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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/25/1978PLANNING COMMISSION Town of Los Altos Hills 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, May 24, 1978 Reel 69, Side 2, Tr. 1, 450 to End; Side 1, Tr. 2, 001 to End; Side 2, Tr.2, 001 to 052 Chairman Stewart called the meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:47 P.M. In the Council Chambers of Town Hall. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Stewart, Lachenbruch, Dochnahl, Kuranoff, VanTamelen Absent: Commissioners Carico and Perkins Also Present: City Engineer Alexander Russell, City Planner/Engineer John Markl, Secretary Ethel Hopkins STUDY ,SESSION: Commissioner Lachenbruch addressed the Commissioners and discussed his proposal to clarify Ordinance 239 as proposed in his letter to the Commissioners dated April 28. Discussion on what action the Planning Commission would take was deferred until "Old Business". CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. Approval of Minutes: MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner VanTamelen and passed by unanimous consent that the Minutes of May 10 be approved as submitted. MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner VanTamelen and passed by unanimous consent that the Minutes of May 12 be approved with the deletion of the typographical error of an extra "to the" in the second to the last paragraph. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. LANDS OF STAMSCHROR-SILVER File ACU 8029-78, 25231 La Rena Lane, Request or ecommen at ono ppreva o on tttonal Use Permit for Secondary Dwelling Without Kitchen Facilities - Continued from Meeting of May 10 Mr. Markl discussed the additional information supplied on the above request as detailed in his memo dated May 15. It was the consensus of the Planning Commission that the list of requested inforniation should be reviewed with the applicants. Chair- men Stewart noted his concerns that a building permit had been issued for a non- conforming structure without a conditional use. permit and that the Health Department had granted a permit for a septic tank drainfield within the one hundred foot setback PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 24, 1978 [ Page two PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 1. LANDS OF STANSCHROR-SILVER, File #CU 8029-78: (continued) area. The hearing was then opened for discussion with the applicant and the public. Chairman Stewart noted, with the consensus of the Commission, that that 220 wiring for a washer -dryer in the guest cottage for bona -fide non-paying guests was a viola- tion of the Municipal Code. Also, the Commission objected to the wet bar (Item 4) and the intact driveway (Item 5). Charles Stamschror 686 Oran a Atvenue Los Alttos, stated that he had talked with the os tos ire e , an tat ey a sa d at a removal of the driveway was a step backwards. However, since talking with the fire chief, the applicants had in- stalled two posts on the driveway and would soon install a qat. across the driveway. He pointed out that he and his partner had incurred considerable expense in renovating the cottage, and that provisions were being made for the cottage to accommodate an elderly person if the need arose. He pointed out the expense involved in re- moving the wet bar sink and the fact that no guidelines had been provided on this before the installation. It was Mr. Stamschror's feeling that the use permit should be granted. ElizabethDucat 12675 Dianne Drive complained that while they were adjacent properTy— owners, t ey a can omitted from the list of property owners within 300 feet to be notified of a public hearing. She objected to the presently pro- kbv posed use permit with the intact driveway and catalogued a long history of abuse incurred when the cottage was used as a rental. Commissioner Kuranoff stated his concern that although the applicant said he was developing the property as a guest cottage, the appearance was that he was developing it for a rental unit. Commissioner Lachenbruch asked about Code provision for double access lots and was told by Mr. Russell that the property under discussion had been developed so long ago that no provision had been made to prevent a double access. Other possible Code violations cited were Section 9 -5.703(1) -if the wet bar sink area were to remain and Section 9-5:1107 concerning reasonable compatibility with surrounding -properties and adverse effect on surrounding properties. Finally, it was suggested by Commissioner Lachenbruch that unless the applicant wished to reconsider the items discussed, the Commission could not consider the application. The public hearing was closed. MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch, seconded by Commissioner Kuranoff, and approved unanimously to recommend that the Lands of Stamschror-Silver, File #CU 