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Home My WebLink About12/10/2020Approved February 4, 2021 1 Planning Commission Special Meeting December 10, 2020 Minutes Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Commission Special Meeting December 10, 2020 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 Patel called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Waschura, Vice- Chair Indaco, Chair Patel, Staff: Planning Director Dahl, Assistant 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 take action tonight on non-agendized items. Such items will be referred to staff or placed on the agenda for a future meeting. No presentations from the floor. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 Approval of November 5, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice-Chair Indaco moved to approve the November 5, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Waschura. AYES: Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Waschura, Vice-Chair Indaco, Chair Patel NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION: Carried 5-0 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS Planning Commission Ex Parte Vice-Chair Indaco had communications with Carol Gottlieb on the Environmental Design & Protection Committee (EDPC) and Kjell Karlsson, a Los Altos Hills resident, about Item 4.1. Commissioners Couperus, Smith, and Waschura, and Chair Patel did not have any ex parte communications. Approved February 4, 2021 2 Planning Commission Special Meeting December 10, 2020 Minutes 4.1 12450 Hilltop Drive – File #SD20-0075 – Lands of Veeravagu and Das Request for a Site Development Permit for landscape screening and entry steps for an approved two-story residence. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Sections 15304(b) Project Planner: Jeremy Loh Chair Patel opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Assistant Planner Loh presented the staff report. The Commissioners asked clarifying questions related to exterior lighting, placement of the electrical panel and trees. Anand Veeravagu and Sangeeta Das, property owners, Malika Junaid, project architect, and Damir Hurdich, project landscaping architect, presented the proposed landscape design and responded to the Commissioners’ questions. Public Comment Carol Gottlieb, a Los Altos Hills resident and neighbor, expressed concerns about the proposed landscape screening and potential drainage issues. Alison Kibrick and her husband, Los Altos Hills residents and neighbors, noted that they had been in communication with the owners and did not want to see any plantings under their oak tree. Chair Patel closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission Discussion Vice-Chair Indaco expressed concerns that the proposed evergreen tree species would not provide enough screening and that there could be light glare from the glass garage. Commissioner Couperus expressed concerns from water runoff on the front yard berm if irrigation was not properly managed. Commissioner Waschura agreed with Commissioner Couperus' and Vice-Chair Indaco’s comments and concerns but noted that this was a sub-standard lot and that the design was creative in addressing these constraints. Commissioner Smith expressed general support for the project and the previous commissioners' comments. Chair Patel expressed general support for the project, noting that the issue of water run off was an issue for the entire street. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Motion by Commissioner Waschura to adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) to approve the Site Development Permit subject to the listed findings and conditions with the added conditions that the staff work with the applicant to establish a gate in front of the electric meter, and add two more podocarpus to the upper area above the uncovered parking spot to screen the glass glare. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Indaco. Approved February 4, 2021 3 Planning Commission Special Meeting December 10, 2020 Minutes AYES: Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Waschura, Vice-Chair Indaco, Chair Patel NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION: Carried 5-0 4.2 27321 Altamont Road – File #SD20-0056 – Lands of Jurvetson Request for a Site Development Permit for a new 5,241 square foot, two-story residence with a 2,471 square foot basement and an exception to the Town’s Grading Policy. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Sections 15303(a) Project Planner: Krista Yost This application was continued without discussion to the Special Planning Commission Meeting on Thursday, January 14, 2021. 4.3 Zoning Ordinance Amendments – Town of Los Altos Hills Introduction of amendments to various sections within Chapter 1 (Zoning) and Chapter 2 (Site Development) of Title 10 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code pertaining to updating the appeals process and clarifying the effective date of decisions made by the Planning Director, the Staff Committee and the Planning Commission; and an amendment to Article 6 (Off-Street Parking) in Chapter 1 of Title 10 to reestablish minimum parking stall dimension requirements. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Sections 15061(B)(3) Staff: Zachary Dahl Chair Patel opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Director Dahl presented the staff report, noting that the code amendment was correcting internal inconsistencies within the Zoning Code relating to appeal deadlines and process. Public Comment None. Chair Patel closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commission Discussion All Commissioners expressed general support for the proposal. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Motion by Chair Patel to forward a recommendation to the City Council to adopt the draft ordinance (Attachment 1). The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Indaco. Approved February 4, 2021 4 Planning Commission Special Meeting December 10, 2020 Minutes AYES: Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Waschura, Vice-Chair Indaco, Chair Patel NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION: Carried 5-0 5. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 5.1 Upcoming Meeting Assignments • December 17, 2020 – Commissioner Smith • January 21, 2021 – Chair Patel • February 18, 2021 – Commissioner Couperus Chair Patel confirmed upcoming meeting assignments with the Commissioners. 5.2 Past Meeting • November 19, 2020 – Vice-Chair Indaco Vice-Chair Indaco shared highlights of the meeting. 5.3 Letter to City Council Discuss potential Commission recommendations regarding the City Council’s 2021 priorities. – Added with Revision No. 1 The Commission discussed their interest in sending a letter to the City Council to highlight important issues that should be considered when the Council set their goals for 2021. The Commission discussed various issues that should be considered and Commissioner Waschura volunteered to draft the letter based on the comments made by the commissioners and bring it back at the January meeting for final consideration and approval. No Motion. 6. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK / SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS 6.1 December 1, 2020 • 25680 Elena Road – File #SD20-0050 – Lands of Sun and Lu Site Development Permit (approved) for a new 5,920 square foot, two-story residence with a 2,928 square foot basement and an 810 square foot detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU). 6.2 December 8, 2020 • 12215 Colina Drive – File – SD20-0054 – Land of Jayaraman Site Development Permit (approved) to allow construction of a new 850 square foot swimming pool and associated hardscape improvements. Planning Director Dahl provided a brief summary of the past Site Development / Fast Track Public Hearings. Approved February 4, 2021 5 Planning Commission Special Meeting December 10, 2020 Minutes 7. PLANNING DIRECTOR REPORT Planning Director Dahl reported that he had met with the Fire Department regarding their minimum driveway width requirement and that moving forward, the minimum width required by the Fire Dept would be reduced from 14 feet to 12 feet for single- family houses, that the Town Hall Addition project was being updated to potentially include office space for the Los Altos Hills County Fire District staff, and that publication of the environmental initial study for the La Paloma-Robleda pathway was anticipated for early December. 8. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 9:12 PM. Respectfully submitted, Keren Brunner Planning Technician