HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 9
Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Regular Meeting Minutes
9:00 AM, October 9, 2019
Los Altos Hills Town Hall, Conference Room
Committee Members and Associates Present: Richard Contreras (Chair), George Clifford
(Vice Chair), Nancy Couperus (Founder), Peter Brown, Jean Struthers, Sue Welch, Kit
Gordon, Alice Sakamoto (Associate), Karen Lemes (Associate)
Committee Members Absent: Wendie Ward, Sharen Schoendorf (Associate)
Staff Present: Zach Dahl (LAH Planning Director)
Council Liaison Present: George Tyson
1. Call to Order and Acceptance of Minutes
a. Roll Call. RC called the meeting to order at 9:06 am
b. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes. NC moved to accept the minutes with minor edit
correction. PB seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor of approval (RC, GC,
NC, PB, KG, JS, SW).
c. Announcements:
i. Zach Dahl, new LAH Planning Director, and committee members made
introductions. KG will send OSC charter and related policies to ZD.
ii. A letter from the Town to Santa Clara County regarding Lehigh Southwest Quarry
and Cement Plant expanded reclamation plan will be distributed to committee
members.
iii. GreenTown Los Altos has launched a program to plant 500 trees.
iv. On Oct 29th (7 pm at Town Hall) OSC will host a talk on birds, Habits and Habitats
of our Local Birds. Speakers are affiliated with the Audubon Society.
2. Continuing Business
a. Wildlife Friendly Fences. EDPC has proposed to amend the fence ordinance to reflect
more comprehensive views on wildlife passage. AS presented information that 2-rail
fence designs are less dangerous to deer than 3-rail when a deer is in flight mode. The
deer’s instinct when frightened is to run through fences therefore 2-rail designs allow
better chances for deer to get through without harm. There are examples of 2-rail designs
throughout Town (Attachment A). Most Town installed roadside fences are 2-rail. Other
communities have similar policies: Los Gatos, Portola Valley, Montana. NC, AS, PB
will put together a package defining wildlife friendly fences with references to
existing policies, science and data and will present at the next meeting. NC
distributed copies of SF Chronicle Sept 12, 2019 article on importance of wildlife
corridors (Attachment B). Coyote Valley and HWY 17 are two local wildlife corridor
projects.
3. Planning
a. Site Review
i. 14486 Liddicoat (GC, RC). There was confusion on the plans as to the location of
the addition. The property has slopes greater than 30%, and in some areas greater
than 50%, between the house site and Interstate 280. SW moved and PB seconded
acceptance of the OSC report and recommendations as shown in Attachment
C. The vote was unanimously in favor of approval (RC, GC, NC, PB, JS, SW,
KG). OSC recommendations are:
1. The Committee recommends that the Town require dedication of an
Open Space Easement on the steeply sloped area of the property starting
at the 310-foot contour line and continuing north to Interstate 280 for the
full width of the property, as shown in the report.
ii. 26400 Eshner Court (RC, GC). The developer has requested a lot line adjustment
to move the lot line from one side of the vineyard (north side) to the other side
(south side). At the time of subdivision (Tract 4897) of this parcel and its
surrounding parcels, a conservation easement and view easement was dedicated in
the area where the lot line adjustment is proposed, however, this easement is not
shown on the plans provided for review. Both 26400 Eshner Ct and the adjacent
parcel have a long chain link fence along the Altamont frontage in the area dedicated
as a conservation and view easement. SW moved and GC seconded acceptance of
the OSC report and recommendations as shown in Attachment D. The vote was
unanimously in favor of approval (RC, GC, NC, PB, JS, SW, KG). OSC
recommendations are:
1. The Open Space Committee has no objections to the lot line adjustment.
2. The Open Space Committee recommends that the Town require the
developer to retain the existing Conservation and View Easement and
honor its intent by providing wildlife and open space habitat without
wildlife barrier fencing.
3. Show on the plans the existing Conservation and View Easement,
dedicated at time of original subdivision.
4. Remove stinkwort from property before seeds have been formed (end of
October).
4. New Business
a. Public Art Sites. Council Liaison George Tyson shared the Public Art Committee’s
proposal to place donated art at several potential sites in Town (Attachment E) and
requested input from OSC for that committee. Committee members had varied views on
public art installations (e.g., recommend art that honors important people, prefer
temporary art pieces, explore art on pathways), but the committee consensus was that no
art installations be allowed in the Town’s Open Space Preserves. Of the sites
suggested, only the location on Elena Road was deemed suitable by the majority of the
OSC.
5. Continuing Business
a. Stinkwort. The Town’s contractor started spraying Garlon this week on locations
specified on the Stinkwort map. Several fire roads and pathways have large infestations.
Caltrans property also has large infestations. SW shared information from the Santa
Clara County Weed Management Area (SCCWMA) meeting, part of a state funded
program to coordinate invasive plant management.
6. Open Discussion
a. Car break-ins have occurred at Westwind Community Barn and other barns.
Meeting adjourned at 10:52 am
Attachment A Some LAH Wildlife Friendly Fences
Attachment B: SF Chronicle article on Wildlife crossings
Attachment C: OSC Site Review for 14486 Liddicoat
Attachment D: OSC Site Review for 26400 Eshner Court
Attachment E: LAH Public Art Sites
Minutes submitted by Kit Gordon
To: Los Altos Hills Planning Department
From: Open Space Committee
Date: 9th October, 2019
Property address: 14486 Liddicoat Circle
Date of Site Visit: 7 October 2019
Reason for review :
Addition
Background:
Property is on a steep overlook off of Liddicoat Circle looking over 280, Stanford Hills and the Bay.