8029-78, be denied without prejudice. It was suggested by Commissioner Lachenbruch that if the applicants re -submit their application, that they adhere to the requests made by the Commissioners, and that a map be submitted that is verified by the Town staff with contours and elevations noted. At 9:12 a recess was called; the meeting resumed at 9:27 p.m.. `' 2. LANDS OF ARASTRA LTD. PARTNERSHIP, File #TM 2065-77, Page Mill Road, Paul Nowack an Associates, Inc ngrneers, equest or ecommendations of Approval of Negative Declaration and Tentative Map - Continued from May 10 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 24, 1978 Page three `. PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 2. LANDS OF ARASTRA LTD. PARTNERSHIP, File #TM 2065-77: (continued) John Markl discussed the subject request as detailed in his staff report dated May 16. Items discussed were prominent land features, erosion and development problems on Lot 1, road development, the conservation easement areas, geological features, pathway requests and path construction. Discussion among Commissioners centered on the disposition of Parcel A, whether it should be a part of the Conservation Easement area or be dedicated to the Town; the subdividability of Lot 1 if Parcel A were to be combined with it; the responsi- bility for policing Parcel A, and whether Parcel A could be combined with Lot 2; and the visual impact of the twenty foot fill area for the construction of Story Hill Lane. Also discussed was whether an environmental impact report would be required. It was noted, however, that with mitigating measures such a report would not be needed. Thereafter, the hearing was opened to the public. Paul Nowack, 220 State Street En ineer discussed the history of past subdivision e or s, not ng a t e request a ore the Comnission represented a fifty percent yield in actual subdivision potential; noted that Parcel A could be a 000d lot but that it was being offered for dedication to the Town; said that the twenty foot fill was not excessive whenyouconsidered that the area had been a former quarry area; requested that the area in conservation easement near the sewer line on Lot 1 be modified; and discussed the geological instability in the area. He also requested that road -in -lieu and parks and recreation in -lieu fees be waived because of the road being constructed and the amount of land dedicated to the Town or contained in conservation easement. Betsy Fiksdal, Pathway Committee Chairwoman, asked that paths be discussed as a separate idem, an suggests as a c men that the reports renuvsted on Con- dition 1 be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. Peter Wallace 27975 Via Ventana expressed his unhappiness with the long public roa to a constructs on t e subdivision, questioned the reliability of the soils report and pointed to drainage and slide problems, the twenty foot fill area, andhis concern on the steep hairpin turn at Page Mill Road. He requested that an environmen- tal impact report be prepared and requested that the subdivision be worked out in greater detailbefore being approved. John Honen, 3030 Country Club. Court,. Palo Alto, asked about the lot yield on the suFdivision an expresse concern on preserving trees and deer in the area. Mrs. Casey, 3029 Country Club Court, Pale Alto also expressed concern for trees in Te area. The public hearing was closed, and discussion returned to the Commission. At 10:50 a recess was called; the meeting resumed at 11:00 P.M.. At that time the Commission decided that it could not finish all items on the agenda. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE: It was moved by Commissioner Stewartandsecundedby Cortmissioner,VanTamelen not to consider Lands of Astra Estates, File #2081-78, that evening, and to discuss it at an adjourned meeting on June 6. (The date of the meeting was later changed to June 14 reaular meeting of the Planning Commission because of a conflict in the Council Chambers use due to the election.) Mr. Siegfried Pfendt, Engineer for the Subdivision, agreed to the delay. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 24, 1978 Page four `' PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 2. LANDS OF ARASTRA LTD. PARTNERSHIP, File #TM 2065-77: (continued) The discussion returned to the matter of a Negative Declaration for the subject subdivision with Mr. Markt stating that a negative declaration was recommended, and that the proposed road design was an optimum one. Commissioners expressed concern on drainage areas and animal trails and on deleting area -en Lot I from.the-conservation easement. Chairman.Stewart reminded the Commission that while the subdivision could provide fourteen lots, only seven were being requested. Paul Nowack called attention to the low density of the subdivision and noted that e� e-er— the area would not be affected, that drainage was not a serious