HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/2023Approved March 2, 2023
Town of Los Altos Hills
Planning Commission Special Meeting
February 15, 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
February 15, 2023 Planning Commission Special meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Indaco, Vice-Chair Bredo,
Chair Waschura, City Attorney Lai
Staff: Senior Planner Ling, Associate Planner Loh, Administrative Clerk/Technician Brunner,
Interim Projects Manager Padovan
2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Chair Waschura opened PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
No presentations from the floor.
Chair Waschura closed PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
Chair Waschura asked the commissioners if they needed the Consent Calendar voted upon separately
and they responded in the affirmative.
3.1 Approval of the January 27, 2023 Special Meeting Minutes
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Chair Waschura moved to APPROVE the January 27, 2023
Planning Commission Special meeting minutes as presented.
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
3.2 Approval of the February 2, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Indaco provided these corrections on page 3 at the very bottom for Minutes of
Feb 2, 2023 from, “Commissioner Indaco suggested the Commission provide extra conditions
for an approval motion.” to “Commissioner Indaco suggested the Commission provide extra
conditions for a motion to continue.”
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Chair Waschura moved to APPROVE the February 2, 2023
Planning Commission Special meeting minutes as amended.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Indaco.
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Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2023 Minutes
MOTION PASSED: 4-0-1-0-0
AYES: Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Indaco, Vice-Chair Bredo, Chair
Waschura
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Commissioner Patel
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
4. STUDY SESSION
4.1 STUDY SESSION to consider Zoning Ordinance text amendments of the Municipal Code to
ministerially allow properties develop with up to four units or subdivide into two lots and develop
with up to two units, pursuant to California Senate Bill 9 (SB9). This is the second of a series of
study sessions for a permanent local SB 9 ordinance to replace the Town’s urgency ordinance
adopted by the City Council on December 16, 2021. (Staff: E. Ling).
Before presenting the staff report, Senior Planner Ling presented Poll #1 question and options.
Q: Which aspects of the Town’s existing single family zoning standards do you think are most
important to preserving the character of Los Altos Hills?
1. 40-foot front and 30-foot rear and side setbacks
2. 27-foot maximum building height for the primary dwelling and reduced maximum
building height for detached ADU
3. Maximum Floor Area (MFA) and Maximum Development Area (MDA)
4. Pathway Easements for Townwide Pathway Installation
5. Open Space Easements for creek and hillside preservation
Choices for answers were: not important, somewhat unimportant, indifferent, somewhat
important, and most important.
Poll responses from a sample of three (3) participants were as follows:
1. 2/3 voted not important and 1/3 voted most important
2. 2/3 voted not important and 1/3 voted most important
3. 2/3 voted not important and 1/3 voted most important
4. 1/3 voted not important and 2/3 voted most important
5. 1/3 voted not important, 1/3 voted somewhat unimportant, and 1/3voted most important
Commissioner Indaco noted that this was a very small sample size.
Senior Planner Ling presented a detailed staff report on the proposed Zoning Ordinance text
amendments of the Municipal Code.
Senior Planner Ling then presented Poll #2 question and options.
Q: Which following incentives are important to support future SB9 Development in the Town?
1. Additional MFA/MDA as incentive for SB 9 units that meet the standard setbacks.
2. Garage space exempted from MFS/MDA calculation as incentive for one SB 9 unit
attached to the other SB 9 unit/primary dwelling.
3. Additional dwelling units as incentive for SB 9 unites that meet the standard setbacks.
4. Increased maximum height as incentive for SB 9 unit that meets/exceeds the standard
setbacks.
5. Increased maximum height as incentive to preserve existing easements.
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Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2023 Minutes
6. Basement and roof decks allowed for new easement recordation during SB 9
development.
Choices for answers were: strongly supported, somewhat supported, indifferent, somewhat
objected, and strongly objected.
Poll responses from a sample of two (2) participants were as follows:
1. 2/2 strongly supported
2. 1/2 strongly supported and 1/2 somewhat supported
3. 1/2 strongly supported and 1/2 strongly objected
4. 1/2 strongly supported and 1/2 somewhat supported
5. 1/2 somewhat supported and 1/2 strongly objected
6. 2/2 strongly objected
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
Sasha Zbrozek, a resident of the town of Los Altos Hills, posed questions to staff and the
Commission regarding State law details and how they apply to municipalities.
City Attorney Lai provided a response.
Carol Gottlieb, .a resident of the town of Los Altos Hills, posed questions to staff and the
Commission regarding some items that had been discussed and issues that may arise with extra
development on lots.
Chair Waschura responded to one concern.
Senior Planner Ling also provided clarifying comments to that concern.
Chair Waschura closed the PUBLIC HEARING.
Commission Discussion
Commissioner Indaco provided comments and asked questions.
City Attorney Lai provided some clarifications in response to staff question regarding the Town
enacting an architectural review process.
Interim Projects Manager Padovan responded to Commissioner Indaco’s request to clarify
the Town’s current review process.
A question-and-answer session between the commissioners, city attorney, and staff ensued
regarding objective design criteria, development standards and possible incentives.
Chair Waschura proposed the ad hoc committee have a discussion regarding development
standards.
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Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2023 Minutes
Commission Discussion continued around objective design criteria, incentives, and development
topics.
City Attorney Lai noted that both incentives and objective design criteria would benefit from a
study session.
City Attorney Lai suggested that the ad hoc committee consisting of Chair Waschura,
Commissioner Patel, Senior Planner Ling, and herself meet again to discuss development
standards and incentives and present their results in a future planning commission meeting.
Commissioner Patel stated he would prefer to work on the objective design standards in the ad
hoc committee then present the planning commission with those results.
Senior Planner Ling advised the Commission should separate development from design and
Chair Waschura agreed with her statement.
Commissioner Indaco asked about building in creeks.
Commissioner Couperus asked about an ordinance that stated building not have wheels.
Interim Project Manager Padovan noted that manufactured homes meet HUD standards and
wheeled houses did not.
No motion.
5. REPORTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS
5.1 Upcoming meetings
• February 16, 2023 – Commissioner Couperus
• March 16, 2023 – Chair Waschura
• April 20, 2023 – Commissioner Indaco
• May 18, 2023 – Commissioner Patel
• June 15, 2023 – Vice-Chair Bredo
Chair Waschura confirmed upcoming meeting assignments.
Commissioner Patel and Chair Waschura agreed to swap assigned months.
6. REPORTS FROM PAST FAST TRACK/SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS
6.1 February 7, 2023
14160 Miranda Road – File #SD22-0065 – Lands of Seetala
Site Development Permit for a 672 square-foot addition and remodel to an existing two-story
residence including a Minor Variance for a two-foot front setback encroachment totaling 68
square feet; project includes conversion of existing space into a 524 square-foot attached ADU.
CONTINUED TO A DATE UNCERTAIN
6.2 February 14, 2023
CANCELLED
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Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2023 Minutes
8. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 8:32 PM by Chair Waschura.
Respectfully submitted,
Keren Brunner
Planning Technician