HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/14/1977PLANNING COMMISSION
Town of Los Altos Hills
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING,
Wednesday, December 14, 1977
Reel 65, Side I, Tr. 2, 549 to End, Side II, Tr. 2, 001 to 599
Chairman Stewart called the meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:50 P.M.
in the Council Chambers of Town Hall.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners Stewart, Carico, Lachenbruch, Perkins, VanTamelen
Absent: Commissioners Dochnahl and Kuranoff
Also Present: Town Manager Robert Crowe, Town Engineer Alexander Russell, Town Planner/
Engineer John Markt
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Item 1, the approval of the Minutes of November 9, 12 and 30, was removed from the
Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins and
seconded by Commissioner Carico that Item 2 on the Consent Calendar, Acceptance for
Filing of the Tentative Map for the Lands of Herpick, File #TM 2076-77, be approved.
It was noted by Chairman Stewart that the Minutes of November 12 had been corrected
at the meeting of November 30, but not approved. There being no further corrections,
it was moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Lachenbruch that
the amended November 12 Minutes be approved. Voting for the motion were Commission-
ers Stewart, Lachenbruch and Perkins. Abstaining because they had been absent from
the meeting were Commissioners VanTamelen and Carico.
The Minutes of November 9 were held over until the agenda item "Old Business".
The Minutes of November 30 were corrected as follows: 1) Page two - Change the
word "diameter" in the 9th line of the 4th paragraph to 'circumference'; 2) Paqe three -
Change the first sentence to read: Commissioner VanTamelen registered her concern on
the traffic flow from Ravensbury to Magdalena and the 280 off -ramp.' 3) Page four -
6th paragraph - correct motion to read: 'MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED:'; delete the
parenthetical items on Lot 43 and Lot 38; add after the motion: 'All Commissioners
voted for the motion with the exception of Commissioner Carico who voted against it.'
4) Page five - second paragraph, delete the sentence: "All Commissioners agreed on
this."
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by
[ Commissioner Carico to approve the Minutes of November 30 as amended. All Commissioners
voted for the motion except Commissioner Lachenbruch who abstained because he had been
absent on November 30.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - December 14, 1977
Page two
rr PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. LANDS OF HUTCHINS File #TM 2053-77, Altamont Road, Edward Baca, Engineer,
equest for ecomnen an onoApproval of Negative Declaration and Request
for Recommendation of Approval of Tentative Map (Continued from meeting of
November 30)
Mr. Markl discussed his staff report of December 9 covering the results of his
and Commissioner Dochnahl's on-site visit to the Lands of Hutchins.
Commissioners expressed their concerns on the possibility of obtaining a conservation
easement on the property, the possibility of requesting a thirty foot right-of-way
from the center of Altamont Road while permitting the fence to remain for the present,
whether the barn structure on the property could be retained, and whether the
Tentative Map was adequate in specific details to be considered by the Commission.
Thereafter, the hearing was opened to the public discussion.
Rex Betz, Edward Baca Land Surveyor Firm, Redwood City, stated that to the best of
e cti y aF ty, a map or t e Lanus OT Hurchins was correct. He noted
that a drainage swale not shown on the map may have been so small that it was not
recorded on the map.
Discussion followed among Staff and Commissioners on whether the drainage swale,
chain-link fence along Altamont Road, and trees existing on the property were
required to be shown on the Tentative Map.
MOTION SECONDED AND DEFEATED: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded
by Commissioner Perkins that the Tentative Map for the Lands of Hutchins, File
#2053-77, be continued to the first meeting in January so that missing details
on the map could be. supplied.
AYES: Commissioner Perkins
NOES: Commissioners Stewart, Carico, Lachenbruch, VanTamelen
ABSTAIN: None
The public hearing was closed, and Chairman Stewart began a review of the conditions
for the Lands of Hutchins. The following amendments were approved:
Condition 2: It was the consensus that Condition 2 be amended by changing the
beginning words of the condition to read: The future habitable
structure .... (the rest of the sentence remains as written.)
Condition 3: Change the fourth word from the end of the sentence to 'on'. The
sentence should end with the words 'on the Final Map.'
Condition 12: It was the consensus of the Commission that Condition 12 should be
amended to read: Except for the barn, all existing structures noted
by the map as to be removed shall be demolished and disposed of off-
site prior to the final inspection for the new home on Parcel "2".
