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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 15, 1978
<br />E. SPECIAL ORDERS:
<br />AW 1. Request for Final Map Approval, LANDS OF COSTELLO, File FM #3045-78.
<br />MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilman Proft, seconded by Mayor Hillestad
<br />and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution #1111 approving Final Parcel Map (Lot Line
<br />Change).
<br />MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilman McReynolds, seconded by Councilman
<br />Proft and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution #1112 approving Final Subdivision Map,
<br />Tract 6289, and approving and authorizing execution of Subdivision Agreement, LANDS OF
<br />COSTELLO, File FM #3045-78.
<br />2. Public Hearings:
<br />a) Request for cancellation of Williamson Act Contracts - LANDS OF PERRETT.
<br />After the City Manager gave a brief history behind this request, the City Attorney
<br />outlined his memo of March 10, 1978 pertinent to cancellation proceedings. Due to
<br />the large representation In the audience, Mayor Hillestad requested that each speaker
<br />limit his time to five minutes and keep delivery concise and courteous.
<br />Mr. Ferrari, Altamont Road, represented those opposed to the cancellation and submitted
<br />a petition with 360 residents'signatures In support of this opposition.
<br />Mr. Semas, Applicant referenced excerpts from the Williamson Act relative to agricul-
<br />tural use contending that this property did not fall under that category. He further
<br />stressed deve'lopment would be In the interest of all residents, the monetary gains to
<br />the Town, the consistency with the General Plan, the slight tax gain that had been made
<br />and the large amounts of open space still preserved in Los Altos Hills.
<br />L_ Speaking against the cancellation were: Jim Brown, Palo Alto; Donald McCauley, Ravensbury;
<br />G. Ferrari, Altamont Rd.; Oscar Sobel, Christophers Lane; Beatrice Hagopian, Olive Tree
<br />Lane; A.M. Laws, Hooper Lane; Kathleen Downey, Newbridge Dr.; Ed Snow, Olive Tree Lane;
<br />John Hettinger, Priscilla Lane; D. Petersen, Prospect; M. Hickson, Sunnyvale; R. Hagopian,
<br />Olive Tree Lane; M. Stevenson, Prospect; Joe Mendes, San Jose; and Judith Carico,
<br />O'Keefe Lane.
<br />Reasons cited for this opposition by the above were: (1) Taking away of Open Space now
<br />used for hiking and riding; (2) Not In the public or the Town's Interest; (3) Inadequate
<br />access available for future development in this area; (4) Against rural concept and
<br />encouraging high density development; (5) Endangering wildlife; (6) Creating fire hazards;
<br />(7) Inconsistent with the concepts of the Williamson Act, especially as adopted by the
<br />Town; (8) Mis-use of the tax break advantage; (9) Constitutes the breaking of a valid
<br />contract which Is binding on each successive owner (a known fact); and, (10) A precedent -
<br />setting issue that must be decided in the Town's and residents' best Interest.
<br />Speaking In support of the cancellation were: Paul Robbins, Moody Road; George Neary,
<br />Stonebrook; Mr. Semas, Applicant; and, Mr. Perrett, Owner.
<br />Items offered in support were: (1) Telegrams showing concurrence by many residents;
<br />(2) Infringement on rights of the owner and developer; (3) Clauses In the Act which
<br />provide for cancellation; (4) This privately -owned property was not available for hiking
<br />or riding; (5) Developmnf would be compatible with surroundings, I.e., housing, free-
<br />way and quarry; (6) The withdrawal penalty would greatly Impinge on the "tax advantage";
<br />and, (7) The decision before the Town is one of growth versus no growth.
<br />Upon closing of the public hearing, Council discussion centered on the Inconsistency of
<br />this cancellation with provisions of the Williamson Act, local emphasis In compliance
<br />4AW with the Act was also on Open Space, lots still available for building and the importance
<br />of providing for the best Interests of the residents and the Town.
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