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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/26/19714W PLANNING COMMISSION TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING April 26, 1971 Chairman Weiebart called the regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the Town of Los Altos Hills to order at 7:45 P.M. at the Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California. The following members answered roll call: Present: Commissioners Magruder, McReynolds, Lachenbruch, Mueller, Perkins, Spencer and Chairman Weiebart. Absent: None. APPROVAL OF MIN UTE S• There were no minutes for approval. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Letter from H. N. Reiser, 27660 Central Drive, requested clarification of action taken by the Commission regarding the Wheeler subdivision. Discussion was deferred to "Old Business" later in the meeting. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. Commissioner Spencer reported on the Stanford Land Use discussion. 2. Chairman Weiebart reported on Joint Housing Element meeting. 40 Mayor Benson noted that the Policy Planning Committee meets May 19 and they requested comments from the Town regarding the recommendations contained in their Housing Element study. The Mayor requested that the Commission submit their comments regarding this subject to the Council for guidance at their May 17 meeting. Commission concurred to hold a special meeting May 12 to discuss and recommend their thoughts to the City Council on those areas. where the Town's Housing Element is not in agreement with the County BUILDING SITE APPROVALS: 1. Darling, Malcolm L. (BSA -63-71) 1 lot, between Chapin and Burke Lane off Burke Road. Staff noted that this item was continued from the April 12, 1971 meeting to allow clarification as to how many other lots were actually served by the private driveway that provides access to the Darling site. Staff reviewed the neighboring lots and noted those lots utilizing the driveway for ingress and egress. Commission concurred to move to the check list. It was noted that the .875 net acre lot was created prior to incorporation and that the criteria for granting Conditional Exceptions as specified in the Zoning Ordinance had been met. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Perkins moved, seconded by McReynolds and carried unanimously that it be recommended to the City Council that Building Site Approval (BSA -63-71) for one lot containing .875 acre created prior to incorporation be granted to Malcolm L. AW Darling, in accordance with the Check List dated April 26, 1971. -I- Commissioner Perkins noted that approval by the Commission of this lees -than - one -acre site should not be considered a precedent. DIVISIONS OF LAND: TENTATIVE MAPS: 1. Steers, J. D. (373-70) 7 lots, 13.52 acres, located between Central and Buena Vista Drives. Engr. J. Clegg. Staff reviewed that this Tentative Map had again been revised since last discussed March 8 when a revised version was submitted following the Commission's denial at the February 22, 1971 meeting. At the February 22 meeting, the applicant requested and was granted that a revision be agended March 8. At the March 8, 1971 meeting, the applicant's attorney requested and was granted a continuance to allow a proper review of soils problems posed by the Town retained geologist which had been received after submittal of the revised map. The Commission noted however, when concurring to this continuance that in addition to soils problems that this revision was inadequate and incorrect and did not incorporate all of those changes necessary to rectify the reasons for denial of the similar map considered and denied February 22, 1971, especially that proper Ingress and egress dictated that the subdivision contain five lots instead of seven. Staff reviewed their current recommendations and those of the fire, health and water agencies. Submittal of more accurate cross sections of driveways necessitating extensive cut and fill and a more detailed soils report on proposed Lot P5 was recommended. The following specific problems associated with Lots 4, 5 and 6 were noted. Lot a4 - part of the driveway is on fill and should be redesigned holding the slope to 18%. The location of the septic tank drainf£eld could impair the stability of the driveway. The driveway leaving Central Drive requires a minimal radius along the outside of the curve of 40' to facilitate movement of fire equipment. Since the driveway is in a possible "slip" area, a more detailed soils study should be made prior to time of construction. Lot 115 - this is the most critical lot of the subdivision and was flagged by the soils report as a potential problem. It contains a possible slide area, whereby the required driveway cut and septic tank drain - field installation could reactivate the slide. Lot U6 - this driveway can be held to an 18% elope. Special attention should be given at site development to the cross slope of this driveway. A small portion of the lot exceeds the 350' dimension rule. Since the area below the building site is very steep, location of the drainfield may be a problem. The land below Central Drive should be considered for an Open Space easement or dedication to the Town. In regard to possible improvements at the intersection of Central Drive and Page Mill Road, the City Engineer noted that jurisdiction over any improvements 4W is held by Palo Alto and the County. -2- Mr. Frftschle presented