O'Connor and City Clerk Pat Dowd <br /> Press: Bruce Barton and Paul Nyberg, Los Altos Town Crier <br /> 2. STUDY SESSION FOR CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR THE <br /> TOWN'S SITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS <br /> • The Planning Director presented his staff report on the current site development review <br /> process and options for Council's discussion. This report was the result of the December <br /> 2, 1998 City Council Meeting at which time Council discussed whether or not they <br /> should review site development permit applications instead of the Planning Commission. <br /> The following four options were evaluated by staff as well as the current process: <br /> Option A: "Planning Commission Hearing": The current process of Planning <br /> Commission review upon staff recommendation. Some "enhancements" <br /> are suggested for consideration as a variation on the current process, such <br /> as providing more specific direction for Commission review; modifying <br /> codes to require findings for site development actions; and/or developing <br /> Council-adopted policies to clarify Council intent in interpreting the Code <br /> and guidelines. The current process as modified would allow for <br /> thorough review with extensive opportunity for public input, but remains <br /> "subjective" and potentially inconsistent with Council intent, unless the <br /> measures suggested narrow the level of discretion significantly. <br /> Option B: "City Council Hearing": City Council review (at a public hearing) of site <br /> development upon staff recommendation, eliminating Commission review <br /> of site development projects. The benefits of such an approach would <br /> likely be an expedited review process and assurance that the intent of the <br /> Council is met with regard to interpreting codes and policies. Extensive <br /> time would be required for Council review of all projects, however, to the <br /> likely detriment of other Town business, and it could be argued that the <br /> process would become more "political" with fewer checks and balances <br /> • than currently exist. <br /> January 14, 1999 <br /> Special City Council Meeting <br /> 1 <br />