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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/23/1990PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 FREMONT ROAD LOS ALTOS HILLS, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, MAY, 23RD, 1990 cc: Cassette #10-90 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chairman Emling and Commissioners Carico, Comiso, Jones, Pahl, Stutz Absent: Commissioner Noel Staff: Bill Ekern, Director of Public Works; Ann Jamison, Planning Director 2. CONSENT CALENDAR 3. REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 16TH 1990 Chairman Emling reported that the City Manager made an excellent presentation on the recycling program and recycling rates. Ann Jamison further reported that the Council approved an amendment to the Nelson Tentative Map, allowing reconfiguration of the driveway but requiring an 80' setback, and allowing a 23' maximum building height. She noted discussions of trailer coaches and of environmental monitoring were continued to the Council meeting of June 6, 1990. Second reading of an ordinance amending expiration and discontinuance of conditional development permits, conditional use permits, and variances occurred. The Quarry Hills project discussion continued with discussion of the proposed lake. And Sun Country Cable presented a cable update. 4. REPORT FROM THE SITE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 15TH, 1990 May 15th, 1990: Bill Ekem reported that two items were reviewed and approved: Connelly - Swimming Pool. The pool was approved with the standard drainage condition; no landscaping was required as the pool is behind the house. There was concern regarding irrigation outside of the right-of-way along Magdalena. As this is a county road, an encroachment permit is not required. Davila - Tennis court, driveway, landscaping. Primary concern was the 54" Oak near the tennis court, The PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Approved May 23rd, 1990 Page 2 Oak was required to be fenced off during construction, standard drainage conditions were required. S. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Stephanie Munoz, 13460 Robleda expressed concerns that rebuilding and building - out issues were not being discussed prior to the June election. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS 6.1 LANDS OF MC DONALD, 13621 Burke Road, A request for a Conditional Development Permit, Variances to the required setbacks and a Site Development Permit to construct a new residence. Ann Jamison introduced this item, referring to the Staff Report and noting concerns with bulk and the appropriateness of the house to the area. At Commissioner Pahl's request, Ms. Jamison noted that if findings were made for the Conditional Development Permit, Staff recommended approval of variances to the south and ` north sideyard setbacks, and a Site Development Permit, as outlined in the Staff `„ Report. She clarified that the applicant was also requesting a 7' encroachment into the 40' frontyard setback for parking, which Staff was not recommending approval Of. Planning Commission Disclosures Commissioner Carico had nothing to disclose. Commissioner Comiso visited the site and talked to the McDonalds. Commissioner Jones had nothing further to disclose since the Site Development meeting. Chairman Emling visited the site. Commissioner Stutz visited the site and had not spoken with the McDonald's. Commissioner Pahl had nothing further to disclose since the Planning Commission meeting of 4/11/90. The Public Hearing was opened. Walter Chapman, 620 S. El Monte, designer for the project noted the Commission's familiarity with the application and addressed Staff's concerns. He referred to his letter of May 13, 1990 to Staff and the Commission and outlined the hardship presented by the extraordinary situation of the subject property relative to the application of setback requirements on a less than one acre lot. He noted the offset of the garage broadens the width of the house for better presentation from the road. He noted the variance to the frontyard setback was not anticipated but explained that PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23rd, 1990 Page 3 Approved because of the need for parking spaces moving the house back 7 would create additional paving and increase offsite impact from Fremont Road. Commissioner Carico questioned whether the applicant had looked at revised structural designs. Mr. Chapman explained how restrictions of the setbacks led to the design of the house, with no room for spreading out a single story dwelling. Stephanie Munoz noted that it is important to let potential buyers know what kind of development can be done before they purchase property. Virgil Gualtieri, 13613 Burke Road noted that he and all the neighbors are in accord with the residence proposed as it is not a monster showplace. John Lerch noted his property neighbors the McDonald's property and the setbacks seemed reasonable for a one acre lot but he questioned their application to half -acre or less lots. He noted he is in the same situation as the McDonalds and anxious to see how their application works out. He felt the McDonald's application was reasonable. Commissioner Pahl noted that with this proposal, the McDonald's would be doing work within 5' of Mr. Lerch's property. Mr. Lerch noted this was acceptable to him. Commissioner Stutz noted lovely homes have been built on lots one-half or one- quarter of an acre and seldom if ever have variances been granted to setbacks. The Public Hearing was closed. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Pahl, seconded by Comiso to recommend approval of the Conditional Development Permit based on Staff recommended findings and with Staff recommended conditions: AYES: Commissioners Comiso, Jones, Pahl NOES: Chairman Emling and Commissioners Carico, Stutz ABSENT: Commissioner Noel Bill McDonald, applicant, expressed his frustration with the planning process. He also noted he took exception to the Staff Report as he felt it intimated that the proposed residence is somehow different or ugly in relation to other houses in the area. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23rd, 1990 { Page 4 Approved Commissioner Carico noted that the problem is not the home, rather the substandard lot. She further noted the ordinances were set in place by the community and it was not a matter of the Commission trying to be punitive. The Commission requested that the application be forwarded without a recommendation to the City Council meeting of June 6, 1990. The Commission discussed setting of precedents relative to approval of single applications. Commissioner Jones requested Staff ask the City Attorney to write the information she presented at the Planning Commission meeting of May 9, 1990. 6.2 LANDS OF OWEN, 13975 La Paloma Road, A request for a Site Development Permit for a new residence where the area of grading exceeds 20,000 square feet. Ann Jamison introduced this item, noting that the drawings submitted by Mr. Owen's engineer were not what the applicant wanted to propose. He subsequently submitted an alternative plan which no longer calls for 790 cubic yards of imported fill, but 30 cubic yards. What Mr. Owen actually wanted to propose was in line with k, the Staff Report. She noted the revised plan is considerably better than the original submittal. Chairman Emling noted he was not questioning Mr. Owen's building skills but continuing the application to the next Planning Commission meeting would allow for consideration of the project and all concerns to be brought up. Bob Owen, applicant, apologized for the confusion over the application and commented on Ms. Jamison's helpfulness. He noted the grading plan shows excessive grading. He further noted that on the new plan, the facades were all the same as were the elevations and heights. The only difference is in the rear of the house, the pool pad has been dripped 3' to 4' so it's on grade in the back. He asked that the application be considered at this meeting. Chairman Emling noted that there have been problems in the past with applications coming in late and the Commission acting upon them, and it was not fair to applicants or residents. At Commissioner Pahl's request, Ms. Jamison noted that the project must be reviewed at the Planning Commission level as indicated by the Site Development ordinance for projects with grading area over 20,000 square feet. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23rd, 1990 4 Page 5 Approved MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Jones, seconded by Emling to continue the hearing of this application to the Planning Commission meeting of June 13, 1990. AYES: Chairman Emling and Commissioners Carico, Jones, Pahl, Stutz NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Noel ABSTAIN: Commissioner Comiso 6.3 Consideration of Code amendments related to the appeal of planning related decisions and requirements for the submittal of radius property owner listings. Ann Jamison introduced this item, referring to the Staff Report. She asked the Commission for any commentary or issues of concern for Council's consideration. Commissioner Carico noted the Staff Report was very straightforward. Commissioner Jones noted that if a commissioner applied, it would be a perk of the position to appeal a decision without a fee. The Public Hearing was opened. Stephanie Munoz noted that the fees attached to an appeal shouldn't be used to shut out those who can't afford the cost of the appeal. The Public Hearing was closed. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Pahl, seconded by Emling and passed by consensus to recommend to the City Council adoption of the negative environmental declaration for this project and the code amendments as described in the Staff Report. 7. NEW BUSINESS 7.1 Discussion of the scheduling of a special Site Development meeting to accomodate a backlog of applications. Ann Jamison noted that without an additional Planning Commission Site Development meeting some applications may be pushed back a month. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23rd, 1990 Page 6 Approved Commissioner Pahl suggested starting the meeting at 5:00 p.m. on June 13th and 27th, and to limit the number to eight applications rather than the usual four. The Commission discussed scheduling the meeting and agreed by consensus to adopt Commissioner Pahl's suggestion. 7.2 Discussion of the language and intent of Section 10-1.502 (b) 3 of the Zoning Code related to the counting of driveways into development area. Ann Jamison presented a series of examples of driveway configurations and explained how Staff was counting driveways into development area. The Commission agreed that this was consistent with their expectations. 8. ADIOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ` Laura Johnson Planning Secretary