Documents (plans and cover sheet) show addition, but on site visit it seems as though all work has
been completed and apart from the pool area it is hard to distinguish original house from new
addition.
Lands of Kaushik APN 183-23-040, 183-23-043
Town
Planner
Steve Padovan Project
Number
SD19-0066
1
OSC Site Review 14486 Liddicoat Circle Wednesday, October 9, 2019
This is a very steep lot (some >50%), with a few oaks and buckeyes on the north side.
2
OSC Site Review 14486 Liddicoat Circle Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Looking North East from corner of house, lot drops off steeply from the house to the 280 freeway.
Looking down from Liddicoat Circle.
3
OSC Site Review 14486 Liddicoat Circle Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Dead Oak Tree (another is shown on plans)
OSC Preliminary Recommendation for this Property
Put steep areas below house and below 310’ contour into an open space easement.
Final OSC recommendation
The Committee recommends that the Town require dedication of an Open Space Easement on the
steeply sloped area of the property starting at the 310 foot contour line and continuing north to
Interstate 280 for the full width of the property, as shown in the report.
The vote was unanimously in favor of approval (RC, GC, NC, PB, JS, SW, KG)
4
OSC Site Review 14486 Liddicoat Circle Wednesday, October 9, 2019
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
SLOPE AND SOIL
Average slope of lot Not shown on plans , maybe >30%
Areas with slope ≥30%? Yes
Check slope/LUF worksheet on subdivisions
If applicable, Review Geologic Hazard Report
CREEKS
None
TREES, NATIVE VEGETATION & INVASIVE PLANTS
Heritage oaks? Yes
Significant trees? No
Trees proposed for removal (number and species)? No
Significant native vegetation? Some Poison Oak at North of Lot
Significant invasive pest plant vegetation? No
WILDLIFE CORRIDORS & FENCING
No wildlife corridors noticed
OPEN SPACE EASEMENTS (OSE)/CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (CE)
Check Town records for existing CE or OSE on this property and adjacent and nearby parcels.
Still to be done
Identify on plans and attach copy (photo) of areas where OSE are recommended (slope ≥30%,
significant trees, wildlife corridor, creeks, drainage swales)
(For more information see Open Space/Conservation Easements, in Appendix)
PATHWAY EASEMENTS (PE)
Check Town records for existing or newly proposed PE on this property or adjacent and nearby
parcels.
FOLLOW-UP
Send final copy to OSC Chair & Secretary
Upload to TraKit ?
Add address to list of easements to track on OSC agenda
5
OSC Site Review 14486 Liddicoat Circle Wednesday, October 9, 2019
To: Los Altos Hills Planning Department
From: Open Space Committee
Date: 9th October, 2019
Property address: 26400 Eshner Court
Date of Site Visit: 7 October 2019
Reason for review :
Lot Line Adjustment
Background:
Properties are at the top of hill part of Altamont Road
Lands of DJNH LLC APN 183-23-040, 183-23-043
Town
Planner
Jeremy Loh Project
Number
LLA19-0002
1
OSC Site Review 26400 Eshner Court Wednesday, October 9, 2019
AREA MAP
Plans showing existing lot line (bronze) and requested change (yellow)
2
OSC Site Review 26400 Eshner Court Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Above: Looking along existing lot line (fence)
Below: Looking along proposed lot line (hedge), vineyard to the left
3
OSC Site Review 26400 Eshner Court Wednesday, October 9, 2019
OSC Preliminary Recommendation for this Property
This appears not to impinge upon any open space issues. We would, however, request that any
stinkwort on the properties (and adjacent pathways), be removed
Final OSC recommendation
(RC, GC, NC, PB, JS, SW, KG in favor).
Open Space Committee has no objections to the lot line adjustment.
The Open Space Committee recommends that the Town require the developer to:
1. Retain the existing Conservation and View Easement and honor its intent by
providing wildlife and open space habitat without wildlife barrier fencing.
2.Show on the plans the existing Conservation and View Easement, dedicated at
time of original subdivision.
3.Remove stinkwort from property before seeds have been formed (end of
October).
4
OSC Site Review 26400 Eshner Court Wednesday, October 9, 2019
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
SLOPE AND SOIL
Average slope of lot _
Areas with slope ≥30%? No
Check slope/LUF worksheet on subdivisions
If applicable, Review Geologic Hazard Report,
CREEKS
None
TREES, NATIVE VEGETATION & INVASIVE PLANTS
Heritage oaks? No
Significant trees? No
Trees proposed for removal (number and species)? No
Significant native vegetation? No
Significant invasive pest plant vegetation? No
WILDLIFE CORRIDORS & FENCING
No wildlife corridors noticed
OPEN SPACE EASEMENTS (OSE)/CONSERVATION EASEMENTS (CE)
Check Town records for existing CE or OSE on this property and adjacent and nearby parcels.
Still to be done
Identify on plans and attach copy (photo) of areas where OSE are recommended (slope ≥30%,
significant trees, wildlife corridor, creeks, drainage swales)
PATHWAY EASEMENTS (PE)
Check Town records for existing or newly proposed PE on this property or adjacent and nearby
parcels.
FOLLOW-UP
Send final copy to OSC Chair & Secretary
Upload to TraKit ?
Add address to list of easements to track on OSC agenda
5
OSC Site Review 26400 Eshner Court Wednesday, October 9, 2019