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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/12/2019 Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, December 12, 2019, 7:00 PM Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Chair Couperus Absent: Commissioner Abraham Staff: Planning Director Dahl, Principal Planner Padovan, Planning Technician Brunner 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR No public presentations. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 Approval of October 3, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes Commissioner Mandle noted a correction to the minutes. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel moved to approve the minutes of the October 3, 2019 Regular Planning Commission Meeting as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Abraham ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 4-0-1 3.2 Approval of November 7, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes Commissioner Patel noted a correction to the minutes. Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel motioned to approve the minutes of the November 7, 2019 Regular Planning Commission meeting as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Abraham ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 4-0-1 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ex Parte: Commissioner Smith met with Mr. Linebarger and Town Staff, and Commissioner Mandle; Commissioner Patel met with Mr. Linebarger; Commissioner Mandle met with Commissioner Smith and the planning staff; and Chair Couperus met with Town staff and Mr. Linebarger. 4.1 13964 Fremont Pines Lane - File #'s SD19-0070, VAR19-0014 - Lands of KWONG Site Development Permit and Variance for a new 975 square-foot, single-story accessory dwelling unit that encroaches 15 feet into the required 30- foot setback from an easement for vehicular access along the rear property line. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) Staff: Steve Padovan Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Principal Planner Padovan presented the staff report. The Planning Commissioners asked questions of the planning staff for clarification of easements, access roads and driveways. Public Comment Chair Couperus opened the floor to the applicant. Mike Chen presented the project. Chair Couperus opened the floor to public comment. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING, as there were no comments. Commission Discussion The Commissioners noted their observations of this project and expressed general support for the variance request. Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel motioned to approve a Site Development Permit and Variance for a new 975 square-foot, single-story accessory dwelling unit that encroaches 15 feet into the required 30-foot setback from an easement for vehicular access along the rear property line, subject to the variance findings in attachment 1 and conditions of approval in attachment 2. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mandle. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Abraham ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 4-0-1 4.2 10728 Mora Drive – File #’s CDP19-0001, VAR19-0005 - Lands of LINEBARGER Conditional Development Permit for a new 2,483 square foot, two-story single- family dwelling with 1,982 square feet of basement and bunker area along with Variance requests for side yard setbacks of 13 feet for the bunker and 24 feet for the building on the north side yard, 10 feet for the light well, and 12.5 feet for the building on the south side, uncovered parking in the front and side yard setbacks, and deck, hardscape, and basement light wells in the side yard setbacks on a .374 acre lot. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) Staff: Steve Padovan Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Principal Planner Padovan presented the staff report. Planning Commissioners asked questions of the planning staff. Chair Couperus opened the floor to the public. Public Comment Technical issues delayed the start of applicant's presentation. A fifteen minute time limit was assigned to the applicant. The applicant, Mr. Linebarger, presented slides and spoke about his project. Planning Commissioners asked questions of the applicant. Dave Kehlet, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project and presented slides. Karen Kehlet, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project and presented slides. Esther John, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project and presented slides. Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 Hal Feeney, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, presented slides, spoke in opposition of the project and addressed the sewer connection topic. Mary Jo Feeney, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project and presented slides. Charles Bodine, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project, raising privacy concerns for neighbors due to high density development, such as this project. Brigit Morgan, a resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition to the project and referenced the history of sewers and the annexation of the both her neighborhood and the Mora Drive neighborhood to the Town. Birgitta Indiaco, a resident of Los Altos Hills and member of the Environmental Design and Protection Committee, represented the Committee's opposition to the variance request to the proposed bunker. Aarte de Geus, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition to the project. Chair Couperus opened the floor to the applicant for rebuttal. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission Discussion The Commissioners noted their observations of this project and discussion ensued. Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Mandle motioned to continue item 4.2 to a future hearing with instructions to the staff and the applicant to increase the building's front yard setback; to reduce the parking variance from the front setback area; to remove all structural encroachments, bunkers, basements, light wells, and hardscape within the 30-foot north side yard setback; to provide a minimum 13-foot setback along the south property line for the building, roof eaves, and all structural elements; to provide a minimum 10-foot setback along the south property line for the light wells and hardscape; and limit the total living space to 2500 square feet and the garage space to 600 square feet. