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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/26/1980 (2)I PLANNING COMMISSION Town of Los Altos Hills 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 26, 1980 Reel 84, Side 1, Tr. 1, 1014 to End; Side 2, Tr. 1, 001 to End; Reel 85, 001 to 315 The meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Chairman vanTamelen in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Carico, Lachenbruch, Rydell, Stewart, Dochnahl, vanTamelen Absent: Commissioner Kuranoff Also Present: City Engineer/Planner John Carlson, Assistant Planner Pat Webb, Secretary Ethel Hopkins CONSENT CALENDAR: The Minutes of March 12 were removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consider- ation. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: That the balance of the Consent Calendar be approved, namely the following: 1. Acceptance for Filing of the Lands of Thompson, File #4-80, Summerhill Road, John Markl, Engineer 2. Setting of Dates for the Public Hearing of April 9: Variance.and Permit Commission - Lands o�f Lear, File #VAR. 2102-79; Planning Commission - Lands of Philbrick, File #TM 2102-79 (resubmitted Tentative Map) The Minutes of March 12 were amended as follows: On page one under Roll Call, Commissioner Rydell's absence was to be noted as an "Excused Absence"; on page two, third paragraph under "Pre -Zoning Unincorporated Areas", third paragraph, fourth line, after "He noted that there was no tax advantage to the Town .... add: and no disadvantage to the property owners..."; on page three, third paragraph, add after "Commissioner vanTamelen asked about what undergrounding .... add: of utilities..."; and finally, on page four, fifth paragraph, amend the beginning of the fourth line to read: "...for some suggestion on preserving rurality." MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: On the motion of Commissioner Stewart5 seconded by Commissioner Dochnahl, the Minutes of March 12 were approved as amended. COMMENTS FROM THE VARIANCE AND PERMIT COMMISSION: Commissioner Rydell discussed the recommendation of approval for the Lands of Marek, File #VAR. 3-80. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL: Commissioner Lachenbruch reviewed actions of the City Council at their March 19th meeting: He noted that the Council had required that English Meadows be renamed Baleri Ranch Subdivision, that the pathway be re- routed along the subdivision side of the property within the conservation -open space easement, had permitted the subdivider to fence the pathway area from the lots, and had required the subdivider to construct a bridge. L7 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 26, 1980 Page two OW PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE LOS ALTOS HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE: (continued from March 12) (1) To add a new Section to be numbered section 9-5.208(l) to define "building height" (2) To amend Section 9-5.209 to redefine "building height' (3) To amend Section 9-5.5,02 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 (5) To amend Sections 9-4.703 , 9-4.704, Subsection (a) 9-4.704, Subsection (b), 9-4.707, and 9-4.710, specifically to increase cul-de-sac right of way to sixty feet The following changes were made to proposed Section 9-5.209 Building Height (Item I above); The first paragraph was amended to read: "Building Height" shall mean the vertical distance from the highest part of a building to a point directly below on the building pad or the natural ground surface, whichever is lower. Natural in this context means the surface established by natural processes without intervention by man and without grading. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: On the motion of Commissioner Lachenbruch, seconded by Commissioner Carico, the first paragraph of Section 9-5.209 above was approved. MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Carico to omit the second paragraph of proposed Section 9-5.209. AYES: Commissioner Stewart NOES: Commissioners vanTamelen, Carico, Lachenbruch, Rydell, Dochnahl ABSTAIN: None The second paragraph of proposed Section 9-5.209 was amended with the word "Except ... added to the beginning sentence. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Rydell and seconded by Commissioner Lachenbruch to adopt the proposal measuring the height of the building from the underground area. Specific wording will be provided with the concurrence of Commissioner Lachenbruch Mr. Carlson and Mr. Gillio. AYES: Commissioners Carico: Lachenbruch, Rydell, Dochnahl, vanTamelen NOES: Commissioner Stewart ABSTAIN: None Mr. Carlson gave a slide presentation on how a number of residences in the Town would be affected by the proposed limitations on height. Commissioners held a short discussion on whether chimneys should be included in the height limitations and how existing dwellings that might require additions would be affected by the new height limitations. The hearing was opened to the public dis- cussion. Joe SzaLbo, 13801 Alto Lane, stated he was bothered by the shaping of the houses that kw —wo-uTd--0—Cc`ur—­wj­tF—tFe —proposed ordinances. He noted that gables would be eliminated, and that certain types of architecture such as colonial houses would be eliminated by the new ordinance. He noted also that views might be limited also by the new ordinance. 