to the Commission a list of proposed guidelines for subdivisions in the MMCF area to allow their fair and consistent review, taking into consideration the extreme difficulty in complying with normal Town standards, due to the steep terrain, complex ownership patterns, the partially developed nature of the area and the desires of the residents to maintain its existing rural qualities. Commission discussion noted the similarity of this map and the one previously denied without prejudice. Staff stated that the City Attorney had stated the applicant could continue to resubmit their map plotted as they desired, until the Commission unconditionally denied it. The applicants attorney, Mr. Vian, voiced the following objections to comments by Staff and the Commission: 1. The proposed MMCP guidelines cannot be retroactively applied to the Steers map initially submitted in August of 1970. 2. This map is a new map - although the lot layout is the same, the roads, building sites and path locations have been changed. 3. Under current ordinances, this map meets slope density requirements and allows 7 lots. 4. The Conditional Exceptions are the same as granted to the Wheeler to subdivision. 5. The applicant objects to improving Central Drive beyond the driveway to Lot d6, since this subdivision does not increase traffic beyond that point. 6. It was unreasonable to request extensive and expensive soils tests for Lot 115 as proposed by the geologist. As an alternative proposed by the geologist, the building pad was moved away from the fault. Additional floor participation was heard from: Mr. A. M. Laws, 11210 Hooper Lane; Mrs. Hans Moeller, 11990 Page Mill Road; Mrs. June McIlwraith, 13431 Wildcrest Drive; Mr. Glen Taylor, 1229 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto; Mr. R. E. McCann, 11570 Buena Vista; Mr. David Jansson, 27440 Sherlock Road and the applicant, Mrs. Mary Steers. Commission discussion expressed concern relative to: 1. The fault noted by the geologist appears to overlap Lot 45 - resolution of this problem by relocation of the building site is not substantiated. 2. The building sites along Central Drive are very close to Central Drive and in view of the driveway cuts and fills, the ability to properly place the septic tank drainfields is in question. 4 3. Required parking area is not provided. -3- U re Li 4. Extensive cuts and fills are required for driveways as proposed - no road profiles for this map were provided. 5. Slopes of lots, building site$ and driveways are excessive. 6. Reduced road standards cannot be justified with this high density when considering the fire and road hazards and steepness of driveways. 7. Because of the above problems basically created by the steepness of the slopes, seven lots are too many. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Spencer moved, seconded by Perkins and carried by majority vote (Lachenbruch abstaining) that the Tentative Map (373-70) of J. D. Steers for 7 lots submitted April 19, 1971 be denied for the seven reasons outlined above. 2. Hinton, Gertrude D. M. (378-71) 2 lots, 3.49* acres net, located between Central and Buena Vista Drives. Change in lot line to effect transfer of approximately 1/4 acre of land. Staff recommended approval of this request for a lot line change to transfer .25 acre to an adjacent parcel presently containing 1.090 acres. Commission discussion concurred that this would create a better lot. It was noted Buena Vista Drive is not now actually in the R.O.W., which is actually on McCaw's property. The logical road placement, however, is on the Hinton property where it exists. The applicant agreed to a Declaration of Intent which would provide a "floating 10' path easement." MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner Perkins moved, seconded by McReynolds and carried by majority vote (Lachenbruch abstaining) to approve the Tentative Map (378-71) of Gertrude D. M. Hinton changing a lot line to effect transfer of approximately .25 acre in accordance with the revised check list dated April 26, 1971. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Aeiser letter (See Communications) asking Commission to specifically acknowledge that they had considered Section 7:30 A and B of Ordinance P69 and that requirements for granting "Conditional Exceptions" to the Wheeler subdivi- sion were met. Mr. Reiser stated he felt the ordinance was violated by not "finding" no undue hardship would result to him in approving the Wheeler map. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Commissioner McReynolds moved, seconded by Perkins and carried by majority vote that the minutes show that Mr. Reiser's letter had been reviewed and following due discussion by the Commission it was found that the Commission had considered section 7:30B of Ordinance 69 in recommending approval of the Wheeler subdivision. Commissioner Spencer abstained since he felt the procedure was improper. -4- OTHER BUSINESS BY PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: 1. Staff was requested to investigate the grading on Parkside Unit II. 2. Staff was requested to check reports of unauthorized living quarters over a stable at Adobe Creek. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Chairman Weisbart adjourned the meeting at 11:40 P.M. to: NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, May 10, 1971 at 7:45 P.M. at Town Hall. TJK/jp Respectfully submitted, TED J.-KL.EK City Clerk Town of Los Altos Rills -5-