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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/20/1974PLAN?WING COMMSSIM Town of Los Altos Hills Los Aitps Hills, California -1inutes of 'hay 2^, 107e Reel 25, Side 2, Tract 1 - 00^ to 092 Chairman Spencer called the meeting of the Planning Commission to order in the Council Chamuers of the Town Hall at 7:58 P.fI. ROLL CALL Present: commissioners CARICO, LACHCIi810.1CH, PERKINS, SCHICK, SPENCER, YOUNG. Absent: Commissioner PHILLIPS. STAFF City Manager Lawson, Planning Consultant itader, Assistant Planning Consul- tant Vlasic, Secretary Huffstetter. DISCUSSED T0S11 OBJECTIVES CntgR;IIHG EU LIC A`9D PRIVATE ROADS airman pencer s ale t e purpose o ms meet ng was to consider nossi- ble changes to the Town's Planning and Subdivision ordinances, and reviewed the agenda he had sent to the Commissioners and staff. Planning Consultant (fader reviewed the "Platform for Incorporation" state- ments, giving some details on each section of the platform, and reviewed the report prepared by Commissioner Perkins after the "Hight of Introspection' on January 20, 197n, which addressed itself to "rural living" in Los Altos Hills. Planing Consultant Hader reviewed sections of the general Plan which refer to "rural living" concepts, and read the statement prepared by Commissioner Phillips referring to the Town's n;tilcsophy of "closed tams with gates on roads". Commissioner Perkins stated he. wanted to have both the Planning Consultant and the Commission discuss specific points, not just general areas, and stated the Bahl Homes Subdivision, is an example of "enclave", enclosing a piece of property from more than one access to a public road. Commissioner Young stated he agrees the Bahl Subdivision can lead to an enclave, and he feels there should be public right-of-way to foot traffic and horses, as well as Public right-of-way to vehicular traffic. Also, the cul de sac is too long, and there are more houses on the road than the Tosco should allot. Commissioner Carico stated she believes private roads enhance the Town, and that vehicular traffic should be restricted. Commissioner Young stated he had no objections to cul de sacs, but ques- tioned why they are private, and if the design of public roads was adequate. Chairman Spencer stated he believed private roads were a way of life in the Town, and can help traffic problems in that if the public is causing a prob- lem, they can be requested to leave the area. i`. Commissioner Lachenbruch questioned whether the Town should permit private roads, or only permit public roads, as the Commission is in favor of public paths and trails. The Town ordinance permits only cul de sac roads to be private. PLANNING Co'1;.9ISSION - May 2j, 1'74 Commissioner$c.'iick pointe' out that the home owners are responsible for road maintenance when the read is private, and since the Town is not respon- sible for the road, it saves the Town money. Commissioner Perkins stated that in the oast, subdividers have wanted to put in private roads in the subdivisions, as it would save them money, but since the standardsfor roads have been changed, the subdividers have found that private roads cost more money, lie feels the main reason -citizens want private roads is psychological, i.e., it helps preserve the "rural way of life" in the Town. He feels the ordinance, as it deals with private roads is inadequate, and it should be looked at with reference to how the private roads are to be maintained. Commissioner Young discussed the Bahl Subdivision, as an example, on how he did not see how vehicular traffic can be kept off of the private road while letting foot traffic and horses use the paths and trails. Commissioner Perkins reviewed the Town's basic policies concerning paths and trails, and reiterated the concept of throup;mess to non -vehicular traf- fic and limited throughness to vehicular traffic. Planning Consultant (fader stated that subdividers - may pass the road maintenance agreement for the private road to the buyer without the buyer being aware of the implications of the agreement. City Manager Lawson pointed out that the Sheriff's office is not required to go onto private roads when problems arise, although the Sheriff's office is `r doing so at the present time. Chairman Spencer stated it was the consensus of the Commission that they do not disapprove of private roads, but that they are not properly defined in the Town's ordinance, and this matter could be scheduled for another study session, when the Commission could go into the problem in more detail. Planning Consultant 'fader stated that many of the items mentioned in the General