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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.1 ITEM 7.1 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION t Thursday, October 01, 2015, 7:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 L ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Couperus Staff: Suzanne Avila, Planning Director; Steve Padovan, Consultant Planner; Jaime McAvoy, Planning Secretary 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR There were no presentations from the floor. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3A LANDS OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (APPLICANT: AT&T); 2350 Page Mill Road, File #208-15-ZP-SD-CUP; a request for a Conditional Use Permit to modify an existing/previously approved wireless communications facility by lengthening and the crossbars at the top of an existing monopole to allow for the addition of four new panel antennas for AT&T Mobile; CEQA review: exempt per Section 15301(b) - Minor alteration to an existing facility; (Staff-S. Padovan). Ex Parte Disclosures: There were no ex parte disclosures. Consultant Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report. Commission asked questions of staff. Commissioner Tankha asked how many antennas can be on one pole, and if there were any consequences to having too many antennas or carriers on one site. Mr. Padovan deferred to the applicant. Commissioner Abraham noted that the only concern for carriers and antennas on one site is mutual interference. 1 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015 Chair Couperus asked if the Town could ask a carrier to add an antenna in one part of Town if they are requesting a project in another part. Mr. Padovan said it would not hurt to suggest but the Town could not demand it. Tom Johnson, applicant,AT&T,answered questions posed by the Commission. Seeing no one else wishing to speak Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission discussion ensued. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Partridge moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council that the Conditional Use Permit for modifications to an existing wireless communication facility be approved, subject to the findings in Attachment 1 and conditions of approval in Attachment 2. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Abraham. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3.2 LANDS OF YIU; 25700 BASSETT LANE (APN 336-43-013) File # 370-14-IS- TM-ND; A request for a two lot subdivision of an existing 2.612 (gross) acre parcel. CEQA review: Categorically Exempt pursuant to Section 15315, Minor Land Divisions; (Staff-C. Richardson). Ex parte disclosures: Commissioner Partridge said he had spoken with neighbor Peter Nieh. Commissioner Tankha said she had spoken with the applicant as well as neighbor Sharon Nieh. Commissioner Mandle said she had spoken with Roger Spreen and neighbor Wendy Wilson. Commissioner Abraham said he did not recall the names of those he had spoken with. Chair Couperus said he had spoken with Roger Spreen, Sue Welch, and Peter Nieh. Commissioner Tankha noted corrections to the staff report. Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Consultant Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report on behalf of Consultant Planner Cynthia Richardson. 2 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015 Commission asked questions of staff. The Commission, as a collective, expressed concern with the amount of tree removal proposed for the hypothetical development. Commissioner Partridge asked questions pertaining to the right of way dedication, as well as the amount of lot coverage. Simon Yiu,Applicant, spoke on behalf of his project. Commission asked questions of the applicant. Peter Carlino, Lea and Braze Engineering, answered questions posed by the Commission Steven Stept, Architect, spoke to the possible house designs, and presented exhibits. Peter Nieh, Los Altos Hills, said that too many trees were proposed for removal and did not support this development. Wendy Wilson, Los Altos Hills, also expressed concern with the amount of tree removal and how the development would alter the topography of the hillside. She said she was not opposed to putting a house on the lot, but the screening and trees would need to be maintained. Diana Su, Los Altos Hills, spoke on behalf of resident Charles Knowles who could not attend. She expressed Mr. Knowles' opinion that he did not think it was unreasonable to subdivide the property, but could not support the removal of the trees and how development would affect the roots of those being preserved. He was also concerned with how the development would affect a swale on the property during flooding season. This concern was echoed by Ms. Wilson from the audience. Roger Spreen, Los Altos Hills, said this looked like an attempt to shoehorn a house into a lot where there should not be one. He mentioned aspects of the General Plan that the proposal was not in conformance with, and said he was not in support of this development. Sue Welch, Member of the Open Space/Pathways Committees, spoke to the location of the pathway easement, and that the open space easement location was requested to be contiguous with the pathway easement to assist with maintaining clear vegetation. At the request of the Commission, Ms. Wilson answered questions about the mention of the flooding of the swale she shares with the property in question. 3 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015 Nigel Belton, arborist, spoke to the proposed tree removals. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission discussion ensued. Commissioner Abraham said that he shared many of the concerns discussed this evening, and while the applicant is "cutting it pretty thin" with the Lot Unit Factor (LUF), it did meet the minimum standard. He expressed concern with the trees, but said that a large number would survive still leaving heavily wooded parcels. The proposal is in compliance with Town rules, and said that while he does not want this development,he did not see any justification for denial. Commissioner Mandle said that she suspected the swale was really a creek, but at. the least it was a watercourse with a substantial amount of water. She requested staff to hire a hydrologist to make the determination. The proposed building envelope comes too close to the swale should it overflow, but to divert the water course would go against Town Policies. She requested the proposal be modified and brought back to the Commission. Commissioner Tankha agreed this development would be constrained and fitting two parcels on this lot was a tight fit. She said the determination of the swale/creek. could cause the applicant to reconsider where they want to subdivide the lot, and asked if the Commission should allow them to reexamine this before they proceed. She also expressed concern over the amount of trees to be removed, but she would like to take another look before making a decision. Commissioner Partridge said that approving this proposal could cause the very same issues with constrained lots that the Commission has been dealing with over the last year, considering the fault, water course, steep slopes, and extensive tree removal. He expressed concern over the size of the Open Space Easement, as he was not sure it was large enough, and that a building could not be put on the site without impacting the water course. He said he did not see a valid solution to the issues as proposed. Chair Couperus said that a subdivision consists of no less than one acre lots when the lot is reasonably flat, clear, and there are not too many constraints. There are two (2) one acre lots here but there are multiple constraints. This part of Town was steep and heavily wooded, and with possible hydrology issues, and the installation of utilities, the area left over was too constrained. The subdivision as proposed was not consistent with the General Plan, and pushed the threshold more closely than he was comfortable with. Commission and staff discussion ensued. The Commission then asked the architect how he would like them to proceed, as they were not comfortable with approving the subdivision as presented. 4 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015 Mr. Stept said that he did not know how to proceed at this point. He assured the Commission that a sensitive design that meets all the requirements could be achieved on these lots, and that his team had spent a lot of time analyzing the site. He said the applicant was sensitive to the amount of tree removal and the concern the Commissioners had, but this lot had been allowed to sit for many years unkempt, while other lots were able to develop before their lots had reached this point. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Mandle moved that the Commission continue discussion of the tentative parcel map for a two lot subdivision, Lands of Yiu, and ask the applicant to clarify the location of the pathway easement, move the foot print of the proposed development out of the swale, substantially reduce the number of heritage trees slated for removal, identify how the utilities will be installed without impacting tree roots, and clarify the construction method for the steep slopes and maintaining the open space easement. Furthermore, the Commission requests the applicant confirm the status of the water course as a creek or a swale. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Partridge. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Chair Couperus called for a recess at 9:07 P.M The meeting resumed at 9:19 P.M. 4. OLD BUSINESS -none 5. NEW BUSINESS 5_1 Introduction to the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) (Staff- S. Padovan). Consultant Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report. Commission asked questions of staff. 5 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015 Commission discussion ensued. Chair Couperus opened the floor to public comment. Roger Spreen, Open Space Committee, said that Open Space Easements were not supposed to penalize water usage so there was no disincentive for a resident granting one to the Town. Peter Evans, Los Altos Hills, said he was an advocate of water conservation, and that the Town needed to help people conserve water the correct way, not help people find ways to use more water. He added that the Town should be careful about volunteering to do more than was required. Sue Welch, Los Altos Hills, would like to see real numbers in terms of units. Said she would also like to see a comparison between the old and new ordinance with real examples of current projects. Commission discussion continued. Mr. Padovan requested the Commissioners provide him with their comments and suggestions before the second review of the WELO ordinance on October 22, 2015, so they may included in the draft. 6. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for September 17—Commissioner Partridge Commissioner Partridge presented a report on this meeting. 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for October 15 —Commissioner Tankha 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for November 19—Chair Couperus 6.4 Planning Commission Representative for December 17—Commissioner Mandle 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7_1 Approval of August 6, 2015 minutes MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Abraham moved to approve the August 6, 2015 minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mandle. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Couperus 6 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015 • NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 7.2 Approval of September 3, 2015 minutes MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Mandle moved to approve the September 3, 2015 minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Abraham. AYES: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 8. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK MEETINGS— SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 8.1 LANDS OF ZHUANG; 14341 Liddicoat Circle; #230-15-ZP-SD-GD; A request for a Site Development permit for a 1,957 square foot addition to an existing two story residence (Legal, non-conforming maximum height 31'6", no increase in structure height). CEQA review: CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15301(e) — an addition to an existing single-family residence that is less than 2,500 square feet in floor area(Staff-G. Fernandez). 9. REPORTS FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS—SEPTEMBER 22,2015. 9.1 LANDS OF RAMAKRISHNAN, 27665 Via Cerro Gordo; File #315-15-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for Landscape Screening for a 4,991 square foot new two story residence. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff-C. Richardson). 10. ADJOURNMENT 7 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015 Respectfully Submitted, 9&me ,L'. 7/t,4oe, Jaime L. McAvoy M.A. Planning Secretary 8 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 1,2015