4W Ll PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 26, 1980 Page three PUBLIC HEARINGS: (continued) 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE LOS ALTOS HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE: (continued from March 12) After the showing of slides that demonstrated that most houses now being built in Los Altos Hills would comply with the new ordinance, Mr. Carlson noted that he felt that the Planning Commission was not being too restrictive with this proposal. Commissioners then discussed what they hoped to accomplish by enacting the proposed ordinance on height limitation. Commissioner Rydell felt that much good would be accomplished by the new ordinance but noted that pushing houses further back on lots might restrict views. At 10:17 a short break was taken, the meeting resuming at 10:35 p.m. It was the decision of the Planning Commission to continue the matter so that some further examples of housing that might be affected by the height limitation might be studied. Commissioners suggested the Snedigar house on Fremont Road, houses on Country Way, and specifically the homes built by Woolworth Development on both sides of Country Way. Commissioner Rydell asked about investigating good structures that might be negatively affected by the height ordinance. Commissioner Dochnahl noted the need for more definition on what the Commission was trying to accomplish by the ordinance, whether the desire was for smaller homes or for homes that everyone could see past. Commissioners were to get suggestions on houses that could be affected one way or another by the ordinance for John Carlson to check out, and the matter was continued to the study session for further considera- tion. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Carico that the agenda item "Pre -zoning of Unincorporated Areas" be considered next, as the time was 10:40 p.m. 1. PRE-Z0,1,ING UNI CRE RATED AREAS: Request for Recommendation of Approval of Z6 , �n for 51 cMPOrdtud mreaS 01 A—mont Circle and Casa Mia Way Areas: Mr. Carlson reviewed background on the above request as detailed in his staff report dated March 26. He noted that both areas under discussion were islands, and that the Town can pre -zone and later annex these areas without a vote from the citizens. He noted that no calls or convents had been received from citizens of these areas. In the general matter of recommendations for the other areas being pre -zoned, Mr. Carl- son stated a preference for Commissioner vanTamelen's letter to the City Council on pre -zoning rather than the one he had composed. Commissioners observed that the two areas were not in anyone's urban service area at present. They noted the lack of sewers in the Altamont Circle area, septic tank problems durina wet weather ' 8 nd the variation in lot sizes in this area, The public hearing was opened and closed with no one speaking for or against the pre -zoning of Casa Mia Way or Altamont Circle. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY: It was moved by Commissioner Dochnahl and seconded by Commissioner Carico to recommend approval of the Pre -zoning of Unincor- porated Areas, Casa Mia Way and Altamont Circle, and to use the information in the March 24th memorandum written by Commissioner vanTamelen except with the following deletions: Item 3 of the memorandum should be modified, and Item 7 should be deleted �w in reference to the Altamont Circle area. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - March 26, 1980 Page four OLD BUSINESS: 1. Tennis Court Subcommittee Re ort on Proposed Tennis Court Policy: Commissioner RYdell discussed the Committee draft of the Tennis Court Policy Statement from the memorandum from the Committee and attachments dated March 21. MOTION SECONDED AND DEFEATED: It was moved by Commissioner Carico and seconded by Commissioner Lachenbruch to end the first paragraph of the Draft Tennis Court Policy Statement with the sentence: The Planning Commission recognizes the PoPu- larity of tennis and the wholesomeness of tennis I as a recreation. Commissioners VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Carico, Lachenbruch, and Dochnahl; NOES: Rydell, Stewart and vanTamelen; ABSTAIN: None MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Rydell to add as the last sentence to the first paragraph: The Town should also encourage the use of existing private club and public (Foothill College) facilities available to large numbers of residents. VOTE: AYES: Commissioners vanTamelen, Lachenbruch, Rydell, Stewart, Dochnahl; NOES: Commissioner Carico; ABSTAIN: None MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: It was moved by Commissioner Lachenbruch and seconded by Commissioner Carico to delete the sentence: Wherever possible, the Town should build or maintain facilities available to the connunitY. VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Lachenbruch, Carico, Dochnahl, and vanTamelen; NOES: 6W Commissioner Rydell; ABSTAIN: Commissioner Stewart At 11:40 p.m. the meetinq was extended so that the Tennis Court Policy Statement might be fully reviewed. It was also determined that a Study session would be scheduled for April 3rd at 7:45 p.m. to finish agenda items not completed that evening. Discussion returned to the heading "Setbacks". Commissioner Carico stated that she was against the relaxation of the setback policy to accommodate tennis courts. She said that the variance process was a way to accorfrnodate exceptions and that each lot requesting an pxception should be considered on its own merits. Commissioners made some changes in the paragraph on "Setbacks", including the following, and then con- tinued consideration of the policy to the night of the Study Session on April 3: PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To delete Item E on page two. Also, another substitute Item E was added: No tennis courts in front yards. NEW BUSINESS: Commissioner vanTamelen alerted commissioners to the possibility of a special joint meeting with the City Council on April 30 to consider the tennis court policy statement with them. No definite decision was made on this, however. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:40 a.m. to an adjourned meeting at 8:00 a.m, on March 27th in ihe Town Hall. �w Respectfully submitted, Ethel Hopkins Secretary