HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/24/1970r
PLANNING COMMISSION
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
August 24, 1970
Chairman Priscilla R. Weisbart called the Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission
of the Town of Los Altos Hills to order at 7:52 P. M. at the Town Hall,
26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California. The following members answered
roll call: Present: Commissioners Corbett, Lachenbruch, McReynolds, Perkins,
Spencer, Chairman Weisbart. Absent: Commissioner Hibner.
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE: Councilman Leslie Helgesson
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 27, 1970
Commissioner Perkins moved, seconded by Corbett and carried unanimously to approve
the minutes of July 27, 1970 with the following corrections:
Page 2, Divisions of Land, Item U1, Lands of Eshner: Insert between paragraphs 5
and 6 - "MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Spencer moved, seconded by
Hibner and carried unanimously to proceed with the check list."
{ Page 2, Divisions of Land, Item #1, Lands of Eshner: Paragraph 7, third line -
I change "at the end" to "just beyond the southerly limits".
Page 3, Divisions of Land, Item #I, Lands of Eshner: Paragraph 2 - change the
roll call vote to read: Abstain: Commissioner Perkins' (rather than voting "no".)
Page 3, Divisions of Land, Item N1, Lands of Eshner: Paragraph 7 add - "Motion by
Commissioner Weisbart to declare Lot #1 "not a building site" was withdrawn with
consent of seconder and unanimous concurrence of Commission."
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Staff advised Palo Alto and Mountain View were establishing a joint community
CATV district.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. LAFCO meets Wednesday, September 2 at 2:00 P. M.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
1. Pathway Committee reported disapproval of proposed path ordinance as written.
See discussion below.
OLD BUSINESS•
1. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED PATH OBSTRUCTION ORDINANCE.
Staff reviewed the City Attorney's comments on the proposed path ordinance as well
as the Pathway Committee's feelings. Commission discussion ensued and the
consensus was that Staff should submit specific questions posed by the Commission
to the City Attorney to obtain a legal reading and thus the Commission could then
4W better determine perhaps where current ordinances were inadequate to control path
encroachments.
OLD BUSINESS: cont'd:
`, 2. PROPOSED PATH AND TRAIL STANDARDS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PATHWAY COMMITTEE.
Staff noted that the Pathway Committee had endorsed the pathway details and
sections specifications as prepared by the City Engineer, except for deletion
of "equestrian" from path type 2A and B.
Commission discussion ensued as to the need for nomenclature clarification. It
was proposed that natural cleared ground for horses and people be referred to as a
"trail", while a "path" would be for people and bicycles (not equestrians) and
imply certain man-made improvements (i.e., gravel or asphalt base). Staff noted
that the time may be approaching to consider various types of "path" facilities
in certain areas. For example, heavily traveled areas may require "trails" and
"paths" since a single type "path" would not be appropriate for all modes of
travel.
Motion by Commissioner Spencer to recommend acceptance of the proposed path
specifications with an amendment to designate Type I as a "trail" died for lack
of support. Discussion on semantics ensued with floor participation by
Mrs. Diana Miller and Mrs. Millie Saviano.
Staff suggested this confusion of intended usage of proposed paths be deleted
from the standar:s and that only the type of path need be designated to establish
the desired type path.
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner McReynolds moved, seconded by Perkins
and carried by majority vote that path specifications, as prepared by the City
Engineer, be recommended for approval with the change that they be designated only
by type and that user identification be deleted.
The question was posed as to how the amount of "in -lieu path fees could now be
determined since the cost varied with the quality of paths desired and the
consensus was that the payment be consistent for all types. This matter would be
resolved at the time the currently proposed flat fee per lot is established.
BUILDING SITE APPROVAL:
1. Leland, John D. (BSA -58-70) 1 lot, Lot 022, Block I, Fremont Hills Unit 04,
Viscaino Drive.
Staff recommended that no road or path in -lieu payments be required, since the
road was constructed as part of the Fremont Hills subdivision and a path exists
on the opposite side of the street from the property. Drainage fees @ 6C a
square foot will be assessed at the time of building.
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Perkins moved, seconded by Spencer
and carried unanimously that Building Site Approval (BSA -58-70) for John D. Leland
be recommended for approval in accordance with the check list. In addition,
the Planning rommiscicn recommends that the nrivate road srrvinS this l.ct Should
be nared.
VARIANCES:
1. Hansen, Peter D. (V-347-70) Request for reduction in side setback of 17' 2"
to 12' 10" for addition of second story to an existing one story tool house
(17' x 17' x 16' high) at 23660 Ravensbury Road.
40 Per applicants request, this item was to be continued.
-2-
' VARIANCES: Hansen, Peter D. (V-347-70) cont'd:
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Perkins moved, seconded by Corbett and
carried unanimously that in view of the apparent existing framework which was
constructed premature to any variance approval, that Staff should direct the
applicant that no further construction should be accomplished pending resolution
of this variance request.
Staff noted such assurance could not be provided, but Ordinance 078 penalizes
unauthorized construction by imposing a $500 fine and/or 90 days and on referral
to the City Attorney legal proceedings may be undertaken to remove such structure.
STAFF PRESENTATIONS:
1. Staff reviewed a request submitted to the Council from Mr. Fred T. Adams,
which requested path dedication requirements be eliminated from his parcel map
(355-69) approved at the June 29, 1970 Council meeting. This request was directed
to the Pathway Committee and Planning Commission for their review and recommendations..
It was noted that the Pathway Committee had recommended abandonment of the 10' path
easement that was to have been dedicated along the easterly boundary of Lot 03 but
that the 10' path easement along the northerly boundaries of Lots 02 and 03 be
retained since in that area it was the only access available to the park area
owned by Palo Alto. Mrs, Saviano, Chairman of the Pathway Committee, noted that
should this park land ever be developed, the path access would be desired for
children going to Fremont Hills School.
Discussion ensued with floor participation by Mr. Adams, who objected to this
pathway being used by mini -bikes and Mr. Riley, Applicant's engineer, who suggested
the path along the northernly boundaries of Lots 02 and 03 be offered in the event
of development of the park land by Palo Alto.
Motion by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by McReynolds to abandon the proposed
path easements along the easterly aide of Lot 03 and the northerly aide of Lots
02 and 03 (thus eliminating all paths) failed due to a tie vote.
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner McReynolds moved, seconded by Spencer
and carried by majority vote that the path easement along the easterly side of
Lot 03 be abandoned and that the 10' path dedication offer along the northerly
boundaries of Lots 02 and 03 should be held in abeyance until eventual development
of the Palo Alto land, so that the Town of Los Altos Hills could then determine its
best interest as to the pathway.
OTHER BUSINESS BY PLANNING COMMISSIONERS:
1. Commissioner Perkins proposed all groups be advised of the Holding Capacity
Report and its usefulness in projecting future needs of the community. A proposed
cover letter for distribution of the report was submitted to Staff which requested
recipients following their review of the report to submit their comments to Staff
for the benefit of the Planning Commission and its General Plan Committee.
2. Staff explained the "charge" of the Long Range Fiscal Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Chairman Weisbart adjourned the meeting at 10:30
P.M. to:
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, September 14, 1970, at 7:45 P.M. at Town Hall.
RR u�371y tted
TE1¢UZ
City Clerk
TJK:jm-8/24/70 Town of Los Altos Hills
-3-