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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/1999 (2) Minutes of a Special Meeting October 21, 1999 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, October 2 , 1999, 5:15 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Dauber called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 5:20 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Dauber and Councilmembers Casey,Finn, Johnson and Siegel Absent: None Staff: City Manager Mark Miller, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, Public Works Manager Jim Rasp and City Clerk Pat Dowd • Press: Leslie Martin, Los Altos Town Crier 2. STUDY SESSION: POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT ON THE LANDS OF KERNS, 11890 FRANCEMONT ROAD Bill Maston, applicants' architect, addressed the Council on the Kerns Project. He stated that the intention of the Kerns was to go forward with their plans for the upper lot. However, at this time they wanted to proceed with a short term solution while re-evaluating their project. They were requesting Council direction on the following two options. First, allow the Kerns to proceed with building the guest house on the lower site and make improvements to the road, etc. On this subject, he noted that at one time they had submitted plans to put the secondary dwelling on the upper lot but staff had preferred the secondary dwelling on the lower lot as having less visual impact. Second, allow the Kerns to place a temporary trailer on the lower site while they were re-evaluating their plans for the upper lot. Mr. Maston also referred to the condition of approval requiring a conservation easement on the upper lot. Finn and Casey supported allowing the Kerns to proceed with building on the lower lot. They did not believe the Town had the right to require a conservation easement from the Kerns. Johnson cautioned the applicants that if they submitted an application for a guest house on the lower lot and no application for the upper, Council would have to consider these as separate applications. Thus, if it might be possible to end up with only the guest house on the lower lot depending on what might happen with the upper lot. Dauber stated that her main objection to the plans for the upper lot was the extensive impact on the hillside. She further noted that the secondary dwelling was required to remain subordinate to the main house. Siegel concurred with Johnson and Dauber. October 21, 1999 Special City Council Meeting 1 Concerning the trailer request, both the Planning Director and the City Attorney noted that according to the Code a trailer was allowed only after plans were approved and an applicant was building. A trailer was not allowed while an applicant was getting an approval. Bill Maston, applicants' architect, raised the issue of the pathway to the top of the hill. He asked how Council was going to deal with this issue if nothing should be built on top. Council did not comment on this issue. Bill Maston also asked if the fees could be waived for this application. Specifically,they were asking for reduction or waiver of application fees not ongoing consultant fees. Johnson stated that staff input was needed on this request. Had there been other similar situations. Casey and Finn supported the request for waiving fees. Casey further stated that she thought staff should not be put in the difficult position of making this decision. Council should decide about the fees. Dauber stated that part of these fees covered consultant and staff time and if the applicant did not pay for them,taxpayers did. She did not think this was appropriate. She did suggest however that staff might find ways for the applicants to save money. Perhaps some reports would not have to be redone, etc. Siegel believed more specifics were needed from the applicant as to exactly what fees they wanted waived. The City Attorney referred to her memo to the Council dated 10/14/99 which addressed in part the issue of conservation easements. She noted that although the applicants had submitted a letter to the Council disagreeing with her opinion on this matter, she reiterated that her legal opinion to the Council remained as stated in this correspondence. 3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 4. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss,the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. es ectfully submitted, atricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the October 21, 1999 Special City Council Meeting were approved at the November 4, 1999 Regular City Council Meeting. October 21, 1999 Special City Council Meeting 2