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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/1978 (2)PLANNING COMMISSION 4W Town of Los Altos Hills 27679 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills. California MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, February 22, 1978 Reel 67, Side I, Tr. 1, 869 to End; Side 2, Tr. 1, 001 to End; Side 1, Tr. 2, 001 to 215 Chairman Stewart called the meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:45 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Tam Hall. 01MV.1UU Present: Commissioners Stewart, Carico, Perkins, VanTamelen, Dochnahl, and Kuranoff Absent: Commissioner Lachenbruch Also Present: City Manager Robert Crowe, City Engineer Alexander Russell, City Planner/Engineer John Markl, Secretary Ethel Hopkins Press: Sharon Noguchi, Palo Alto Times CONSENT CALENDAR: MJTION SECONDED AND UNANIMDUSLY PASSED: It was proved by Commissioner VanTamelen, seconded by Commissioner Perkins, and passed by unanimous consent that the Tentative Map for Lands of Astra Estates, File #TM 2081-78, be accepted for filing. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. LANDS OF SADDLE hDUNTAIN ESTATES File #TM 2060-77, Review of Entranceway mm Arastradero a nrinue rom meeting or FeDTUaly 8) After a brief review of background information on the design of the entranceway for the above subdivision, the hearing was opened to the public discussion. Mr. Russell Pearson, Traffic and Transportation Consultant was introduced by VA nxe R.A. r les Homes, Developer for Saddle Mountain Estates. Mr. Pearson discussed constratnts an pro eons assochate xl i tt]iie�esi� o}e entranceway inter- section. Problems cited were those of providing for bicycle traffic and a left turn lane on Arastradem Road. Constraints cited were on Arastradem mad: on the north, the fence that separates Arastradero from the freeway; and on the south, the hill that abuts the mad. He stated his belief that a left tum lane was not a necessity, and noted that staff and others felt that it would be inadvisable to cut into the hill area to widen the Arastradero Road area near the entranceway. Commissioners discussed with Mr. Pearson and Staff the desirability of a left ` turn lane in the area, the amount of traffic using Arastradem Road for access to ar Stanford Industrial Park, the possibility of building a retaining wall for the hill area and whether the wall was economically practical, the number of signs in the entranceway area, and the desirability of street marking versus street lighting. Discussion was concluded, and the following motions passed: PLANNING COWSSION MINUTES - February 22, 1978 1 Page two }► INFINISHED BUSINESS: (continued) 1. LAMS OF SADDLE MOUNTAIN ESTATES, File OTM 2060-77: (continued) MOTION SECONDED AND INANINSRSLY APPROVED: I It was moved by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl, and approved unanimously to accept the plan dated February 16, 1976, and submitted to the Planning Commission for review, as the basis for the design of the entrance- way to Saddle Mountain Estates. (Correction to the Minutes - 3/8/78) MOTION SECONDED AND U-1ANIMOUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner Carico, seconded by Commissioner Stewart, and passed unanimously to recommend that staff look into the possibility of cutting into the bank on Arastradero Road and putting up a retaining wall to provide another three feet along Arastradero Road. MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner VanTamelen, seconded by Conmdssioner Perkins, and approved unanimously to recommend that staff consider the possibility of minimizing the nunber of signs while adhering to good safety standards. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins and seconded by Commissioner Stewart to recommend that there be no safety lighting at the intersection of Stirrup Way and Arastradero Road. tv AYES: Commissioner Stewart, Perkins, VanTamelen, and Dochnahl NOES: Commissioners Carico and Kuranoff ABSTAIN: None 2. MODEL CON4 NITY NOISE_ ORDINANCE: (Continued from meeting of February 8) Mr. Walter Gregomich, Noise Abatement Committee, reviewed the background of the noise orcmnance proposal e oT rei the Commission.— Commissioners cited noise problems with motorcycles, providing for the operation of emergency vehicles, and times that use of high -sound frequency tools could be permitted. It was decided that further study and clarification was needed. MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMDUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner Carico, seconded by Commissioner Stewart and unanimously approved that a Planning Commission subcommittee be appointed to work with the Noise Abatement Committee to formulate an ordinance to recomnend to the Commission. A Committee cnisisting of Commissioners Carico, VanTamelen, and Perkins was named, and it was agreed that they would present their findings at the last meeting of March or the first meeting in April, whichever was most convenient. 3. PROPOSED ORDINANCE RE FENCES: (continued from meeting of February 8) Planning Commissioner Perkins discussed the proposed ordinance returned to the Planning Commission by the City Coumcil. He noted that one of the problems with fencing was that a resident could live in one subidivision, but be bounded on the other side by a different subdivision, and the problem was to prevent different subdivisions from being enclosed entities. A new statement was formulated: The PLANNING CONAISSION MINUTES - February 22, 1978 4 Page three TWINISHED BUSINESS: (continued) 3. PROPOSED ORDINANCE RE FENCES: (continued from meeting of February 8) subdivider shall not enclose a subdivision in whole or in part with a wall or fence of any kind. Discussion among Commissioners followed with the following questions and/or issues named: 1) If the subdivider lives on one of the lots of his subdivision, may he construct a wall or fence on his part of the subdivision. 