HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.23.�2-
TOWN OF LAS ALTOS HILLS October 14, 2004
Staff Report to the Planning Commission
RE: AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS GENERAL PLAN AND
PLAN DIAGRAM
FROM: Carl Cahill, Planning Director C
That the Planning Commission:
Adopt the attached resolution recommending that the City Council approve the proposed
amendment to the General Plan Land Use Diagram and Paragraph 139 of the Land Use Element.
BACKGROUND
On August 19, 2004, The City Council directed staff to prepare amendments to the General Plan
Land Use Diagram so that the diagram accurately reflected current land uses on certain
properties in Town including the Pinewood School at 26800 Fremont Road (APN 175-33-009)
and the property commonly known as Morgan Manor at 12335 Stonebrook Drive (APN 336-28-
059).
PROPOSED PLAN DIAGRAM AMENDMENT
The General Plan Land Use Diagram designates the Pinewood School property as "Institution -
Elementary School" when in fact the public elementary school has been closed since the 1970's
and a private school has operated at this location since 1975-76. It is proposed that the Pinewood
School site be assigned a dual designation on the General Plan Diagram: "Institution - Public
Elementary School/Private School." The dual designation is justified since the property is still
owned by the Palo Alto School District and there remains the potential for the site to revert to a
public elementary school use in the future.
The General Plan Land Use Diagram designates the Morgan Manor at 12335 Stonebrook Drive
as an `Institution - Private School." The Ford Country Day School was a private school that
operated from this location starting in 1952 and ceased operations sometime in the 1970's or
1980's. The Morgan Manor is now a private residence that has undergone an extensive
restoration and conversion back to a single family home. It is proposed that the Morgan Manor
be designated from `Institution — Private School" to "R(v-1) Residential — Very Low to Low
Density."
The proposed actions are consistent with the Town's past practices pertaining to General Plan
amendments. For example, the Matadero Creek subdivision property was designated as
"Institution - Elementary School" on the 1975 General Plan Diagram. The Plan Diagram was
then amended in 1981 and the 59 acre property was designated "R(v-1) Residential — Very Low
to Low Density" with 10 -acres previously allocated to the school site being placed in
conservation and open space easements.
The attached resolution Exhibit "A" shows the General Plan Diagram as amended.
PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN
Paragraph 139 of the Town General Plan identifies four private schools operating in Los Altos
Hills when in fact only two private schools, Pinewood and Saint Nicholas School continue to
lawfully operate. Paragraph 139 of the Town General Plan currently reads as follows:
"Private Schools Four private schools are shown on the Plan Diagram. The schools include
Ford Country Day School, Happy Hours School, Mt. Helen Summer Home, and St. Nicholas
School. Residential private schools are proposed."
Paragraph 139 is proposed to be amended as follows: Private Schools Two private schools are
shown on the Plan Diagram. The schools include Pinewood School at 26800 Fremont Road
(grades 7-12) and St. Nicholas School at 12816 El Monte Avenue (grades K-8).
CEOA REVIEW
The proposed General Plan amendment has been determined to be exempt from CEQA. This
activity is covered by the general rile that CEQA applies only to projects which have the
potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty
that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the
environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. In the case of Pinewood, the private school
has been in continuous operation at 26800 Fremont Road for almost 30 years. Revising the
General Plan Diagram to reflect this existing condition will not have a significant effect on the
environment. A private school has not operated at the Morgan Manor property for at least 15
years. The primary structure at 12335 Stonebrook Drive was originally constructed as a single
family residence and is once again used for single family residential purposes. Revising the
General Plan Diagram to reflect the present use of the land will not have a significant effect on
the environment. Amending paragraph 139 of the General Plan Land Use Element to reflect the
actual number of private schools currently operating in Los Altos Hills will also not have an
effect on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Planning Commission Resolution 2-04 with attached Exhibits "A" showing General Plan
Diagram as amended.
2. Town of Los Altos Hills General Plan Paragraph 139, Page 15 of 20 (existing text)
ATTACHMENT I
RESOLUTION NO. 02-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF LOS
ALTOS HILLS TO UPDATE AND AMEND THE GENERAL PLAN AND PLAN
DIAGRAM.
WHEREAS, the General Plan Land Use Diagram designates certain
properties in Town for public and private school use and the General Plan Land
Use Element Paragraph 139 identifies private schools located in Los Altos Hills;
and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has determined it is in the public
interest to update the General Plan and Plan Diagram to reflect to the current
location and number of private schools that are lawfully operating within the
Town; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has determined that paragraph
139 of the General Plan should be amended as follows: "Private Schools Two
private schools are shown on the Plan Diagram. The schools include Pinewood
School at 26800 Fremont Road (grades 7-12) and St. Nicholas School at 12816
EI Monte Avenue (grades K-8)"; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has determined that the General
Plan Land Use Diagram should be amended as further described in Exhibit "A";
and
WHEREAS, the Town of Los Altos Hills, as Lead Agency for
environmental review of this update and amendment has determined that this
action is exempt from CEQA; and
WHEREAS, the specific facts supporting the statements in this Resolution
are set out in more detail in the October 10, 2004 Staff Report; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Planning Commission of the Town of Los Altos
Hills does RESOLVE as follows:
1. To recommend to the City Council that the Town amend the
General Plan Land Use Element and the General Plan Diagram in the manner
set forth in the above recitals.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 10 day of October , 2004.
By:
Chairman William Kerns
ATTEST:
Planning Secretary
«
§
B
a0
kt
.
. .
..
,
\� �� :am »
�
:�
\■
:-
ATTACHMENT a--
138. (cont.) particularly with regard to the proposed circulation system to serve the
college.
Private Schools
139. Four private schools are shown on the Plan Diagram. The schools
include Ford Country Day School, Happy Homs School, Mt. Helen
Summer Home, and St. Nicholas School. Residential private schools are
proposed.
Town Government
140. With the possible doubling of the Town population to full holding
capacity, Town Hall facilities, already constructed, could become
inadequate for necessary Town administrative activities. If Town services
are to be maintained even at the present minimum, expansion of
administrative facilities will have to be accomplished. While the present
Town Hall site can accommodate immediate expansion needs, subsequent
needs will be difficult to meet, depending on the range of services desired,
without crowding this long narrow site. Relevant to this problem is the need
to decide where corporation yard type equipment will be stored.
141. The Town should evaluate future Town Hall needs in relationship
to the range of services that potentially could be desired, and as
appropriate, consider alternative, centrally located sites for Town Hall.
Sites such as all or part of the vacant parcel across Fremont Road from the
present Town Hall or the Bullis School site, if closing of the school is
determined necessary, could be appropriate. Both of these sites are well
served by circulation facilities. It is possible existing Town structures
could be moved to these sites.
142. Incorporated with any expansion of Town Hall space should be
provided for a few additional community serving facilities. Room should
be provided for at least one public committee room apart from the Council
Chambers and for a Town library. The library would at least facilitate
public access to public documents and storage and display of historical
documents and artifacts relevant to the Town's history. These added
Town of Los Altos Hills General Plan Land Use Element
Page 15 of 20