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Mandle, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Abraham ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 4-0-1 4.3 10758 Mora Drive – File #’s CDP19-0002, VAR19-0006 – Lands of LINEBARGER Conditional Development Permit for a new 2,436 square foot, two-story single-family dwelling with 1,956 square feet of basement and bunker area along with Variance requests for side yard setbacks of 10 feet for the bunker and 19 feet for the building on the north side yard, 12 feet for the light well, and 14.5 feet for the building on the south side, uncovered parking in the front and side yard setbacks, and deck, hardscape, and basement light wells in the side yard setbacks on a .398 acre lot. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) Staff: Steve Padovan Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Principal Planner Padovan presented the staff report. Public Comment Chair Couperus opened the floor to the applicant. The applicant, Mr. Linebarger, presented slides and spoke about his project. Chair Couperus opened the floor to public comment. Dave Kehlet, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project. Esther John, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition to the project and raised concerns about high density development in the Town, which has a rural character. Hal Feeney, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project, commenting on the setback issues. Mary Jo Feeney, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition to the project with regards to its high density development and its effect on the Town. Aart de Geus, a resident of Mora Drive in Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition to the project and its legal lot designation. Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 Gerta Crystal, a resident of Los Alto Hills and lives across the street from the proposed project, spoke about the lack of privacy it would present to the existing next door neighbor. Briget Morgan, resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition of the project and the petition that was created when this project was first presented. Chair Couperus opened the floor to the applicant for a rebuttal. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission Discussion The Commissioners noted their observations of this project and discussion ensued. Meeting went into RECESS at 9:50 PM. Meeting RECONVENED at 10:25 PM without Commissioner Mandle. Remaining commissioners continued discussion of the project. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel motioned to continue the application of 4.3 to a future hearing date with the following directions: provide a minimum 20 -foot setback along the north property line for the building, roof eaves, and all structural elements, and 13 feet for light wells and hardscape; provide a minimum 20-foot setback along the south property line for the building, roof eaves, and all structural elements, and 13 feet for light well and hardscape; provide a minimum 10-foot setback for open parking in the side yard setbacks; and limit the total living space to 2500 square feet and the garage space to 600 square feet. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 5. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 5.1 Past Meeting * December 4, 2019 (special meeting) – Commissioner Patel Commissioner Patel updated the Planning Commission on the City Council's Special Meeting regarding the Telecom and Reach Codes agenda items. 5.2 Upcoming Meeting Assignments * December 19, 2019 – Commissioner Mandle * January 16, 2020 – Chair Couperus * February 19, 2020 – Commissioner Smith Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 Commissioner Smith suggested he attend upcoming City Council meeting next Thursday in Commissioner Mandle's stead. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Planning Commission Meeting Start Time Consideration of an alternative meeting start time for Regular Planning Commission meetings. Staff: Zachary Dahl Planning Commissioners discussed their informal agreement to move up the starting time to future Planning Commission meetings to 6:00 PM. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Patel motioned to change the start time of Planning Commission meetings to 6:00 PM, beginning January 2020. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Chair Couperus NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 Chair Couperus proposed setting a date for the planning commissioners to meet with Planning Director Dahl prior to the next Planning Commission meeting. Approved February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting December 12, 2019 7. REPORT ON PAST SITE DEVELOPMENT & FAST TRACK MEETINGS 7.1 November 15, 2019 * 12735 Alto Verde Lane – File #SD19-0041 – Lands of Wang and Yu A request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence. * 13456 South Fork Lane – File #SD19-0044 – Lands of ABRE LLC A request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence and new driveway gate and fencing. 7.2 December 3, 2019 * 10570 Blandor Way – File # SD19-0060 – Lands of Wilson. Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence. 7.3 December 10, 2019 * 25251 La Rena Lane – File #SD19-0022 – Lands of KOME LLC A request for a Site Development Permit for a new 4,771 square-foot single- family residence with 1,567 square-foot basement, an attached 191 square foot secondary dwelling unit, and a new 331 square-foot pool. Planning Director Dahl reported that all of the items were approved. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Smith motioned to adjourn at 10:50 PM. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Patel. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Patel, Chair Couperus NOES: ABSENT: Commissioner Abraham, Commissioner Mandle ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 Respectfully Submitted, Keren Brunner Planning Technician The minutes of the December 12, 2019 Regular Planning Commission were approved as presented at the February 6, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting.