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Home My WebLink About09/02/2021Approved October 7, 2021 1 Planning Commission Regular Meeting September 2, 2021 Minutes Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Commission Regular Meeting September 2, 2021 Minutes Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Via teleconference according to the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, Chair Indaco called the September 2, 2021 Regular Planning Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Patel, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco, Staff: Interim Planning Director Padovan, Associate Planner Loh, Management Analyst Einfalt, Planning Technician Brunner 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Persons wishing to address the Commission on any subject not on the agenda are invited to do so now. Please note, however, that the Commission is not able to undertake extended discussion or act tonight on non-agendized items. Such items will be referred to staff or placed on the agenda for a future meeting. Chair Indaco opened PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. The Commissioners verbally acknowledged they read the submitted presentation by Marilyn McCain. Chair Indaco noted that staff would address the concerns Ms. McCain outlined in her email and attached as Item 2 Supplemental 1 Redacted. No other presentations from the floor. Chair Indaco closed PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 Approval of August 5, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes Chair Indaco requested that “Chair Indaco called the meeting to order.” under Item 1: ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE be added to the minutes. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel moved that the August 5, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes be approved as discussed. The motion was seconded by Vice- Chair Waschura. MOTION PASSED: 5-0 AYES: Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Vice-Chair Waschura, Chair Indaco NOES: None ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS Planning Commission Ex Parte Commissioner Couperus had communications with John Swan about Item 4.1. Approved October 7, 2021 2 Planning Commission Regular Meeting September 2, 2021 Minutes Commissioner Smith had communications with Carol Gottlieb about Item 4.1 Commissioner Patel and Vice-Chair Waschura had no ex parte communications. Chair Indaco had communications with the neighbor, Michelle Yu; City Councilmember Linda Swan, Environmental Design & Protection Committee member Carol Gottlieb; the project architect, Chris Spaulding; and read an email from John Swan but did not reply. 4.1 13010 East Sunset Drive – File # SD21-0030 – Lands of Zheng Request for a Site Development Permit for a new 4,916 square-foot, two-story residence with a 3,416 square-foot basement and a detached 798 square-foot accessory dwelling unit and a 900 square-foot pool; request for grading policy exception for a driveway. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) Project Planner: Staff: Jeremy Loh Chair Indaco opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Associate Planner Loh presented the staff report. A question-and-answer session between the commissioners and staff ensued. The applicant, Hao Zheng, shared a presentation and introduced his architect, Chris Spaulding. Chris Spaulding, the applicant's architect, shared a presentation and addressed the commissioners' comments and questions on the project. A question-and-answer session between the commissioners and the applicant ensued. Public Comment Linda Swan, a resident of Los Altos Hills, offered comments regarding her concerns about the proposed project. Michell Yu, a resident of Los Altos Hills, offered comments regarding the public/private nature of East Sunset and in support of the project. Carol Gottlieb, speaking as a representative of the Environmental Design & Protection Committee (EDPC), offered comments on the proposed project. Mary Piramoon, a resident of Los Altos Hills, offered comments regarding her concerns about the proposed project. Chris Spaulding, the architect, offered rebuttal comments. Hao Zheng, the applicant, offered rebuttal comments. A question-and-answer session between the commissioners and the architect ensued. Chair Indaco closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission Discussion Vice-Chair Waschura offered comments regarding his concerns about the proposed project. Commissioner Patel offered comments regarding his concerns about and support of the proposed project. Approved October 7, 2021 3 Planning Commission Regular Meeting September 2, 2021 Minutes Commissioner Smith offered comments regarding his concerns about and support of the proposed project. Chair Indaco shared a presentation and offered comments regarding her concerns about and support of the proposed project. Commissioner Couperus offered comments regarding his support of and concerns about the proposed project. Commission discussion ensued. The Commissioners addressed Chair Indaco's list and offered comments. The applicants were invited back to offer comments on the Commissioners' concerns. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel motioned that the Planning Commission Adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) to APPROVE the Site Development Permit, subject to the listed findings and conditions of approval and including the following listed items: 1. Follow the grading plan for the lightwell near the garage. The retaining wall must be totally covered by dirt. 2. Reduce recessed lights to two (2) for the covered porch off the Master Bedroom #1. 3. Reduce recessed lights to four (4) for the covered porch off the kitchen. 4. The garage doors are solid paneled with one strip of glazing, but no light emanates out into the valley below. 5. Pool lights must face the house. 6. Pool equipment to be enclosed in a sound attenuated structure. 7. The metal roof has a matte and non-reflective finish. 8. Exterior finishes blend with surrounding nature. 9. Construction execution plan is to be discussed and coordinated with neighbors on East Sunset Drive. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. MOTION PASSED: 4-1 AYES: Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Waschura NOES: Chair Indaco ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 5. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 5.1 Upcoming Meeting Assignments • September 16, 2021 – Commissioner Smith • October 21, 2021 – Chair Patel • November 18, 2021 – Commissioner Couperus • December 16, 2021 – Vice-Chair Waschura Chair Indaco confirmed upcoming meeting assignments. 5.2 Past Meeting Review • August 19, 2021 – Chair Indaco Approved October 7, 2021 4 Planning Commission Regular Meeting September 2, 2021 Minutes Chair Indaco provided highlights of the past City Council meeting. Commissioner Patel asked for clarification regarding the use of private property for storage and whether the Town consented to that. Planning Director Padovan provided clarifications. 6. REPORTS FROM PAST SITE DEVELOPMENT / FAST TRACK MEETINGS 6.1 August 10, 2021 • 12255 Menalto Drive – File #SD21-0009 – Lands of St. Ledger Site Development Permit for landscape screening, fencing and driveway gates for an approved new residence. APPROVED (Appeal Filed) 6.2 August 17, 2021 • 12170 Dawn Lane – File #SD21-0044 – Lands of Koganti Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence. CONTINUED TO A DATE UNCERTAIN 6.3 August 31, 2021 • 27860 Black Mountain Road – File #SD21-0034 – Lands of Broken Oak Trust Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence and accessory structures. • 26303 Esperanza Drive – File #SD21-0047 – Lands of Singh and Kaur Site Development Permit for a landscape screening, fences, and driveway gate for an approved new residence. Planning Director Padovan provided a summary on past Site Development / Fast Track hearings and noted that 27860 Black Mountain Road and 26303 Esperanza Drive were CONTINUED due to the owner or applicant not attending the meeting. 7. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT. Interim Planning Director Padovan… • announced the start of the new Assistant Planner, Areli Perez, and shared her professional background with the Commissioners. • looking at receiving a couple of proposals for the Town’s housing element. • announced that interviews for a new Planning Director has begun and outlined a targeted hire month. • answered Commissioners' questions regarding the Town's intended plans for the Sunset Road improvement project. • responded to Commissioner Patel’s request to create a resource for the residents to know to which department or agency they should go to when they had questions. 8. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 9:02 PM by Chair Indaco. Respectfully submitted, Keren Brunner, Planning Technician