2) Commissioner Carico cited E1 Monte Avenue where protection is needed fromheavytraffic. She suggested adding to the statement formulated "...without permission from the Planning Commission or City Council." She also cautioned against too mach Town interference with the individual property owner. 3)Another issue of fencing sub- divisions was noted: Control was needed on the kind of fence constructed if residents in a subdivision decided to band together and have a fence or wall constructed. 4) In trying to define the kinds of fencing that was undesirable, Mr. Russell asked if the Commission was against pre -cast, poured, brick walls, or block types of fences. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: It was moved by Commissioner Carico and approved by consensus that the matter be referred to the City Attorney with a request that he review the concerns expressed by the Commission and formulate an ordinance that would provide control on masonry developments, wood, or chain link fences along contiguous lots of a subdivision. Mr. Russell stated that he would contact Mr. Gillio and present the requested ordinance at the second meeting in March. At 9:40 a short recess was called, and the meting resumed at 9:55 P.M.. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. LANDS OF GERARD INVESTMENT LTD. File 8TM 2071-77, Moody Road, Paul Nowack ansocia es, gineer, uests or RecorunenclatLon of Approval of Negative Declaration and Tentative Map (Continued from meeting of February 8) Mr. Markt reviewed the changes made in the subject tentative map, noting that the overall design of the subdivision had not changed, but that comments made by the Commission had resulted in the following: an expanded Conservation Easement area, the provision of conceptual locations of homes and driveways on Lots 1 and 2, and the relocation of the proposed sanitary sewer. He noted that no vehicular access was being considered on Lot 4 because the Chaparral Road area was within the conservation area. Commissioners and staff discussed the relocation of the sewer line with the concern expressed at the amount of trenching to be done. The hearing was opened to the public. Alan Laantaert, Developer, 141 First Street, Los Altos, discussed the changes made in Memap; among a ings saisse werethe decreased slope of the driveway, the expanded conservation area, the changed entryway into Lot 1, the use of Chaparral Way by Lot 4, and the fact that conceptual drawings for a house on Lot 3 had not been completed in tine for the meeting. He reiterated that the main access on Lot 4 should not be from Chaparral, and spoke for retaining walls to PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - February 22, 1978 Page four PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 1. LANDS OF GERARD INVESTMENT LTD., File #TM 2071-77: (continued) minimize cut and fill for road areas to be constructed. Several Commissioners expressed a desire to walk the property; Commissioner Dochnahl, however, stated he had walked the property, and the proposed building sites were good ones. Thereafter, a review of the conditions was begin. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: It was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl, seconded by Commission- er Kuranoff, and the consensus that Condition 8 be amended with the addition of Condition 8(a):The access from Chaparral Way will not be used as an ingress and egress from the residence. Betsy Fiksdal, Chairwoman, Pathway_ Committee, stated she resented the staff report reEion on a pa way request or the area. She introduced Bob Stutz to speak for the pathway request. Bob Stutz 25310 Elena Road spoke for the pathway request made by the Pathway mmattee >.n e>_r AS of October 24, 1977. He stated that the request was to provide a path on the downhill side of Chaparral so that when Chaparral becomes a public road, a path will be available. Mr. Markl noted that slope on Chaparral varies from 80 to 100%, that a five foot wide path with switchbacks would necessitate the building of retaining walls, adding that after consultation with Commissioner Dochnahl on the area, he had not recommended the pathway request. Considerable discussion followed on whether there was another alternative to the path recommended, where the path would go, and how the rights of the people owning the private road Chaparral Way would be dealt with. City Manager Crowe noted that the proposed path would be in a conservation easement area, and in the past the Town had not permitted a path in these areas. Mr. Lambert, Developer stated he could not envision a realistic way of getting a pa m o su a steep area. WrION SECONDED AND FAILED: It was moved by Commissioner VanTamelen, seconded by Commissioner Carico, and defeated that an easement be obtained on the northerly side of Lot 5 within the Conservation Easement. AYES: Commissioners Carico, VanTamelen NOES: Commissioners Stewart, Perkins, Dochnahl, Kuranoff ABSTAIN: None Discussion followed on whether Chaparral Way would ever become a public road, whether residents owning the road would consent to giving up their rights to the private use of the road,and whether it was desirable that the Town retain the road and how this could be accommodated. MIrICN SE0341ED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Dodmahl, seconded by r'immieeirmer Perkins and carried that a randition be added: The-Tewn-s aill k, The Subdivider shall dedicate. to the Tam his interest in Chapparal May. AYES: Commissioners Stewart, Carico, Perkins, Dochnahl, Kuranoff ABSTAIN: None tom <.�'""''tl�law.