HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/09/1984PLANNING CCKVJISS1ON
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
Wednesday, May 9, 1984
Reel 109, Side II, Tract I, 000 -Did
Chairman Stewart called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Toam Hall
Council Chambers.
A. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Present: Comissioners Carico, Dochnahl, Iachenbruch, Stewart and Struthers
Absent: Comaissioner Kuranoff
Staff: City Manager Ann Hinshaw; Acting City Engineer Gordon Miller;
Staff Planner Nancy Lytle; Secretary Leslie Mullins
M,� flu _ i➢I�Z•\:A
Item Removed - P.C. Minutes of April 11, 1984 (Stewart)
Comdssioner Stewart asked that the minutes of April 11, 1984 be amended
as follows: On page three, third paragraph, third line, add ..."and the
gate would be ...
MOTION SEocmED AMID CARRIED: Moved by Struthers, seconded by Carico and
06 passed unanimously to approve the Planning Commission Minutes of April 11,
1984 as amended.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Struthers, seconded by Carico and
passed unanimously to approve the Variance & Permit Commission minutes
of April 11, 1984.
D10TION SBCMDED AND CARR=: Mbved by Struthers, seconded by Lachenbruch
to set public hearings for May 23 , 1984; as follows:
1. Lands of Tacy, File #VAR 3-84
2. Lands of Palo Alto Unified School District, File #TM 7-83
C. REPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF APRIL 18, 1984 AND MAY 2, 1984:
Comnissioner Carico reported the City Council at their April 18, 1984 meeting
upheld the Variance & Permit Commission decision to grant a variance for the
Lands of Middleton; Mayor Allison asked that the Planning Commission look
into development area ordinance.
Commissioner iachenbruch reported the City Council at their May 2, 1984
meeting approved the Conditional Use Permit for Lands of Bagaria, with
some discussion over the bridge over Matadero Creek; Report was given to
the Council regarding discing vs. mowing; Budget item for Planning Connission
is being referred to the Commission, (City Manager noted budget forms will
be sent to Corassion for their input).
D. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Planning Commission Minutes - May 9, 1984
Page Two
E. OLD BUSDESS:
1. Update on Status of Arastra Park, City of Palo Alto
Camiissioner Stewart read neuro dated May 4, 1984 to Camdssion, noting
the Palo Alto Planning Cammmission will be holding a public hearing on
this matter on May 9, 1984 and will be taking any appropriate action.
2. Inview of Ordinance #283, providing for Second Units
Ms. Lytle referred to her staff report of May 4, 1984, noting Ordinance #283
should be revised to contain specific parking provisions for second units;
the reference to "gross floor area" should be reconsidered; and the Camussion
should be aware that the secamd unit ordinance will likely serve as a major
implementing mechanism for the Town's Housing Program, to be developed in a
future Housing Element update and revision. Ms. Lytle gave the commission
a background report on the Second Unit Housing Law, and Los Altos Hills'
Ordinance History and supplied coanissiorers with Atherton, Woodside, Portola
Valley ordinances and fee schedules. Ms. Lytle requested direction from
the Camdssion relating to the size of detached units, with regard to the
application for the Lands of Barlow.
Commissioners reviewed in detail all ordinances supplied from other cities
as well as Ordinance #283, with mach discussion concerning the definition
of gross floor area vs. gross area.
Passed by consensus to have Ms. Lytle re -phrase Ordinance #283 and return
with proposed ordinance at the next meeting. (Ms. Lytle indicated there
would not be enough time for staff to prepare this for the next meeting,
noting she will need to discuss some items with the City Attorney, indicating
staff would have this item prepared by the first meeting in June).
Mr. Gieseker, 25703 Lomita Linda, spoke to Commission regarding his concern
over garages converted into second units.
F. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Discussion of Planning Application Checklist for Streamlining Application
Processing
Ms. Lytle referred to staff report of May 4, 1984 noting the attached checklist
is one the City of Belmont uses for processing Subdivisions. Msi Lytle indicated
the list allows the applicant to understand what constitutes a complete application.
Ms. Lytle indicated staff reommends that the Commission schedule a study session
at which time staff and the camnission can jointly develop a program and
schedule for preparing checklists for each type of planning application, noting
priority should be given to zoning and Site Development applications.
Commissioners suggested that staff prepare a checklist format for procedures
that staff finds nmst time consuming. Commissioners did indicate they thought
there were checklists at Town Hall. Commissioners reaamended staff prepare
a checklist and bring back to Commission for input only.
planning Commission Minutes - May 9, 1984
Page Three
F. NFN BUSINESS:
t 2. Review of the Los Altos Fire District program of brush and vegetation
` clearance for Fire Safety.
Ms. Lytle referred to her staff report of May 4, 1984, asking canmission
for direction to assist in coordinating with the Los Altos Fire District
in developing a program which would adequately respond to fire safety issues
as well as showing sensitivity to other Town conerns, such as, soil erosion
and aesthetics. Ms. Lytle recommended a letter should be drafted to the Fire
District expressing any concerns over the current discing program.
Commissioner Lachenbruch commented that we want to amply with Fire Safety
regulations, but I do think the standard procedure is ankh worse than most
realize, referring to a geology book giving the commission water runoff
figures for grasslands vs. bare land. Mr. Lachenbruch indicated he also
spoke with Mr. William Cotton, Town Geologist regarding this matter, Mr.
Cotton indicated he agrees with thisconcern.
Ms. Lytle noted she is looking for some direction for writing letter to
Fire District, and asked that Commissioner Lachenbruch supply copies of
what he is referring to.
Commissioners indicated they would like to learn more from experts relating
to this subject, noting the Fire Chief, Soil Conservation Service, and
Caltrans.
MOTION SFCONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Lachenbruch, seconded by Carico
and passed unanimously that the Planning Commission recammnd to the City
Council that we study the matter of discing vs. mowing and other alter-
natives and that the 'Town give further attention to alternative forms of
weed abatement.
M(ri'ION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by lachenbruch, seconded by Struthers
and passed unanimously to suggest the Town under take a simple study by
consulting with experts on the effectivness of various week abatement tech-
niques for fire auntrol and on their adverse effects on slope stability and
soil loss and that the Town develop a position on preferred weed abatement
practices consistant with objectives set forth in the General Plan.
Mr. Gieseker, 25703 Lanita Linda, stressed the inportance of weed abatement,
and asked that the Town look into clearing the sides of the roads, etc.
3. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Struthers, seamded by Stewart
and passed unanimously that the Consent Calendar be amended to June 13,
1984 for setting of public hearings.
(Lack of quorum for the meeting of May 23, 1984)
3. "Land Use and Housing on the San Francisco Peninsula" commissioners were
all supplied with a copy of the subject report; continued to next meeting
for discussion.
4. 1984-85 Budget - Commissioners asked Ms. Lytle to look into possible budget
46, items for the Planning Department.
Planning Camiission Minutes - May 9, 1984
Page Four
F. NEW BUSINESS:
5. Commissioner Iachenbruch indicated he attended the last Roads and
Drainage Committee meeting; they have asked for a listing of all
doctors and Registered Nurses in the camvnity (giving address and
telephone nunbers). The Roads and Drainage Committee has asked the
Caumissiom to ask Staff to obtain a registry.
G. AWOURZEM:
There being no further new or old business, the meeting was adjourned at
10:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Leslie Mullins
Fhgineering/Planning Secretary
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