Plan are not covered by ordinances as only generalizations are given, and passed out a prepared sheet giving suggested approaches to revisions of the Town's ordinances relative to planning and zoning. Discussion follow- ed. Chairman Spencer stated the Planning Commission had requested a review of the final improvement plans for Iatadero Oaks. The plans were presented at the meeting the Commission voted approval. As the Commission relies on the staff's recommendation on what the plans shosi and mean, the staff would point out both the good and the bad parts of the plans, which will hell) the Commission in evaluating the plans. .!hen the staff is reviewing plans be fore the Commission, they should give more technical information. City (tanager Lawson stated the improvement plans for gatadero Oa's conformed to the existing requirements in the Town's ordinance and the Town's Standard Specification for Subdivisions. The staff did not comment on the pros or %W cons of the improvement plans, but only to their conformance to the Tom's ordinance, as the Commission had requested the plans be given to them for review. 2' PLANNING CO"MISSION - May 20, 1974 Chairman Spencer requested tie staff not only review the plans for confor- mance to Town standards and requirements, but also for quality of design. Commissioner Perkins stated the Commission had asked that the improvement plans come back to the Commission as there were strong feelings on the way the lots were '­i�' out and the number of lots. City 'tanager Lawson stated the Town's ordinances on these matter should be made more specific, so the Torn will not have these problems in the future. RECESS Chairman Spencer declared a short recess at 9:05 P.it., and reconvened the meeting at 9:18 P.H. CORITINUED DISCUSSION ON THE REOUIP.EitENTS fIEEDED O11 I?1PROYE"E"T PLA.'iS anntng onsu an ;a er s a e fat improvemen .p anstan ars need to give more details, including more detailed grading plans at the tentative map stage. At the tentative map stage, the subdivider should shoal center- line profiles and other road grading and cut and fill information. After reviewing the improvement pians for latadero Oaks, and than walking the land, he found only two discrepancies. The first was the first cul de sac exceeded the amountof grading on the plans, also some of the cuts and fills on the roads have not been rounded, as shown on tie plans. Some of the cuts are steeper than thought to be when seen on the olans. The trees removed are as described in the plans. The improvement plans did not shot any major changes over the tentative map plans. Al subdividers want to eet as many lots as possible out of their subdivisions. More lots mean more money, so they usually do not volunteer to give up lots by making the lots any larger than the minimum required. Some of the cuts made in the Matadero Oaks Subdivision are net the best, but were made to save more trees. The width of the roads renufn-,dmore cut because of the addition of trails and paths, which should he at the road elevation, if possible, e1!i as little grading as possible, or people will use the roads as paths instead of the paths and trails. Sone of the areas to be looked into in future subdivisions include (1) is there a point where a cut is no longer acceptable, if it is over a certain height and angle (2) what should be the maximum ane,le of height of cuts (3) what should he the minimum or maximum width of roads with or with- out accompanying trails and paths? Commissioner Carico asked if the Commission could request subdividers,mshen they come in with tentative maps, to use a lower density than the minimum now required, so there would be less cuts, fills and grading, and possibly save more trees. Planning Consultant [fader stated this is a legal question and he could not answer it, however if this was done, it would increase the price of lots as there would be fewer and the value of them would be increased. City Aanager Lawson stated that possibly creating additional zones in the Tann would help on this problem, i.e., 5 -acre and 10 -acre lot minimums, public facilities, etc. `. Planning Conusltant 'fader stated thereis one area mentioned in the General Plan that is unique and possibly there are other unique areas in the Tan which do require special zoning, and an ordinance will be recommended next year to cover some of these areas and problems. - 3 - PLANNIMC COrT,iISSIO(I - 'Say 20, 1974 Commissioner Perkins asked if fe'rer tats had been remitted for 'latadero Oaks, i.e., if the subdivision had been covered by the present slope den- sity requirements, would some of the cut, fill and grading problems have been