�jrpt made?'4111U PLANNING COR4ISSION MINUTES - February 22, 1978 Page five 4W PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 1. LANDS OF GERARD INVESTMENT, LTD., File MTM 2071-77: (continued) M7rICN SECCNDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Comnissioner Stewart, and passed unanimously that the following condition be added: The Planning Commission shall review the improvement plans of the subdivision prior to the submission of the Final Map. The issue of whether the Planning Commission needed to address the conditions listed on page two of the Fire District letter was discussed, and it was the consensus of those present that these conditions were more appropriate for discussion at the time of site development. Neither the negative declaration nor the recommendation of approval of the tentative map were acted on at the meeting. Instead, it was agreed that the Lands of Gerard Investment, Ltd, would be continued to the meeting of March 8 to allow Commissioners to walk the property and report their findings. The Developer Alan Lambert was in agreement with this decision. 2. LAM1S OF HERPIIX File MTM 2076-77, Purissima Road, Paul Nowack and Associates, gmeer, nests or FBcommendarion of Approval on Negative Declaration and Tentative Map Mr. Markl discussed the subject request as proposed in his staff report dated February 16. Items referred to were the parcel's slope, access from Horseshoe Lane, use of septic tanks for sewage disposal, slope easements to accommodate cut and fill for proposed construction, planting to minimize visual impact of foundation areas, and finally, the fact that it was acceptable that the septic tank drainfield along Purissima road be as close as 25 feet from the drainage ditch on Purissima Road. Commissioner Perkins requested more information on how the noise report had been eonpiled, wtingthe difficulty of providing adequate noise mitigation measures. Thereafter, the hearing was opened to the public. Paul Nawack Eineer, spoke for the quality of the work done in the noise report yT�ie Pac skiAsngociates firm. He suggested that noise mitigation efforts might be considered at the time the houses are designed forthe sites. Various ways of addressing the noise problem were explored by Commissioners and staff, and it was suggested by Mr. Russell that the tract map and the CC$Rs for the subdivision make note of this matter so that potential buyers of the properties would be informed at the time of purchase. The public hearing was closed, and discussion turned to the value of the site for historical findings in the area. W. Nowack indicated his willingness to submit the site for an archeological investigation prior to any grading in the area. Considerable discussion ensued on whether and how a negative declaration could be approved if this information was lacking. Commissioner Carico pointed to Lands of Rossi which also had historical ` interest as an effective means of dealing with the matter without holding the �r subdivision up. Mr. Herpick, Applicant, noted that Santa Clara County stamped building permits to'�deal with preserving archeological findings. PLANNING COPTIISSION hu;NUIES - February 22, 1978 Page six PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 2. LANDS OF HERPICK, File #TM 2076-77: (continued) MYrICN SECO:h�41ED AND LOST: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Carico and defeated that a Negative Declaration be recommended for the Lands of Herpick. AYES: Commissioners Carico, Perkins, VanTamelen NOES: Commissioners Stewart, Dochnahl, Kuranoff ABSTAIN: None Commissioner Stewart stated he voted against the motion because if an archeological report was obtained on the site, there would be no hangups as in Lands of Dawson. WTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl, and passed by unanimous roll call vote that the Negative Declaration for the Lands of Herpick be reconsidered. MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIM)USLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl and unanimously approved that a Negative Declaration be recommended for the Lands of Herpick, File #TM 2076-77 subject to the addressing of the archeological issues and the finding of a negative report. MDTICN SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was :roved by Commissioner Kuranoff, seconded by Commissioner DDchnahl and carried that the following motion replace Condition 12 on the list of conditions: The applicant shall post a bond in the amount of $1,000 per lot for the purpose of planting shrubbery or trees at appropriate intervals so that mature growth will provide a dense screening for the foundations and lower portions of the residences. WTION SECaHED AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl and approved unanimously that a new condition be added to deal with the noise problem: The Final Map shall bear the note that the development of each lot in the subdivision is subject to the findings of a report by the Edward L. Pack Associates, Inc. dated February 8, 1978, Project No. 1014. MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Conmiissioner Carico, seconded by Commissioner VanTanielen and approved unanimously that the Commission recommend Lands of Herpick, File #2076-77 with conditions as amended for approval by the City Council. NEW BUSINESS: Chairman Stewart acknowledged receipt of a letter from Francis Stevenson relative to Pathways and dated February 10, 1978. This matter was continued to the meeting of March 8.under the matter "Old Business". Chairman Stewart advised those who had criticisms on the new Tentative Map Checklist submitted by Mr. Markl to take these matters up with him. `, ADJOUR8ENI: There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:52 P.M.. Respectfully submitted, Ethel Hopkins Secretary