(a) The Town shall determine, if possible, when the barn at the southwest
corner of Parcel 2 was constructed. At the time the parrel is field -
surveyed for the preparation of the parcel map, the Town shall by
`. field investigation determine the actual setback of the barn from the
nearest external boundary, and report the findings to the Planning
Commission prior to the submittal of the Parcel Map.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - December 14, 1977
Page three
'fir PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued)
1. LANDS OF HUTCHINS., File #TM 2053-77: (continued)
Condition 14: It was the consensus of the Commission that Condition 14 be amended
with the addition of the following at the end of the condition as
written: 'Site development is to take special cognizance of tree
removal.'
Condition 16: Considerable discussion occurred on whether it was desirable to re-
Vi�move the fence along Altamont Road as required in Condition 16. It
Iq4 was pointed out by Mr. Crowe that there was no need for the fence
d to be removed at present, but there was a need to provide for the
future widening of Altamont Road. Commissioner Lachenbruch stated
that he did not want the fence removed future road widening, since
he hoped that Altamont Road wn0d novdtlX7C3 wirinn than it is at nrncon+
He felt, however, that the full 60 feet of righteof-way was needed to avoid
congestion and that the fence will ultimately have to be moved, not to provide
a wider roadway, but to provide for an appropriate pathway along this important
route.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Carico
and seconded by Commissioner Stewart that Condition 16 shall remain
[ as written on the List of Suggested Conditions.
4r AYES: Commissioners Carico, Perkins and VanTamelen
NOES: Commissioners Stewart and Lachenbruch
ABSTAIN: None
Condition 17: It was the consensus of the Commission that Condition 17(c) be deleted
since a path was already being required to be constructed in Con-
dition 15.
Added Condition: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Stewart,
and passed by unanimous approval that a new condition be added to the
list of conditions: The Tentative Map shall be updated prior to
submission to the City Council. Information added shall be based
on information developed by the Planning Commission.
It was agreed that Mr. Markl could update the Tentative Maps if this
would avoid putting the applicant to additional expense.
MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and
seconded by Commissioner Carico that a Negative Declaration be filed for the Lands of
Hutchins, File #TM 2053-77.
MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch
and seconded by Commissioner VanTamelen that Lands of Hutchins, File #TM 2053-77,
be recommended for approval with conditions as amended. All present voted for the
` motion.
V At 9:23 P.M. a recess was called. The meeting resumed at 9:36 P.M..
li
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - December 14, 1977
Page four
PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued)
2. LANDS OF CRI ST File p7M 206$r77, Page Mill and Lupine Road, Paul Nowack and
ssoc ates, nc., ngineers, KequesT. for Recommendation of Approval on Negative
Declaration and Request for Recommendation for Approval of Tentative Map (Continued
from the meeting of November 30)
Chairman Stewart noted that the request before the Commission was for approval of
a Tentative Map and Negative Declaration when in fact, the Commission did not have a
Tentative Map before them. It should be noted that this was a mistake made by the
Planning Commission Secretary in making up the agenda. The title should have been
"Discussion to Formulate Policy on Lands of Crist". (Secretary's Note)
Mr. Markt began the discussion by reviewing for the Commission the problems cited
with the previously submitted Tentative Map. He then discussed each of the
Alternative Pians A and B submitted to the Planning Commission on December 8, noting
that plans being discussed were preliminary in nature so as to explore options and
respond to concerns the Commission had expressed in the previous meeting.
Commissioner Perkins, noting that a part of Lupine Road is private and another part pub-
lic, asked the status of the road as a possible access for.the Crist.subdivision.
Town Engineer Russell stated that Lupine Road was a forty foot public right-of-way
from Page Mill Road to the easterly line of the Lands of DeRosa, with a one foot
reserve or spite strip along the southerly boundary of this right of way. The forty
foot right-of-way connected then to an offset twenty foot public right-of-way
whose northerly boundary bordered the Lands of Harrison and Stratton. To the north
of the twenty foot public right-of-way were two ten foot private right-of-way easements.
He noted the narrowness of the right-of-way bordering the Lands of Stratton and
Harrison, stating that it was unfair to put in a public road there without some
widening. Thereafter, the hearing was opened to the public.
