HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/12/1989PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
Wednesday July 12, 1989
Reel
Chairman Emling called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Town
Hall Council Chambers.
A. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Present: Carico, Comiso, Jones, Stutz, Noel, Pahl, Chairman Em -
ling
Absent: None
Staff: Bill Ekern, Director of Public Works/Acting Planner,
Jeff Peterson, City Engineer
(( B. CONSENT CALENDAR:
4br The minutes from the regular meeting of June 28, 1989 were removed
by Commissioner Noel to be re -written to more accurately reflect
the results of that meeting.
MOTION MOVED AND SECONDED AND PASSED (Jones/Noel) to not approve
the minutes, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Comiso, Jones, Stutz, Noel, Pahl, Chairman Emling.
NOES:
ABSTAIN: Carico
C. REPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 5 1989:
1. Commissioner Comiso reported that the City Council had ap-
pointed Mr. Steven Pahl to the Planning Commission. She further
noted
2. Chairman Emling stated that he had addressed the City Council
to inform them that the newly instituted policy of annotated
minutes and a brief description of the Planning Commission meet-
ings was not intended to be a substitute for dialogue between the
Council and the Commissioner presenting the REPORT FROM THE PLAN-
NING COMMISSION.
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Planning Commission Minutes
Regular Meeting of July 12, 1989
D. REPORT FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF JULY 11, 1989
Commissioner Noel provided a report describing the outcome of this
meeting.
E. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR:
Commissioner Carico expressed concern that the Town had not com-
mented on the Environmental Impact Report prepared by the County
for the adoption of its Hazardous Materials Ordinance. She raised
the issue that hazardous materials are presently allowed to be
transported on Interstate 280.
F. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. LANDS OF WEISS, 13208 E. Sunset Drive, FILE #CDP2-89, #VAR -
89, Request for Conditional Development Permit, Variance, and
Site Development Permit to construct an Addition to a
residence to exceed the Maximum Development Area.
Bill Ekern presented the Staff reports regarding the requested
Conditional Development Permit, Variance, and Site Development
Permit. He recommended that the Planning Commission determine the
appropriate level of development for this property and then grant
a Conditional Development for the property based on that level.
The property is currently non -conforming in terms of development
area, thus any additional development requires a variance. He
then recommended approval of the requested variance to exceed the
Maximum Development Area by 2,494 square feet for the construction
of an addition, based on the findings attached to the Staff
Report. He further recommended approval of the Site Development
Permit, subject to the conditions attached to the Staff Report.
Chairman Emling then opened the Public Hearing.
There was no representative of the Weiss' in the audience. No
presentations or comments were made.
Chairman Emling closed the Public Hearing.
After much discussion it was determined that the Planning Commis-
sion did not want to make a decision that might affect the Weiss's
without their knowledge.
MOTION MOVED AND SECONDED AND PASSED (Emling/Noel) to Continue
Lands of Weiss to the Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission
of July 26, 1989, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Carico, Comiso, Jones, Stutz, Noel, Pahl, Chairman Emling.
NOES:
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Planning Commission Minutes
Regular Meeting of July 12, 1989
LANDS OF BELLUCCI, 26220 Moody Road, FILE #VAR19-89, #CUP 5-
89, Request for Encroachment into Sideyard Setback by 15' for
a Carriage House to be used as a Secondary Dwelling.
This item was continued indefinitely at the request of the ap-
plicant.
LANDS OF QUATTRONE, Lot #5 Middle Fork Lane, Request for a
Site Development Permit for the Construction of a New
Residence and Swimming Pool.
This item was continued to the Regular Meeting of the Planning
Commission, July 26, 1989, at the request of the applicant.
LANDS OF HAO, Lot #4 Middle Fork Lane, Request for a Site De-
velopment Permit for the Construction of a New Residence and
Swimming Pool.
Bill Ekern presented the Staff report recommending DENIAL of the
requested site development, stating that in Staff's opinion the
proposed structure did not conform to the intent of the Site De-
velopment Ordinance. Staff believes that that site selected for
construction is a local ridge and that the house should be single -
storey in order to minimize its impact on the land and the neigh-
bors.
Commissioner Comiso expressed concern that there is no specific
definition in the ordinance of what constitutes a ridge. She
questioned whether the ordinance specifically required that houses
be single -storey on ridges.
Chairman Emling then opened the Public Hearing.
Mr. Mark Sandoval, 175 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, architect
for Mr. Hao, described the project and the intent of the design.
He discussed the constraints on the lot, specifically the Geologic
Hazard setback. He noted that the driveway and grading had been
revised to conform to the setback ordinances. He stated he was
available to answer questions from the Commission.
The Commissioners asked if other designs had been explored that
were single -storey or stepped down the hill. There was also con-
cern expressed by Commissioner Noel over the amount of grading
proposed.
Mr. Paul Reneau, 13149 Byrd Lane, addressed the Commission as a
neighbor of the project. He provided photographs for the Commis -
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Planning Commission Minutes
Regular Meeting of July 12, 1989
`. sioners to review showing that up to four (4') feet of fill had
been added to this lot during the construction of the subdivision
improvements. He was concerned that the applicant was not aware
as to the extent of the fill. He questioned how the height of the
building was to be measured. He stated that the hillside was now
a large enough flat area to land a plane.
Staff noted that when measuring the height of the proposed
residence from the plans the assumption had been made that all of
the fill was to be removed. Mr. Sandoval noted that it was the
applicant's intent to remove the fill, as well.
Mr. Andy Ribner, 13140 Byrd Lane, spoke as a neighbor to the pro-
ject. He was concerned over many of the same items as Mr. Reneau.
He expressed concern over the need to fence the proposed swimming
pool for safety reasons, as he has a young child.
Mr. Hao acknowledged that he intended to fence the swimming pool,
if it was approved.
Chairman Emling closed the Public Hearing.
There was general discussion among the Commissioners as to what
constitutes a ridge. Commissioner Comiso was concerned that if
the project was limited to a single -storey that Mr. Hao would not
L be able to maximize the development or floor area potential of the
#r' lot. Staff acknowledged that the lot was constrained because of
the Geologic hazard setback and the existing slope.
MOTION MOVED AND SECONDED AND PASSED (Carico/Stutz) to deny the
requested site development permit for the construction of a new
residence and swimming pool, due to the siting of a two-storey
structure on a ridge, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Carico, Stutz, Noel, Chairman Emling.
NOES: Comiso, Jones, Pahl,
ABSTAIN:
Mr. Hao was informed by Chairman Emling that he could appeal the
Commission's decision to the City Council within 10 days.
5. LANDS OF LOCONTE, 28140 STORY HILL LANE, FILE #TM1-89, Request
for Two -Lot Subdivision.
Bill Ekern presented the Staff report recommending that the Plan-
ning Commission recommend to the City Council that it certify the
proposed mitigated Negative Declaration and approved the proposed
Tentative Map subject to the conditions proposed by Staff. He
discussed a brief history of the site, noting that most of pro-
posed Lot #2 is presently covered with a Conservation Easement
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