problem in twenty to thirty acres of watershed, and that it would be channeled under Story Hill Road in a twenty-four inch pipe. After further comments by the public he withdrew his request for a removal of an area on Lot 1 from the conservation easement area, and requested instead that only the path area on Lot 1 be changed. Artemis Ginzston Chairwoman Environmental Desi n Committee spoke against removing area on of rom t e conservation easement or t e purpose of providing area for a tennis court. Fran Stevenson, Beaver Lane, expressed concern on the channelling of the drainage. The Commission was reminded that detailed improvement plans were too expensive to draw up before the subdivider had an approved tentative map. They would be provided before the final map was submitted. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE: It was moved by Commissioner VanTamelen, seconded by Commissioner Stewart, that a Negative Declaration be recommended for the Lands of Arastra Ltd. Partnership, File #TM 2065-77. Commissioners reviewed the suggested conditions, with the following changes: Condition 1(b): PASSED BY CONSENSUS: That Condition 1(b) be amended to read: Final soils report shall be submitted for review and approval of the City Engineer and Town Geologist, and their findings presented to the Planning Commission, prior to final map approval by the City Council. Condition 2(c): PASSED BY CONSENSUS: All grading for roadway cut and fill shall be heavily landscaped by thedevelnper.:with.native species of plants. Landscaping shall be maintained by the developer through two successive summer seasons. Condition 3: PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To amend the first sentence of Condition 3 to read: The plans for the grading and landscaping of Story Hill Lane and the driveways serving Lots 3 and 4 shall be submitted to the Planning Commission prior to the final map approval by the City Council. (The second sentence remains as written.) Condition 3(a): MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED: It was moved by Commission- er Kuranoff and seconded by Commissioner Stewart that Condition 3(a) PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 24, 1978 Page five PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 2. LANDS OF ARASTRA LTD. PARTNERSHIP, File #TM2065-77: (continued) Condition 3(a): read: All trees of six inches (6") or greater in diameter shall be located on all maps used during site development for the purpose of preserving as many of these existing trees as possible. Condition 5(a): PASSED BY. CONSENSUS: All areas disrupted by the construction of the sanitary sewer system shall be re -landscaped by the developer with native species of ground cover and maintained by the developer through two successive summers. Condition 7: PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To add the following sentence to Condition 7: Turn-arounds shall be provided as required by the Fire District. Condition 9(a): PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To amend Condition 9(a) to read: That portion of Page Mill Road within the subdivision as measured from the existing centerline, irrespective of where that center line is, to the right- of-way line a distance of thirty (30) feet. Condition 9(c): MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch and seconded by Commissioner Stewart that Condition 9(c) be deleted. Added Condition: MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch and seconded by Commissioner Stewart to add as a con- dition: Parcel A shall be included in the conservation easement area of Lot 2. The public hearing was re -opened for a discussion on pathway recommendations. Items discussed were a path connection to the Lands of Almon, a proposed path connection along the boundaries of Foothill Park, and a proposed pathway along Page Mill Road. On the issue of a pathwayconnection totheLands of Almon,. Commissioner Lachenbruch and Kuranoff asked how this would affect the privacy of Mr. Almon's land and were told by Mr. Markl that pathway users might be competing with Mr. Almon on his driveway. Fran Stevenson, 26789 Beaver Lane, discussed the pathway connections with the Lands of WT -mon, Eme northerly side of the property, and along Page Mill Road and along the conservation easement going up Alexis Drive. Bets Fiksdal Chairman, Pathw Committee,`discussed a proposed easement within the conservation easement to prov e a traiI at the edge of Foothill Park in Palo Alto. Mr. Markl noted that the grade in the area being requested for a trail was 62k%, very steep, and Mr. Russell suggested that the Town could condemn an area to connect to Foothill Park in the event that Palo Alto decided to open the park to non-resident use. Mr. Russell also suggested that if an easement were granted through the con- servation easement area, that it be offered for dedication to the Town, noting that the etseaW would be on private property which could be -fenced. - Paul Nowack spoke against the granting of the easement along the property line of Lodi cuing the invasion of privacy for the owner of Lot 1, and the fact that there was no determining whether three, four, or two hundred people would be using the trail. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 24, 1978 Page six `„ PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 2. LANDS OF ARASTRA LTD. PARTNERSHIP, File #TM 2065-77: (continued) JeanStruthers 13690 Robleda Road noted that the easement requested along Foothill ar was no to go into a parK, out to go along the border of the park and into Portola Valley. Commissioner VanTamelen was excused at 12:40 because of illness. Commissioner Kuranoff expressed concern that Parcel 1 would be enclosed by conservation easements and paths. Commissioner Dochnahl discussed the pathway requests along Page Mill Road and Alexis Drive and noted that the area along Page Mill was so steep that there was no room for a path. He also recommended against the horse trail crossing the creek area along the road. Bret Lachelle A licant, complained against opening up Parcel 1 to a massive invasion BT privacy an recommen ed that access into Foothill Park be obtained along the public road areas. The public hearing was closed, and the following motions passed: Condition 11(a): PASSED BY CONSENSUS: That Condition 11(a) be amended with the addition of the sentence: The tentative map shall be changed to delete that portion of the proposed pathway east of the proposed sanitary sewer easement from Lot 1 from the existing sanitary sewer manhole and continuing along the sanitary sewer easement until it intersects the proposed ten foot (10') pedestrian -equestrian ease- ment and existing pathway going from north to south as shown on the tentative map dated May 19,1978. Condition 11(d): MOTION SECONDED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch and seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl that Condition 11(d) be: An easement twenty-five feet (25') in width for pedestrians and equestrians shall be granted along the southerly 700 feet of the westerly boundary of the subdivision. Condition 12(a): MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl and seconded by Commissioner Stewart that Condition 12(a), the Storm Drainage Fund charge, be deleted. Condition 12(b): MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Kuranoff and seconded by Commissioner Lachenbruch that because of the length of the perimeter of the parcel and the low density that the road -in -lieu fee be reduced by one-half. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: That in all places where a tentative map is specified, that the map referred to shall be dated May 19. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT: It was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl and seconded by Commissioner Stewart that the.. Lands of Arastra Ltd. Partnership, File lilw #TM 2065-77, be recommended for approval with conditions as amended. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - May 24, 1978 Page seven PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 3. LANDS OF ASTRP. ESTATES, File HTM 2081-78, LaPaloma Road, Siegfried Pfendt, Engineer, equest or ecommen ation o Approval of Negative Declaration and Tentative Map - Continued for lack of time to discuss the matter (see earlier motion). OLD BUSINESS: 1. Clarification of Ordinance No. 239: MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch and seconded by Commissioner Stewart that Commissioner Lachenbruch's letter of April 28 regarding -the -interpretation of the intent of Ordinance No. 239 be re- referred to the staff and City Attorney for drafting of an amendment to that ordinance. Mr. Russell requested that Commissioner Lachenbruch also work with the staff and City Attorney on the drafting of the ordinance. 2. Letter re Professional Help for the Site Development Committee: Chairman Stewart called attention to the letter written by him to the City Manager requesting professional help for the Site Development Committee. �r NEW BUSINESS: Chairman- Stewart reminded Commissioners that the Pathway.Committee would show a movie "Tratis for Today. and. Tomorrow" at the .next Planning Commission meeting.. William Cotton,Town Geologist. -would also give .apresentation on"Geological Hazards in Los Altos Hills". ADJOURNMENT: There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned to a special meeting to be held on June 6 at 7:15 P.M.. (The meeting of June 6, however, never occurred because the Council Chambers was used as a polling place for the June 6th election and there was no other place available for a meeting. All agenda items to be heard on June 6th were scheduled for the regular meeting on June 14.) Respectfully submitted, Ethel Hopkins Secretary