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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/12/1980 (2)f PLANNING COMMISSION Town of Los Altos Hills 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 12, 1980 Reel 84, Side 2, Tr. 2, 274 to End; Side 1, Tr. 1, 001 to 805 The meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall by Chairman vanTamelen at 7:50 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Carico, Lachenbruch, Stewart, Dochnahl, Kuranoff and vanTamelen Absent: Comm ss ioner Rydel1 (ex"set( absence) Qw24,4k(-3/34 Also Present: City Manager Robert Crowe, City Engineer/Planner John Carlson, Secretary Ethel Hopkins Press: Charley Hall, Peninsula Times Tribune CONSENT CALENDAR: The Minutes of February 27 were removed from the Consent Calendar for separate con- sideration. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Kuranoff and seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl that the balance of the Consent Calendar be approved, namely: Setting of Dates for Public Hearings for the Meeting of March 26: (1) Variance and Permit Commission: Lands of Marek, File #VAR. 3-80; and (2) Planning Commission: Public Hearing for Pre -zoning of the Altamont Circle Area and Casa Mia Way Area. The Minutes of February 27 were amended as follows: Under Comments from the Variance and Permit Commission, strike the second sentence of Commissioner Carico's remarks and add instead: 'She also noted that the City Council had requested that when the Commission recommends the denial of a variance, it should cite within the motion for denial the specific areas where the variance request fails to meet the criteria for the granting of that variance.' (Comments from the Variance and Permit Commission are on Page two, paragraph four of the Minutes.) Also, on Page four, amend the last line, item (5) of the second paragraph to read: 'access off Elena Road for driveways for Lots 2 and 3.' MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Colmissioner Dochnahl and seconded by Conmissioner Stewart to approve the Minutes of February 27th as amended. COMMENTS FROM THE VARIANCE AND PERMIT COMMISSION: Commissioner Stewart noted that the above Comni ssion had recommended approval of the Lands of Cheng request for variance, File #VAR. 2-80, with a vote of two in favor and one against the motion. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19 1980: Commissioner Stewart re- ported on t1w 5dgiound for t e pre -zoning, noting that the City Manager would be present for the Planning Commission hearing and that Mr. Gil would not be present but would provide answers to questions Commissioners might have if they would call him. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 12, 1980 Page two `. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19, 1980: (continued) Commissioner Stewart noted that the name for the English Meadows Subdivision, File #TM 2103-79, had been changed to Baleri Ranch Subdivision and the road also renamed Baleri Ranch Road. This had been in response to a request by the Historical Society for a name that would reflect the historical background of the property. He noted that the Pathway Committee had requested reconsideration of the paths and bridges to be constructed in conjunction with the subdivision, and for this reason had con- tinued the subdivision. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. PRE -ZONING UNINCORPORATED AREAS, Request for Recommendation of Approval of Pre - zoning: continued from February 27) Mr. Carlson discussed in considerable detail the information contained in the items listed in his March 7 staff report, reiterating that the request before the Commission was for pre -zoning of the subject areas, and that annexation was a further step to be considered at a later date. City Manager Robert Crowe discussed with Commissioners various aspects of pre -zoning and eventual annexation, reviewing the different kinds of pre -zoning, i.e., the island type pre -zoning of areas within the Town's sphere of influence where the land under question is less than one -hundred acres or is surrounded on three sides by the Town. This type of area does not require the approval of the citizens to be annexed. The annexation of areas of more than one hundred acres does require a vote by the citizens being annexed. Mr. Crowe noted that pre -zoning accomplishes three things: 1) it in- forms the people in the area of the zoning for their area; 2) if the area is annexed, it can come into the Town as that zone; and 3) LAFCO is informed of what is intended for the area. Mr. Crowe also discussed the benefits accruing to areas pre -zoned. These would be in the form of fire and police services that would be extended to these areas by the Town which might otherwise be lost to them should the tax -cutting Proposition 9 be passed in June. He noted that there was no tax advantage to the Towngif these areas come into the Town because with the passage of Proposition 13, the tax rate is the same everywhere. 