HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/10/1978VARIANCE AND PERMIT COMMISSION
Town of Los Altos Hills
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, May 10, 1978
Reel 69, Side I, Tr. 1, 001 to 153
Chairman Stewart called the meeting of the Variance and Permit Commission to order
at 7:05 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners Stewart, VanTamelen, and Kuranoff
Also Present: City Engineer Alexander Russell, City Planner/Engineer John Markl,
Secretary Ethel Hopkins
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
APPROVED BY CONSENSUS: It was moved by Commissioner VanTamelen and passed by the
consent of the absent members that the .Minutes of March 8 be approved as, -submitted.
AYES: Commissioner VanTamelen
NOES: None
16, ABSTAIN: Commissioners Kuranoff and Stewart
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. LANDS OF WESTALL, File NBSA 6105-78, 27575 Black Mountain Road, D.C. Urfer,
Engineer, Request or Recommendation of Approval of Building Site Approval
Request
John Markt discussed the subject request as addressed in his staff report dated
May 5, drawing particular attention to the location of the driveway .and the
preservation of oak trees on the property. He discussed the proposed location
of the dwelling, the removal of shrubbery at the access area to Black Mountain Road,
and the fact that surrounding properties were developed.
Commissioners discussed items of concern: Commissioner VanTamelen asked if the pro-
posed driveway location was the best place on the lot for the driveway and Commission-
er Stewart asked if a pathway request had been made and whether a geotechnical report
could be dispensed with in favor of a soils report. Staff responded to each of
these questions by noting that the proposed driveway would accommodate the sight
problems, that a pathway exists within the right of way along Black Mountain Road,
and that a soils report would be adequate so that a geotechnical report could be
dispensed with. The public hearing was opened and closed with no one speaking,
and a review of the conditions was begun.
Shelle Wes tall 27575 Black Mountain Road asked about the removal of a shrub -like
l� oa tree on t e property an as e
whether the oak trees could be trimmed when the
`r driveway was constructed.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: It was moved by Commissioner VanTamelen and the consensus that
VARIANCE AND PERMIT COMMISSION MINUTES - May 10, 1978
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7r PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. LANDS OF WESTALL, File #BSA 6105-78: (continued)
Condition 6(b) be amended by the addition of the sentence: These oak trees shall
remain but may be trimmed to accommodate the driveway.
Mr. Russell asked that the applicant, Miss Westall, be requested to submit to the
Site Development Committee her plan for the residence to be constructed on the site.
His reason for doing this was that the Site Development Committee could consider
the exterior appearance of the house and the amount of grading that would be required
before the applicant's plans were so far advanced that requesting a change would be
prohibitively expensive.
Other items discussed were Miss Westall's proposed parking for six cars instead
of the Town request for four parking places. Chairman Stewart's concern was that
six parking places would require an excessive amount of macadam. Commissioner Kur-
anoff asked if the applicant was aware that the more area she paved, the more her
building permit would cost.
Miss Westall spoke to the issue of the six parking spaces proposed, saying that she
p annT eTto use tiles for the parking space area. These tiles would permit grass to
grow through them and as a result the impervious surface would be less.
MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner VanTamelen,
seconded by Commissioner Kuranoff, and approved unanimously to recommend approval
for Lands of Westall, File #BSA 6105-78, with conditions as amended.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mr. Russell addressed the Commission requesting their consideration of a condition
to be added to building site approval requests that made it mandatory that the
applicant come before the Site Development Committee prior to grading rather than
to submit a full set of house plans only to discover that changes would have to be
made in the grading. He noted that in the past the architect or building designer
first designed the house, and then the engineer would have to make the grading fit
the house design. The exterior appearance of the house and the amount of grading
to be done was of prime interest to the Town, and having the opportunity to consider
these issues before the building plans were too far advanced could result in considera-
ble savings of time, effort and money by the applicant.
Chairman Stewart recommended that Mr. Russell discuss his proposal with Mr. Markl
and add this as a condition to subsequent building site approval requests. He also
recommended that Mr. Russell discuss the issue with the full Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 P.M.
by Chairman Stewart.
`, Respectfully submitted,
Ethel Hopkins
Secretary