HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/16/1978PLANNING COMMISSION
4W Town of Los Altos Hills
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED MEETING
Wednesday, August 16, 1978
Reel 72, Side 1, Tr. 1, 001 to 1070
Chairman Stewart called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers of Town Hall
at 8:04 P.M..
ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Present: Commissioners Stewart, Carico, Lachenbruch, Reeves, VanTamelen and
Dochnahl
Absent: Commissioner Kuranoff
Also Present: Assistant City Engineer/Planner John Markt, Secretary Ethel Hopkins
STUDY SESSION: (Continued from the Meeting of August 9)
The Study Session discussion continued, using as discussion items those subjects
enumerated by various Commissioners at the meetings of July 26 and August 9.
Commissioner Lachenbruch elaborated on the areas where a professional planner was
needed. They were: (1) In catching up on the General Plan; (2) In the day -to-
[
day consistent support for planning (review of subdivisions, etc.), and a firm
sense of direction to guard against illegal structures, excessive gradinq, and
scarring of hillside areas; (3) Support for preserving the rural environment
that the Town has struggled for. Within the last cateaory mentioned, Commissioner
Lachenbruch listed three areas where a more comprehensive study was needed. These
areas were: (1) The land that is presently within the Town limits, (2) The land
within the Town's sphere of influence, and (3) The larger mid -peninsula area
surrounding the Town. Other points were enumerated in a letter to the City Council
dated August 23.
Commissioner Carico requested that the Town find out or clarify how it relates to
the Mid -Peninsula Regional Park District, particularly in light of the passage
of the Jarvis -Gann legislation. She noted that park -owned land could be sold to
purchase other park land, and it was important for the Town to be aware of its
options to buy back land or open space within the Town's sphere of influence.
Commissioner VanTamelen discussed with the Commission the proposed Scenic Highways
Element as revised at a meeting with the Environmental Design Committee. Commission-
ers made further corrections, the result being that it was requested that the Scenic
Highways Element be re -typed under Commissioner VanTamelen's direction and resub-
mitted to the Planning Commission at the September 13 meeting. During the dis-
cussion on the Scenic Highways Element, it was decided that the Environmental Design
Committee should receive information on Site Development and Subdivision Committee
meetings so that their suggestions could be given at those meetings. Chairman Stewart
thanked the Committee of Commissioners Dochnahl, Kuranoff and VanTamelen and the
Environmental Design Committee for their work on the Scenic Highways Element.
`r At 9:47 a recess was called. The meeting resumed at 10:03 P.M..
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - August 16, 1976
Page two
STUDY SESSION: (continued)
It was proposed that a joint meeting with the City Council be held on August 30,
and that a letter be sent requesting this Meeting and detailing subjects to be
discussed.
Chairman Stewart promised to check with City Attorney Gillio on the status of
the conservation easement guidelines and the new test for slope density (Items
6 and 12 on the July 26 list).
Discussion turned to the problem of trying to limit the size of houses being
constructed in the Town. Various means were proposed, among them an architectural
review committee, requiring a large lot for a large house, and that cubic feet
rather than square feet as a measurement for house size. Nothing definite was
decided, but it was suggested that this was another area for planning support,
and that this problem should be discussed with the City Council at the proposed
joint meeting.
Chairman Stewart informed the Commissioners that he had given the fence ordinance
proposal to the Environmental Design Committee for further study and suggestions.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: That two Commissioners be assigned for every Subdivision
and Site Development Committee meeting, effective immediately.
Commissioner Carico requested, after the consensus action, that Planning Commission-
ers not be requested to serve on Site Development and Subdivision Committee meetings
at the same time.
Chairman Stewart stated that he would write a letter to the City Council proposing
that one Planning Commissioner and a professional planning consultant be in attend-
ance at Site Development and Subdivision Committee meetings.
Chairman Stewart again mentioned that he hoped that the chairmanship of the Planning
Commission could be on a rotating basis, as proposed under "Old Business" at the
August 9 meeting. Discussion of this proposal, however, would continue after a
new chairman is elected.
Item 11 (Motorcycle and horse barriers) was to be referred to the Town Engineer.
Commissioner Carico commended the Environmental Design Commitee's "Tree Report",
but cautioned accepting federal money without knowing what "strings" were attached.
Chairman Stewart reported that he had discussed procedures followed by the
building department in issuing plumbing and electrical permits for solar systems.
He proposed that appropriate ordinances be drafted for both solar systems (Item 13
on the July 26 list) and motorcycle and horse barriers (Item 11).
Item 10 (Curb and gutter sections). Commissioners felt that Commissioner Kuranoff
should discuss proposals with the Commissioners before any action could be taken.
`' Item B (Circulation Studies) - Commissioner Carico commended the quality of the
circulation study completed by Mr. Russell and former Town Planner Pastrof for
the Three Forks Area and expressed the hope that this kind of traffic study could
be completed with any new subdivision coming to the Town.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - August 16, 1978
Page three
4m+ STUDY SESSION: (continued)
Commissioner VanTamelen reported that she had talked with City Manager Crowe
on road -in -lieu fee charges (Item 2), but that nothing had been resolved. She
proposed that road -in -lieu charges be on a per foot basis plus a per lot charge
as one way of equalizing the diversity in charges.
It was requested by the Planning Commission that the Deputy City Clerk supply
the Environmental Design Committee with the copy of their responsibilities and
duties. It was the feeling that each Committee should be provided with these
"charges", and that the Committees should not have to seek out for themselves
their responsibilities.
At 11:07 Commissioners VanTamelen and Carico were excused.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioners discussed a proposed "Revision to Section 9-5.503. Height. Para-
graph (a) of the Los Altos Hills Muncipal Code" and decided that— sFould
be continued to the next meeting under "Old Business".
OLD BUSINESS:
The Commission was reminded that there would be no Planning Commission meeting
on August 23.
40 ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned by motion
of Chairman Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Reeves. Adjournment was at
11:17 P.M..
Respectfully submitted,
Ethel Hopkins
Secretary