HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/27/2023Approved February 15, 2023
Town of Los Altos Hills
Planning Commission Special Meeting
January 27, 2023 Minutes
Zoom Meeting, Los Altos Hills, California
1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Via teleconference according to the Government Code Section 54953(e), Chair Waschura called the
January 27, 2023 Planning Commission Special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Indaco, Vice-Chair Bredo,
Chair Waschura, City Attorney Lai
Staff: Planning Director Mangalam, Senior Planner Ling, City Attorney Lai, Administrative
Clerk/Technician Brunner
2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Chair Waschura opened PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
Nicole Baker, a resident of Los Altos Hills, requested to speak on Item 4.1 at this time.
Chair Waschura closed PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
3.1 Motion of the Planning Commission of the Town of Los Altos Hills to continue meeting virtually
through teleconference meetings and making related findings pursuant to AB 361.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Chair Waschura moved to APPROVE the Planning
Commission of the Town of Los Altos Hills to continue meeting virtually through teleconference
meetings and making related findings pursuant to AB 361.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Indaco.
MOTION PASSED: 5-0-0-0-0
AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Indaco, Vice-
Chair Bredo, Chair Waschura
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
4.1 Consideration of a resolution recommending to the City Council adoption of the Housing
Element of the General Plan for the period of 2023-2031 and determination that adoption of said
element is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
per Section 15361(b)(3).
Project Planner: Sofia Mangalam
Project Description - A Housing Element is one of the seven mandatory elements of the General
Plan that describes how local jurisdictions plan to meet the housing needs allocated to their
communities. Every eight (8) years, local jurisdictions are required to review and adopt a
Housing Element that is in substantial compliance with state housing element law. The 6th Cycle
Housing Element update covers the planning period of 2023- 2031 and will replace the 5th Cycle
Housing Element for the planning period of 2015-2023. The 2023-2031 Housing Element
includes the following chapters: Review of Past Accomplishments; Housing Needs Assessment;
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Planning Commission Meeting January 27, 2023 Minutes
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, Constraints On Housing; Housing Resources; Site
Descriptions; Ability to Meet RHNA; and Housing Goals, Policies and Programs. The Housing
Element identifies three sites where a multi-family overlay zone designation would be proposed:
portions of the Foothill College site, portions of the St. Nicholas School site, and the Twin Oaks
Court parcels (at Arastradero Road/Twin Oaks Court, Los Altos Hills). Once adopted in
substantial compliance with state housing element law, the 2023-2031 Housing Element will
serve as the housing program and policy document governing the 2023-2031 planning period.
Planning Director Mangalam presented a detailed staff report on the Housing Element Update.
Chair Waschura opened the PUBLIC HEARING.
City Attorney Lai noted the last-minute addition of a supplement that was posted to the public
and emailed to the Commissioners for review.
Chair Waschura invited the Commissioners to ask staff questions. No questions asked.
Public Comment
Ann and John O’Connell, residents of Los Altos Hills, offered comments against elements of
the Housing Element Update and cited their concerns.
Nicole Baker, a resident of Los Altos Hills, cited her concerns regarding the Housing Element
Update and asked for clarifications.
Chair Waschura addressed Ms. Baker’s concerns regarding her request for clarification.
Jaime Vasquez, a local carpenter in the Bay Area and speaking on behalf of local labor, offered
comments focused on the possibility of the Housing Element to provide housing for local
laborers.
Sasha Zbrozek, a resident of Los Altos Hills, cited his concerns regarding some elements of the
Housing Element Update.
Jim Steinmetz, a resident of Los Altos Hills, posed a “what if” question regarding not reaching
a quota.
Hari Sankar, a resident of Los Altos Hills, offered comments regarding the placement of multi-
housing units in a certain location.
A question-and-answer between the Commissioners and staff ensued.
Dan Wery, representing consulting firm Michael Baker International, offered a clarifying
comment to Director Mangalam’s question.
Chair Waschura closed the PUBLIC HEARING.
Commission Discussion
Commissioner Patel thanked staff and consultants for the fast turnaround of the Housing
Element Updates document and indicated he supported forwarding the document to the City
Council.
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Planning Commission Meeting January 27, 2023 Minutes
Commissioner Indaco thanked staff, the City Attorney, and Consultants for creating this
document for their consideration in just twenty-five hours. She noted the staff’s consideration in
identifying the best locations for high-density housing.
Commissioner Couperus offered clarifying comments regarding understanding the purpose of
the Housing Element Update and noted he was in favor of moving it forward to the City Council.
Vice-Chair Bredo offered supporting comments regarding forwarding the current proposal to
the City Council.
Chair Waschura offered comments on the current proposal. He noted that this document
required full-time staff effort. He noted he was in support of moving this forward to the City
Council.
After the vote was recorded, City Manager Pirnejad offered his congratulations and thanks to
staff, City Attorney, and Michael Bake, the Town’s consultant in this effort. He noted that he
looked forward its inclusion on Monday’s City Council meeting.
Chair Waschura noted the Planning Director Mangalam’s upcoming departure from the Town
to another municipality and noted her accomplishments and offered thanks.
Commissioner Indaco also offered thanks and congratulations to Planning Director Mangalam.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Indaco moved to ADOPT a Resolution
determining that the proposed Housing Element Update is exempt form CEQA under 15361(b)(3) and
recommending to the City Council adoption of the Housing Element of the General Plan for the period
of 2023-2031, inclusive of the changes of the errata sheets.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Patel.
MOTION PASSED: 5-0-0-0-0
AYES: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Indaco, Vice-
Chair Bredo, Chair Waschura
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
8. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 6:32 PM by Chair Waschura.
Respectfully submitted,
Keren Brunner
Administrative Clerk/Technician