06/03/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - June 3, 1981 E. SPECIAL ORDERS: E.2.b) LANDS OF FOWLE (continued): r ---- .. 11nQ7 n1A M11 arurl_ Mr_ .iaek Simon. 27075 Old Road, Palo Alto each supported Mr. Fawle's request nor 1�u11 u1� Williamson Act Contract. They all agreed he had carefully considered the rural and historical nature of his property and had generously provided for the public interest. Mr. Samuel Jackson, 12800 Diane Drive and Denis Hollwedel, 12360 Priscilla Lane spoke against the cancellation of the Williamson Act Contract for the Fowles. They expressed concern for the protection of open space and wondered if this action would not be setting a precedent. The City Attorney outlined the steps necessary prior to a cancellation. Referring to his 5/15/81 memo, the City Attorney further stipulated that Council should state their findings with respect to their decision and should include these findings to demonstrate how the decision was reached. Councilman Perkins referred to Resolution #661 which was adopted on 2/22/72 and quoted the following: "1. It is the policy of the Tuan to encourage the use of the Acts (Williamson Act and Chapter 6.5 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Califor- nia coveriment Code) by those awning open space within the Town. 2. It is in the public interest, and the public benefit is best served by utilizing the Acts to secure the maximum possible amount of limited term open space for reasonable time periods. and 3. To ingrlement the foregoing statements, it is the policy of the Town that, within the limitations of the Acts, termination of agreements and aban- donment of open space easements will be granted on a reasonable and equitable basis." MOTION SECONDED APED CARRIED: Moved by McReynolds, seconded by Nystrom and passed unanimously by all menbers present to direct the City Attorney to prepare a resolution granting the petition of John Fowle for cancellation of his Williamson Act Contract, based on the following findings of fact: 1) Because of the small size of this piece of property and the high labor rate, the agricultural use of this property is not economically feasible; 2) The City of Palo Alto and the property adjacent to this parcel is industrializing and at a much more intense pace than anticipated. With this growth the problem of housing in the area is beaming more critical; and 3) The applicant's offer of a scenic corridor shall be independent of any condition placed on the possible subdivision of the property NOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by McReynolds, seconded by Nystrom and passed unanimously by all menbers present to waive the cancellation fee concerning the Lands of Fawle - cancellation of Williamson Act Contract and to stipulate that the applicant shall pay for all improvements for the scenic corridor which shall be done to the standards of the Town and for the benefit of all the Town's resi- dents. -q-