1 ank M 6l;advaafa,*c (0mrnLF/u/6+� Commissioners asked again about pre-existinq conditions in areas that are being pre- zoned, and thereafter the hearing was opened to the public discussion. Ten Worthne, 24874 Olive Tree Lane, questioned the need for pre -zoning for his area, and questioned the reasons the Town might have for "reaching out" to include County areas within its boundaries, also what services are being offered to the areas being included within the Town's boundaries. Joe Hamnil, 24791 Northcrest Lane, asked if the Town would require sewers be installed t some tim in t ese added areas at in the future. He noted that the people in the area on Northcrest Lane were fearful that they may be compelled to install sewers. Mr. Crowe responded to Mr. Hamnil's question be stating that it was not necessarily ( V the Town policy to require sewers. However, if the people in an area desired sewers and got together to form an assessment district to pay for them, the Town would be the vehicle for installing the sewers. Wayne Kelley 25275 Latlpa Drive, asked about the cost of the pre -zoning action and was to y r. rowe at ere would be none. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 12, 1980 Page three PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. PRE -ZONING UNINCORPORATED AREAS: (continued) Wendell Chauvers, 23165 Eastbrook Avenue, inquired about the boundaries of the area being pre -zoned. The public hearing was closed, and Mr. Crowe noted that the Planning Commission should include in its recommendations the reasons for recommending the pre -zoning approval as they relate to the General Plan for the Town. Reasons cited were: (1) The pre -zoning is in compliance with the General Plan, (2) The General Plan designates the areas to be pre -zoned with the same zoning as Los Altos Hills - R/A 1 Acre Minimum/Single Family Dwelling, (3) The general purpose behind the Pre -Zoning is to follow through on the tenets of our General Plan, our Urban Service Area, and our Sphere of Influence, and (4) We can provide the type of zoning we have indicated in our General Plan for these areas. 4 at' I "ries Commissioner vanTamelen asked about what undergroundinglpolicies were for the areas being pre -zoned and about the disposition of Eastbrook School. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Carico that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the Ordinance for Pre -Zoning of Unincorporated Areas for the areas named in the Staff Memo dated February 22, 1980. The reasons for the recommendation of approval shall 6V be those cited above by the City Manager. The Planner was directed to prepare the memorandum recommending approval for the Chairman's signature; a copy of the memo was to be sent to each of the Commissioners for review and suggestions on revisions if necessary before the memo is directed to the City Council for action. At 9:.15 p.m. the Planning Commission took a short break, the meeting resuming at 9:30 p.m. AMENDMENTS TO THE LOS ALTOS HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE: (1) To add a new Section to be numbered Section 9-5.208(1) to define "building coverage"; (2) To amend Section 9-5.209 to redefine "building height"; (3) To amend Section 9-5.502 concerning building coverage and to add thereto regulations concerning "impervious surfacing"; (4) to amend Subsection (a) of Section 9-5.503 regulating the height of structures; and (5) To amend Sections 9-4.703; 9-4.704, Subsection (a) 9-4.704, Subsection (b); 9-4.707 and 9-4.710 of Chapter 4 Entitled "Subdivisions" of Title 9 entitled "Planning and Zoning, specifically to increase Cul-de-sac Right of Way to Sixty Feet. Mr. Carlson began a discussion of the Code Amendments on Building Height and Building Coverage, demonstrating by means of a transparency projection what the proposed amend- ments would mean. Background information referred to in the discussion had been disseminated by means of Staff memorandums dated February 8 and March 7. Mr. Carlson stated that the proposed amendments were the result of suggestions made by Planning Consultant George Mader. Commission discussion began with Commissioner Kuranoff's reference to a letter of comment from Alan Lambert dated March 10. He noted that Mr. Lambert's remarks seemed reasonable and proposed that some exception be made for a house of good design that PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 12, 1980 Page four L PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE LOS ALTOS HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE: (continued) exceeded the height limit because of its chimneys. Commissioner Lachenbruch asked about how a second story would be treated if there were fill against the natural grade and all around the first floor area. Commissioners discussed ways