avoided. Planning Consultant Mader stated no, as the number of lots would 'only have been reduced by three. Nhat should ?e done is to decide what, the maximum amount of cut, fill and grading that is acceptable and if.these amounts should be defined in the Town's Standard Specifications for Subdivisions or the subdivision and zoning ordinances. Commissioner Lachenbruch stated the questions raised are: (1) should the Town's Standard Specifications for Subdivisions be changed, giving more specifications on grading, cutting, filling, road width, path locations in relation to the roadway and how trees should be noted on subdivision maps, (2) which ordinances, subdivision or zoning, should be changed, and (3) what vali*, reasons should be given for the changes, including possible changes in the slope density requirements; Following further discussion, Chairman Spencer suggested the Tovm undertake a review of the General Plan to determine if it gives adequate coverage and implimentation of the Town's ordinances, review the Town's Standard Specifications for Subdivisions, with respect to roads,cuts, fills and nradir requirements, and then determine if the zoning ordinance needs to be re- viewed as a result of studying the General Plan and the Town's Standard Specifications. This may lead to changes in the slope density and other related ordinances. Commissioner Ladienbruch stated he believed both the General Plan and the Town's ordinances should be consistent, and shoald provide for the Town's needs, along with the Town's Standard Specifications for Subdivisions. Chairman Spencer stated it was the Commission's concensus that a moratorium would be appropriate if it covered subdivisions only, while the Town's ordinances were being changed and brought up to the needs of the Town. Commissioner Carico inquired as to the amount of time the moratorium could be in effect. Planning Consultant riader stated it iould take about four to six months at a minimum to cmipleto all the ordinance changes. The moratorium could be effected for four months only, but a time extension could be voted by the City Council. Commissioner Schidkinquired as to hoe many lots make a subdivision, such as would be covered by the moratorium. Planning Consultant Rader stated the Municipal Code defines a subdivision as any division of land, and that the Council would probably direct the City Attorney to draw up the moratorium so as to cover only subdivisions, excluding Building Site Approvals, etc. Commissioner Carico stated that if a moratorium is needed, as mentioned, it should be reviewed by the staff and the Planning Commission before being voted on by the Council. -4- %W PLAMMIMG COMMISSIOM - May 20, 197n DISCUSSED PLAMMING OEP4RTi1E'!T'S BUDGET FOR FY 1975 NM Manager Lawson s ateo— a po t�� Tie—?T-anning -udget had been included with the Commission's packet. The corplete budget has been forwarded to the Council, and the Budget Committee will make its recommendations to the Council at the June 5 Jeeting. Prior to that, the Committee is meeting and studying the Budget, and plans to bring the Planning Budget to the Council's attention, as there are large increases recommended for the coming year. public hearings on the Budget are scheduled for June 1P, however a progress report will be given to the Council at the Adjourned Meeting scheduled for `lay 22. It is recommended the Planning Commission make a pre- sentation to the Council, defending the proposed Planning Budget, and stating why it is felt ail the proposed programs should be kept. Commissioner Perkins inquired who on the Budget Committee is checking into the Planning Budget and the recommended programs. Commissioner Schickstated that every member of the Committee had been ap- pointed to check into parts of the Budget, but she did not know who had been appointed to the Planning Department's Budnet. Commissioner Carico requested the staff determine who had been appointed to the Planning Budget, and if he had any expertise in the planning area. Commissioner Perkins stated he feels the Town is falling behind in thn planning area, and all programs included in the Budget are most imp tant and should be approved. Commissioner Young stated he hopes the Budget Committee will work with the Planning Commission so they can understand the problems the Commission is dealing with and trying to resolve. City tanager Lawson stated the Commission must support the Budget, the staff can not do it alone. ADJOURMAEMT tion was made by Cormissioner CARICO, seconded by Commissioner PERKI:"S, the meting be adjourned. The meeting was adjourned at 1n.29 P.`+. - 5 - Respectfully submitted, Virginia Huffstetter Secretary