Rick Hirsch Garrick Development Company, Developer, discussed the Alternate Plans
a ono in- t g t> s p ans prov de for t e m n mal disturbance of the land areas,
for reduced density, and for providing access that would affect the fewest number
of people with the least awkwardness of access plus maximum control of access.
Paul —Nowa A En in 22r for the A licant, discussed the Lupine Road access as it
a ec a surroun ing areas st o De subdivided and the handling of the drainage
from the subdivision. He noted that the original subdivision was for seven lots with
sanitary sewers, but the present proposal is for five lots with septic tanks.
Mr. John Spiegel, 27765 Lupine_Road, discussed access rights on Lupine Road and
expo conceF5r safety with an increase of traffic on the road.
Jitze Couperous, 13680 Page Mill Road, expressed dissatisfaction with the incorrectly
l-ftTea age'n altem for ani, and stated that he would prefer a new inter-
section from Page Mill Road rather than the present proposal to use Lupine Road.
Rick Hirsch Garrick Develo ment Company, stated his preference for Alternate P Plan,
no ng at terns was an effort to honor other requests for circulation through-
out the area.
John Duke,27783 Lupine Road, expressed his concerns on cul-de-sacs as being an
on os -p v Lcy r the property of Harrison, access on Page Mill Road, how
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - December 14, 1977
Page five
PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued)
2. LANDS OF CRIST, File #TM 206y77: (continued)
many homes could be accommodated on the tract, drainage, and the safety of the
intersection at Page Mill Road.
Mel Harrison 27744 Lu ine Road, expressed concern on drainage and urged careful
s u y o t e propose ra nage for Plan B. He also stated his preference for
Alternate Plan B, adding that he would not like additional traffic on Lupine Road.
The public hearing was closed, and discussion returned to the Planning Commission.
Commissioners explored proposals that Lots 1, 2, and 3 of the subdivision have
access off Page Mill Road while Lots 4 and 5.. be provided access from Lupine Road;
the possibility of providing access through Lupine Road for future subdividable
lands bordering Lands of Crist; the virtue a single access off Page Mill Road for
all lots; the routing of drainage pipes to accommodate building sites on Lots 3 and
4; and finally, the possibility of using access from the Crist Subdivision to reach
the Three Forks Road area. It was decided, however, that of the two proposed plans
submitted, Alternate Plan B was preferable. To that end the following motion was
passed:
MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and sec-
onded by Commissioner VanTamelen that the Lands of Crist be referred back to the
Subdivision Committee, and that the subdivider work out details of Alternate Plan B.
The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
Discussion continued with Commissioner Lachenbruch asking clarification by the
subdivider when Alternate Plan B was discussed of the following matters: 1) The
design of the intersection and how much fill would be required; 2) The amount of
earth to be moved in the construction of the subdivision; 3) Details on the design
of Via Feliz, including the bridge area; and 4) An exploration of ways of providing
access by way of Via Feliz for the future development of the Lands of Kane.
3. LANDS OF
DAWSON File #TM 2073-77, Paul Nowack and Associates, Inc., Request for
ecommen ation of
pprova OT Negative Declaration and Request for Recommendation
of Approval of Tentative Map (Continued from meeting of November 30)
Because of the length of time consumed in the discussion on previous items, and the
fact that adequate consideration could not be given that evening to Lands of Dawson,
Chairman Stewart requested the developer's permission to continue the discussion
on this subdivision to the first meeting in January. Mr. Alan Lambert, Developer,
consented to the continuance, providing that Lands of awsonn e i HeIrsiitem of
business on the agenda. The Commission agreed to this request.
OLD BUSINESS:
APPROVED BY CONSENSUS: There being no corrections requested for the Minutes of
November 12, it was the consensus of the Commission that they be approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner VanTamelen, stating that she would not be present at Planning Commission
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - December 14, 1977
Page six
NEW BUSINESS:
(continued)
meetings in January, requested that the Commission give particular attention to
traffic problems when considering Lands of Dawson. She presented a memo dated
December 1977 stating her concerns. She proposed as one solution to the traffic
flow that the road be routed through the area where the caretakers go in and out
of the area. She also recommended that adequate paths and bicycle areas be pro-
vided with the development of the subdivision.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further new or old business, Chairman Stewart adjourned the meeting
at 11:20 P.M..
Respectfully submitted,
Ethel Hopkins
Secretary