HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 12Los Altos Hills Environmental Design and Protection Committee
Minutes of monthly meeting: June 12, 2007, 5.30 pm at Town Hall
Attending: Liz Goodman, Sandy Humphries, Pat Ley, Neela Shukla,
Minutes: Minutes of last meeting approved.
Next Meeting: July 10th, 5:30 PM Town Hall
Field Trip Dates: Thursday June 21st at 9.30 am. Meet at Town Hall
Site Development and Fast Track assignments:
June 19 Sandy Humphries
June 26 Neela Shukla
July 3 Liz Goodman
July 10 Pat Ley
Planning Commission Assignment: Sandy Humphries, on June 28
Review of Planning Commission Meeting:
Review of Mad Manor Application:
A 6-lot subdivision was allowed even though the slopes on Lots 5 and 6 are near the
maximum allowed for building. Despite the advice of the Town’s wildlife specialist, the
creek’s conservation easement was not extended to the drip line of the oaks on Lot 1, the
rationale being that “it had not been done before”.
Review of Site Development/ Fast Track meetings:
It appears that in some instances recently applications have been pushed through without
the full 10 days notice to neighbors. This results in just the type of friction the Town
seeks to avoid.
At the May 29th Fast Track meeting the Environmental Committee member had her
contributions rejected on 3 sites out of 3.
1) a suggested screening planting was rejected because the applicant said the
neighbor hadn’t asked for it,
2) when additional landscaping was asked for she was told that mitigation and
screening were her only concern
3) her strenuous objection to the placing of a new house so close to a 37.5 inch oak
(14 feet) that hand –excavation would be required was countered by a) the
architect had said he could not change the position of the house by a few feet,
even on a 1 acre lot, b) an Arborist’s report had stated that the tree should survive
and c) if it did die, the applicants would be required to plant several new oaks.
Future Commitments
An article for the next Town Newsletter.
Old Business
Although our stall at the Town Picnic was considered “a lovely show”, very few plants
were sold to the public. Neither were they at the Westwind Barn Earthday event.
New Business:
Sandy told us that she had stumbled upon the June meeting of the Water Conservation
sub-committee and been assigned tasks she did not have the time to do. It was agreed
that Pat would write to John Harpootlian asking that if still possible the July meeting be
scheduled after Robin’s return on July 9.
Meeting adjourned: 6.55 pm.