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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2020Approved June 4, 2020 1 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, May 7, 2020, 6:00 PM Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road ______________________________________________________________________________ Via teleconference according to the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, Chair Couperus called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chair Couperus, Vice-Chair Patel, Commissioner Indaco, Commissioner Mandle, and Commissioner Smith Absent: None Staff: Planning Director Dahl, Principal Planner Padovan, Assistant Planner Loh, 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. There were no presentations from the floor. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 Approval of March 5, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes The approval of the March 5, 2020 regular meeting minutes was continued to the June 4, 2020 Planning Commission meeting. 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS. EX PARTE: Commissioner Mandle exchanged an email with Elizabeth Lee about Item 4.5. Commissioner Indaco reviewed the four properties on the agenda earlier as part of the Environmental Design & Protection Committee (EDPC) and spoke with Carol Gottlieb, Peter Brown, and also spoke with the neighbors Elizabeth Lee and Linda Membreno regarding Item 4.5. Chair Couperus spoke with Michelle Bowyu, a neighbor to the property in Item 4.4, and exchanged an email with Elizabeth Lee about Item 4.5. Vice-Chair Patel spoke with Commissioner Indaco about Item 4.1. Approved June 4, 2020 2 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 4.1 13940 La Paloma Road - File #SD19-0090 - Lands of Wang Request for a Site Development Permit for a 6,831 square-foot, two-story residence with a two-car garage, a 3,694 square-foot basement, a 723 square-foot detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU), an additional detached two-car garage, a swimming pool, sport court and associated hardscape on a 1.5 acre lot. The project includes the removal of two heritage oaks. Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Principal Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report noting the staff recommendation to modify the project design to preserve the two mature oak trees. Public Comment: Sean Lopes, landscape architect, presented the project. Jeff and Faye Wong, property owners, presented information to support their request to remove the two oak trees as part of project. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING, as there were no other public comments. Commissioner Discussion: Vice-Chair Patel expressed general support for the staff recommendation, noting that health issues are not a sufficient basis to remove a Heritage oak tree and that mature landscapes should be preserved during construction to minimize impacts on the neighbors. Commissioner Smith expressed general support for the staff recommendation, noting that Heritage oaks are protected by the Zoning Code and allowing removal based on health issues would set a bad precedent. Commissioner Indaco expressed general support for the staff recommendation, noting that the oaks would be replaced at a 3:1 ratio, but maintaining the existing mature trees is preferable. She also noted that any construction fencing should be placed off the property line to allow for wildlife movement. Commissioner Mandle expressed general support for the staff recommendation, noting that she appreciated the neighborhood outreach done by the applicants and that the 28-inch oak should be preserved but the other oaks could be removed and replaced elsewhere on the site with a different species of native tree. Chair Couperus expressed general support for the staff recommendation, not that the health issues won’t be resolved by removing the oak trees and that rethinking where the buildings are located on the site could be a better solution. He also noted Approved June 4, 2020 3 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 support for allowing the smaller oaks to be removed and replaced with other native species. Jeff and Faye Wong, property owners, provided a brief response, reiterating their concern about health issues if the oak trees are maintained on the site. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Mandle moved to approve the Site Development Permit for the new residence subject to the conditions of approval in Attachment 1, with additional conditions to require the plans be revised to preserve the large 28” oak tree and other mature trees and landscaping; 2) require the construction fencing be placed at least five feet within the property line; and 3) allow the other smaller Heritage oak trees to be removed with a replacement ratio of 3:1 with native trees that are not oaks. The motion was seconded by Vice- Chair Patel. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Patel, Commissioner Indaco, Chair Couperus, Commissioner Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 5-0 4.2 25136 La Loma Drive - File #SD19-0094 - Lands of Edward Y.C. Chan Trust Request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new, two-story residence, pool, and sports court; new six-foot tall wrought iron fence and driveway gate in the front yard setback; new hardscape improvements. Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Assistant Planner Loh presented the staff report. Public Comment: Chair Couperus opened PUBLIC HEARING. Ken Schoppet, landscape architect, presented the project, noting that the dilapidated wood fence would be replaced with a wrought iron fence, that the plan included a significant amount of new landscaping and trees to screen the house from the street and neighbors while also preserving the views toward the bay. Edward Chan, property owner, also presented the project, noting communications with neighbors regarding tree replacement. Multiple Commissioners inquired about the design and placement of the new wrought iron fence, noting that the details were not included in the plans. Approved June 4, 2020 4 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 Mr. Chan, presented a sketch of the fencing, noting that it was a standard wrought iron fence design with rings at the top and the color would be black or brown. Assistant Planner Loh noted that the fence would be 15 feet from the property line and screened by the new podocarpus trees and that the fence detail presented by the owner would be included in the project plans. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING, as there were no other public comments. Commissioner Discussion: Vice-Chair Patel expressed general support for the landscape screening plan, noting that the house is very visible from the street, that all new trees should be a minimum 24-inch box size and that the side fences should be replaced as well. Commissioner Mandle expressed general support for the landscape screening plan, noting that there was already a significant amount of screening in place. Commissioner Indaco expressed general support for the landscape screening plan, but requested that the four Cherry Laurel trees be increased from 15-gallon to 24- inch boxes and would like to see more evergreen trees along the driveway. Commissioner Smith expressed general support for the landscape screening plan. Chair Couperus expressed general support for the landscape screening plan. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice-Chair Patel moved to approve the Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan subject to the conditions of approval in Attachment 1 with an additional condition to increase the Prunus Carolina trees to a 24-inch box size. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mandle. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Patel, Commissioner Indaco, Chair Couperus, Commissioner Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 5-0 4.3 24180 Dawnridge Drive - File #MA20-0001 - Lands of Lowchareonkul Request for a Map Adjustment to abandon an existing 100-foot building setback line on a recorded map for light and air along the side property line. Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Assistant Planner Loh presented the staff report. Approved June 4, 2020 5 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 Public Comment: Kendra Rosenberg, applicant, presented the map adjustment request noting that this request was similar to the recently approved map adjustment at 24200 Dawnridge Drive. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING, as there were no other public comments. Commissioner Discussion: Chair Couperus expressed general support for the map adjustment request. Vice-Chair Patel expressed general support for the map adjustment request, noting that the Town should consider removing all of the building setback lines in the subdivision to align with current Zoning setbacks. Commissioner Mandle expressed opposition to the abandonment of the building setback line, consistent with her position on the previous property, due to concerns that it would change the character of the neighborhood. She notes a willingness to support reducing the building setback line to 40 feet to align with the Zoning Code, but could not support eliminating it because it would allow fencing in the front yard area. Commissioner Indaco expressed support for the reduced building setback line option proposed by Commissioner Mandle. Commissioner Smith expressed general support for the map adjustment request, but noted that he could support the reduced building setback line option proposed by Commissioner Mandle. The Commission discussed full building setback line abandonment versus reducing the building setback line to 40 feet to align with the Zoning Code while preserving the prohibition of any fences in the front yard setback. The meeting went into RECESS at 8:40 p.m. The meeting RECONVENED to Open Session at 8:45 p.m. Kendra Rosenberg, applicant, confirmed that the owners have no intention of building a fence in the front yard setback at this time and expressed concern that reducing the building setback line, but not removing it, would create multiple standards within the neighborhood. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Mandle moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to reduce the existing light and air easement (building setback line) to 40 feet from the front property line. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. Approved June 4, 2020 6 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 AYES: Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Patel, Commissioner Indaco, Chair Couperus, Commissioner Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED: 5-0 4.4 CONTINUED to a date certain: June 4, 2020 at 6:00 pm 13254 East Sunset Drive - File #CDP20-0001 and VAR20-0003 – Lands of Suchter Request for a Conditional Development Permit to construct a new 3,985 square- foot, two-story residence with an 1,873 square-foot basement including a 767 square-foot accessory dwelling unit in the basement, a Variance for a front yard setback of 32 feet where 40 feet is required, and an exception to the Town’s Grading. 4.5 23691 Camino Hermoso Drive - File #APL20-0001 - Lands of Luu Appeal of the Planning Director approval of a Site Development Permit (SD18- 0063) for a new 5,964 square-foot, two-story residence with 5,024 square-foot basement including a 999 square-foot accessory dwelling unit in the basement. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a) Project Planner: Jeremy Loh Chair Couperus opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Assistant Planner Loh presented the staff report. Commission discussion ensued and multiple commissioners asked clarifying questions of staff. Public Comment: Gil Heydari, appellant, presented his appeal of the approved Fast Track Site Development Permit noting that the proposed house would be too close to his property line, that it would create a significant amount of light exposure and that the owner never contacted him before the public hearing Elizabeth Lee, appellant from 12195 Winton Way, expressed concerns about privacy and views from the second story of the new house into her rear yard. Michael Luu, property owner, noted that the dumping was not done with his consent, and that the design of the second story was intended to minimize view impact as much as possible while maintaining a view of the Bay from the second story. Approved June 4, 2020 7 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 Linda Membreno, neighbor to the west, expressed support for allowing the property to develop, but noted concerns about the loss of landscape screening and negative impacts during construction. Stuart Welty, project architect, was unable to present due to technical difficulties. Chair Couperus closed the PUBLIC HEARING as there were no other public comments. Commissioner Discussion: Commissioner Indaco expressed concerns about the project, noting that the size and placement of all trees on the site needed to be clarified, that the amount of glass on the residence should be reduced, that the project should have been reviewed by the Open Space Committee, the size of the front light well should be reduced, and the skylight on the second story element should be eliminated. Commissioner Mandle expressed concerns that the owner had not done sufficient outreach to the neighbors and recommended that the project be continued to allow for the owner and the appellants to meet and discuss the concerns raised. Commissioner Smith expressed support for continuing the project, noting that the windows could create nighttime glare impacts. Vice-Chair Patel expressed support for continuing the project to allow for additional neighborhood outreach. Chair Couperus expressed support for continuing the project, noting that the placement of the pool could be a privacy impact on the neighbor and that the architect should consider lowering the building pad to address the neighbor concerns. Stuart Welty, project architect, provided a presentation, noting the ways in which the proposed residence addressed the neighbor’s concerns. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Indaco moved to continue this appeal to a future meeting with direction for the owner and architect to meet with the neighbors and look at design modifications to address their concerns. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Patel. AYES: Commissioner Smith, Vice-Chair Patel, Commissioner Indaco, Chair Couperus, Commissioner Mandle NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED 5-0 Approved June 4, 2020 8 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes May 7, 2020 5. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 5.1 Past Meetings Vice-Chair Patel reported on the April 1, 2020 special City Council meeting and Commissioner Mandle reported on the April 16, 2020 regular City Council meeting. 5.2 Upcoming Meeting Assignments Chair Couperus confirmed upcoming meeting assignments. 6. REPORT ON PAST FAST TRACK/SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS 6.1 March 10, 2020 14525 Miranda Road - File # SD19-0082 Lands of Lee and Chon 6.2 April 21, 2020 25720 Carado Court - File # SD19-0077 - Lands of Claasen 25380 Becky Lane - File # SD20-0006 - Lands of Kleidon and Li 24874 Olive Tree Lane - File # VAR20-0002 - Lands of Hadden 11871 Hilltop Drive - File # SD19-0087 - Lands of Sand Brook LLC 12170 Dawn Lane - File # SD19-0078 - Lands of Koganti 25538 Hidden Springs Court - File # SD19-0074 - Lands of HPK Corp Planning Director Dahl reported on the outcomes from the Fast Track and Site Development in April and May 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Keren Brunner Planning Technician The minutes of the May 7, 2020 regular Planning Commission meeting were approved as presented at the June 4, 2020 regular Planning Commission meeting.