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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/26/2019Approved November 7, 2019 1 Planning Commission Special Meeting September 26, 2019 Minutes of a Special Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, September 26, 2019, 7:00 PM Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Abraham participated via teleconference, Chair Couperus Absent: Commissioner Smith Staff: Planning Director Zach Dahl, Principal Planner Steve Padovan, Management Analyst Cody Einfalt, Planning Technician Keren Brunner 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Chair Couperus explained the process for accepting public comment. Chair Couperus opened presentations from the floor. No presentations from the floor. Chair Couperus closed presentations from the floor. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS EX PARTE: Commissioner Patel spoke to Commissioner Smith. Commissioner Mandle spoke to no one. Commissioner Abraham had no external contact. Chair Couperus did not speak with anyone. 3.1 ADDITION AND REMODEL OF TOWN HALL 26379 FREMONT ROAD A request for a Conditional Use Permit Modification and Site Development Permit for the following: (1) the demolition of the existing 880 square foot detached Parks and Recreation Building and the construction of a 1,957 square foot addition to the south side of Town Hall for staff offices, an employee break room and a 529 square foot flexible space room resulting in a net increase of 1,077 square feet; and (2) enclosing the covered patio area at the rear of the Council Chambers to create a 435 square foot conference room. The total net increase in floor area will be 1,512 square feet. The existing fire truck turnaround and disabled parking area will need to be lowered by approximately one foot to conform to the existing grade of Town Hall but there are no proposed changes to the existing site circulation, parking or driveway configurations. No variances are requested. Approved November 7, 2019 2 Planning Commission Special Meeting September 26, 2019 FILE #’s CUP18-0003 and SD18-0050; CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption 15301(e) less than 2,500 square foot addition to an existing public building; Staff: S. Padovan. Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Principal Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report. Chair Couperus opened the floor for discussion. Pradip Madan, Los Altos Hills, asked about the budget for the proposed project. Dennis Williamson, Los Altos Hills, commented on screening near parking lot. Kjell Karlsson, Los Altos Hills, stated he is concerned about the management of this project. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commissioner Abraham thought the plan was excellent: it handles public and staff needs. He agreed the current screening is not good for the parking lot. He would also like to improve the exterior lighting around the Council Chambers for safety at night. He stated he would vote for this proposal as is. Commissioner Patel stated that requesting no variances and minimal trees to be removed was good. He believes addressing the landscape screening for the entire property and reviewing the exterior lighting would also be good. He agreed with the findings in Attachments 1 & 2 and proposed 2 new suggestions: 1. consider clean energy in the plan, (i.e. solar electric in lieu of natural gas), and 2. consider future expansion needs (i.e. basements). He stated basements were free square footage and an unfinished basement should be considered in this plan. Commissioner Abraham commented that the basement suggestion may not be feasible. He mentioned that the property that Town Hall is built on has a very high water table and during wet weather, may flood a basement. Chair Couperus agreed that the high water table may be an issue, but suggested to the staff that it may be worth looking into. Commissioner Mandle commented that this has been the best meeting on this subject to date and it was great that most people are comfortable with the solution that was presented. She was not interested in changing the plan and suggested the landscape screening issue be revisited at a future public hearing. Chair Couperus shared two slides. He was also in 100% agreement with the current staff recommendation. Additionally, he suggested reconfiguring the plans in Approved November 7, 2019 3 Planning Commission Special Meeting September 26, 2019 the reception area to add another office, checking out the basement idea, and adding a war memorial in the roundabout area. Planner Padovan commented that if the water table was high for the Town Hall property, there would need to be measures put in place to manage redirecting water for a basement. Discussion ensued regarding the presented architectural plans. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel moved to forward a motion. to recommend to the City Council to approve a Conditional Use Permit Modification and a Site Development Permit for additions to Town Hall totaling 2,392 square feet, subject to the findings in Attachment 1 and the conditions of approval in Attachment 2; with the suggestion of an all electric utilities plan for the addition, a potential unfinished basement, and small addition of area to increase office space. Landscape screening should come back to Planning Commission with the consideration of outdoor lighting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mandle. AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Abraham, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Smith ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 4-0-1 3.2 Introduction of an amendment to Title 10 of the Town of Los Altos Hills Municipal Code (Zoning and Site Development) to adopt regulations for accessory dwelling units; FILE #MCA19-0001; CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15061(B)(3) Staff: S. Padovan. Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Planner Padovan presented the staff report. Discussion ensued regarding items on staff’s proposal. Commissioner Abraham asked about the origin of this suggestion. Commissioner Patel asked questions regarding basement, habitable space definitions, median income level computations, and rental issue. Chair Couperus opened the discussion to public comment. Tom Dennedy, Los Altos Hills, asked about the incentive on fee waivers. Approved November 7, 2019 4 Planning Commission Special Meeting September 26, 2019 Steve Johnson, Los Altos Hills, commented that this was an option for family to live on affordable retirement in this area. Kevin DeNuccio, Los Altos Hills, thought the Town needed these units built in order for families to live in the area affordably. Joe Kleemen, Los Altos Hills, stated the community needs more bedrooms. G L Pang, Los Altos Hills, thought the Town should reconsider the state’s proposals. He felt there was a conflict between the two. A Los Altos Hills resident did not agree on the owner occupation rule. Kjell Karlsson, Los Altos Hills, had questions regarding the sewer service fees for ADU's. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Chair Couperus spoke about the Town having issues dealing with fire regulation changes. He mentioned the regulations are difficult to enforce because of the extreme expense involved for compliance. He also had a question about the language in CA state law for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and requested more specific wording for the Town's Municipal Code. Commissioner Patel wanted to address a comment made by a resident regarding underlying lots on a parcel and how an ADU may affect those. Commissioner Abraham commented he was opposed to deed restrictions. Commissioner Mandle was in favor of deed restrictions. She was not in favor of increasing floor area or encroachment setbacks. Chair Couperus addressed comment regarding the ADU amendment adding bedrooms to the Town and spoke about balancing the needs of the Town. Commissioner Patel felt that the term "contiguous lots" was not adequate and would like the language changed to something more broad. He also felt the deed restriction section was the most valuable item part of this proposal because it facilitated affordable housing in the Town. Commissioner Mandle listed four items the Planning Commission were not in agreement on with the staff proposal: 1. the owner-occupied issue, 2. the floor area limitation, 3. the setback encroachment, and 4. the deed restriction. If the Commission can resolve the issues, then the staff can update the proposal and move forward. Approved November 7, 2019 5 Planning Commission Special Meeting September 26, 2019 Commissioner Patel and Commissioner Mandle agreed that Section 10-1.1406, referencing parking was acceptable as presented. Commissioner Patel and Commissioner Mandle agree that the setback encroachment item should be similar to the current code, which has the Planning Commission address them as variance requests. Commissioner Abraham stated he was against additional relief in parking. Commissioner Mandle was strongly opposed to the floor area bonus in the incentives section. Commissioner Patel was indifferent to the floor area bonus if the deed restrictions are in place. Commissioner Mandle and Commissioner Abraham agreed that the floor area bonus would not be enforceable. Commissioner Abraham stated he was against the floor area bonus. Chair Couperus stated he was against perpetual deed restrictions. He was also not in favor of the floor area bonus. Commissioner Patel commented if the Pathway fee were waived for all ADU's, then the Planning Commission could ask the City Council to consider its review of the new Pathway fee proposal that was put together. Commissioner Abraham was against deed restrictions. Chair Couperus agreed with not requiring the ADU's running 200 amps or less to have underground services. Commissioner Abraham suggested the Town make certain the services are adequate. Commissioner Mandle agreed to the wording proposed by the Director Dahl addressing an owner-occupied requirement, which states, "if one unit is rented, the other shall be owner-occupied." The Planning Commission did not vote on the amendment. They agreed to have staff adjust the proposal based on their feedback from this meeting and present it at the November 7, 2019 Regular Planning Commission meeting. 4. OLD BUSINESS – None 5. NEW BUSINESS – None Approved November 7, 2019 6 Planning Commission Special Meeting September 26, 2019 6. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for September 19 – Commissioner Abraham Chair Couperus reported on the major points of the meeting for Commissioner Abraham. 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for October 17 – Chair Couperus 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for November 21 – Commissioner Smith 6.4 Planning Commission Representative for December 19 – Commissioner Patel 6.5 Planning Commission Representative for January 16 – Commissioner Mandle 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7.1 Approval of September 5, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel moved to approve the September 5, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mandle. AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Abraham, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Smith ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 4-0-1 8. REPORTS FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS - September 17, 24 8.1 LANDS OF JA INVESTMENTS LLC; 26495 Altamont Road; File #SD19-0056; A request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence; CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304(e) – New gardening or landscaping. Staff: J. Loh. 8.2 LANDS OF DUMAS; 26270 Purissima Road; File #SD19-0043; A request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening, fencing, and a driveway gate for an approved new residence; CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304(e) - New gardening or landscaping. Staff: J. Loh. Planning Director Zach Dahl reported on the outcome of the Site Development meetings. Approved November 7, 2019 7 Planning Commission Special Meeting September 26, 2019 9. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK MEETINGS - September 17 9.1 LANDS OF SINGH; 25255 LA LOMA DRIVE; File #SD19-0007; A request for a Site Development Permit for a 1,474 square foot addition to the existing single- family residence, an exception to the Town’s Grading Policy for five feet of fill for a required fire truck turnaround, and driveway modifications. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) – construction of a new single-family residence in a residential zone; Categorical Exemption per Section 15301(e) – addition to existing structures. Staff: S. Padovan. Director Dahl reported on the outcome of the Fast Track meeting. 10. ADJOURNMENT MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Mandle moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Patel. AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Abraham, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Smith ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 4-0-1 The meeting adjourned at 9:50pm. Respectfully Submitted, Keren Brunner Planning Technician The minutes of the 26 September 2019 Special Planning Commission Meeting were approved as corrected at the 7 November 2019 Regular Planning Commission Meeting.