to encourage lessening the visual impact of houses by encouraging basement construction and the height limitation of buildings to provide a more open space appearance from the street and between houses. Thereafter the hearing was opened to the public discussion. Ken Pastrof Pastrof Development 127 Second Street, Los Altos, noted that with the Type II foundation required in Ordinance 232, a dwelling can have a basement. Using a blackboard to illustrate his comments, he illustrated the parallelogram approach to the thirty foot height limitation. He concurred with Alan Lambert in requesting that chimneys be excluded from the height limitation and noted the need for some latitudes in the proposed ordinances. He noted that all the ordinances were inter -related, the problems that would be encountered with the setback requirements for uphill lots, that the height of houses was affected adversely by the numerical requirements which rigidly defined the location of houses on slopes, often ignoring the natural amenities of an individual lot. Finally, he felt that such numerical requirements discouraged good design and house planning and recommended that more time be given to the consideration of the proposed ordinances. In other remarks, Mr. Pastrof recommended that decks be excluded from impervious surface limitations. He also recommended that some sort of appeal process be made available if the ordinances proposed are enacted for those lots on hillsides that were created before slope density requirements were in effect. Such a subdivision would be the Fremont Hills Subdivision where there would be very little room available for additions unless some appeal were available. Also,the appeal should be outside the variance process. Commissioner Lachenbruch asked that Mr. Pastrof submit a memorandum with his computations on building heights and setbacks so that the Commission could understand more fully the points he discussed. Commissioner Carica, noted that the Commission was really concerned with building -as they relate to their surroundings rather than with building design. She noted that as building size increased, rurality seemed to be fading from the Town. She asked Mr. Pastrof for some suggestion an pM5frvirurality. Mr. Pastrof responded by noting that one could define rurality by whose striet one lived on and wFat one's life style was. (a"4 -"k 31.,4/Pa) Paul Reneau, 13149 Byrd Lane, spoke in favor of Mr. Pastrof's remarks and for assuring that all development within the Town is accomplished with a sense of responsibility for what the Town has to preserve. Peter Wallace, 27975 Via Ventana, spoke in support for the Planning Commission's effort to limit height. He noted that the thirty feet height limit presently in effect has helped create the problem that the Commission was trying to deal with. In encouraging the Commission to be conservative, he noted that the variance process was available for appeals for exceptions to the rules. Paul Nowack, Olive Tree Lane, spoke against the sixty foot cul-de-sac ordinance, noting ` V the problems of maintaining the grassy area that would not be paved, that a sixty foot radius for a cul-de-sac was almost unheard of, that streets were usually placed somewhat close to building sites, and that the best building sites were being ignored with the newest ordinances being proposed. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 12, 1980 Page five PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE LOS ALTOS HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE: (continued) The public hearing was closed, and discussion returned to the Commission. Commissioner Kuranoff summarized that what the ordinance changes were attempting to do was to miti- gate the increased apparent or real density that had occurred in the Town, and that as a result of the proposed ordinances designs must be compromised. He noted that there was a trade-off between dealing with the problems with ordinances or the issue of whether to establish an Architectural Review Board. Commissioner Lachenbruch noted that there was concern for the very intense use of land, and that as people installed amenities such as pools or tennis courts on lots such as those in the Fremont Hills Subdivision, the degree of ruralness would be reduced. Commissioner Carico noted that the proposed ordinances were not to be seen as a threat to development or land use, but as an attempt to remain faithful to the Town's General Plan. Commissioner Lachenbruch noted that the three areas to be dealt with were the building height, the width of cul-de-sacs and the impervious surface limitations. Comni ss i oners discussed ways that the ordinance on the height of structures might deal with the portion of a dwelling below the natural grade. The consensus of the Commission was that the ordinance be revised to include the stipulation that where a house pad is excavated and then earth placed up against the foundation at a point higher than the excavation pad, that the building height be measured from that earth contact point rather than the excavation pad. The point of measurement for the height calculation shall never be above the natural grade on the surface. Commissioner Lachenbruch noted that Mr. Nowack had suggested a number of ideas for dealing with the width of right-of-ways and had called attention to the problem of using up good sites with big right-of-ways, particularly in steep areas. He questioned whether classes of right-of-ways were not a better way to deal with the problem. On the matter of impermeable surface, Commissioner Lachenbruch noted that its regulation was mandated by the General Plan. At 11:30 p.m. the meeting adjournment time was extended on the motion of Commissioner Carico seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl and the consent of all present. Discussion turned to the height limitation and whether chimneys should be included in the 15-30 foot height limitation. Commissioner Kuranoff spoke for the excluding of chimneys in measuring height. Commissioner vanTamelen felt that the exception of two feet should be allowed on the slope part of the building package, but no exception should be allowed on the thirty foot height limit. Commmissioner Carico asked for a diagram showing the the graduation of building height from 15 to 30 feet. Paul Nowack noted that the height of chimneys was fixed by the Uniform Building Code, ut noted that most towns allow chimneys to be exempt from the height of a house. Considerable discussion occurred on whether or not to exclude chimneys from the height limitation, but no clear agreement was reached on whether they should be definitely excluded. Discussion on the ordinances was continued to the meeting of March 26th, and Commissioners were urged to contact Mr. Carlson with specific suggestions 4 they might have for amending the proposed ordinances. v OLD BUSINESS: 1. Presentations from the Floor: Paul Reneau, Byrd Lane, read a presentation adding further comment to his February 27th statements. Items covered by the presentation were an Architectural Review Board proposal, comments on infill prevention, the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 12, 1980 Page six PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) OLD BUSINESS: (continued) 1. Presentations from the Floor: (continued) preservation of the ridge line, and tightening slope density regulations. Commissioners discussed with Mr. Reneau the various proposals he had made and how they would affect present and past development in the Town. On the matter of i his proposal for an Architectural Review Board, Commissioner vanTamelen suggested that Mr. Reneau or his committee meet with the Subcommittee in charge of house size and design to exchange ideas proposed. Fran Stevenson, 26989 Beaver Lane, spoke for the limitation of the height of houses on ridge ines. Wallace Stegner 13456 South Fork Lane, discussed the subject of dividing the Town into dist it cts for design review purposes, as detailed in ordinances for Portola Valley and Woodside. Mr. Reneau asked that a copy of Mr. Mader's report on recent consultations with the Town be available for him. Commissioner vanTamelen suggested that everyone consider possible ordinances on design review for the coming meeting. 2. Drainage Committee Report: Commissioner vanTamelen referred to the 1968 Drainage Report and the ability of the Public Works Committee to identify drainage problems in the Town. She noted that this committee wished to meet with the Planning Commission on April 9 in order to exchange ideas on how best they can cooperate with the Planning Commission and vice versa. Mr. Carlson noted the efforts of the Public Works Committee to uphold the General Plan and to deal with the problems of drainage and to obtain all the information oossible to deal with this problem without resorting to concrete channels. Commissioner vanTamelen noted that April 9th had been set aside for discussions with Committees and to hear from Councilman Perkins regarding a "court's eye view of planning". NEW BUSINESS: 1. Commissioner Stewart noted that Mrs. Goldsmith had contacted him re the re -naming of the English Meadows Subdivision for Mr. Baleri, a former and original owner of the land. He re-emphasized the need for Historical Society participation in the naming of streets for the Town so that they would reflect the history of the area, and suggested that subdivision maps be submitted to the Historical Society for their suggestions on these matters. Commissioner Stewart noted that Mr. Baleri lived in Chico and would be glad to come to the Town to dedicate the new street. ADJOURNMENT: kr There being no further new or old business to discuss,the meeting was adjourned at 12:50 a.m. by the Chairman. Respectfully submitted, Ethel Hopkins Secretary