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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/24/1991APPROVED PLANNING COMMISSION ka/ MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 FREMONT ROAD LOS ALTOS HILLS, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, 1991 cc: Cassettes #7-91(1), 7-91(2) 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chairman Jones and Commissioners Carico, Comiso, Noel Absent: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz Staff: Bill Ekern, Director of Public Works; Margaret Netto, Planning Consultant, Laura Johnson, Planning Secretary 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR There were no presentations from the floor. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1 LANDS OF CHOO, 12581 Miraloma Way: A request for a Site Development permit for a New Residence, Cabana, Tennis Court, and Swimming Pool. Bill Ekern introduced this item, noting Staff's recommendation for denial of the proposed development. He outlined concerns with height and impact of views from offsite. He noted grading for the driveway was acceptable, and the pool and tennis court work well; of concern, however, is the quantity of proposed fill at the southern end of the structure. He noted photomontage or visual presentation from offsite would show the impact of proposed development The Public Hearing was opened. Pong Ng, project architect, presented photographs of views onto the site from neighboring properties, explaining the mitigating existing vegetation. He noted the current design of the house, as a result of direction from the Planning Commission Site Development Committee, conforms more to existing grade, and presented a cross sectional view from the driveway entry. He explained they were trying to retain the existing cut of concrete pad, but dig the garage into the hill and have the new residence sit atop the garage. The main floor levels sits on natural grade. He PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 2 presented line of site drawings to illustrate visual impact is not much greater than for a single story house, and could be mitigated by plantings. Mr. Ng noted grading for the garage will produce dirt, and placing it on the side of the hill is a way to use existing dirt onsite as opposed to exporting, not to flatten or move a hill. In response to a question from Commissioner Noel, Mr. Ng noted that moving the house lower on the site will generate more dirt. He noted their basic concept of having the house sit at natural grade and step down the hillside. Commissioner Noel questioned how close the proposed fill would be to the Lands of Baxter. Mr. Ng responded that it appeared to be approximately 15 feet, noting that if there is a more desirable location not impacting the neighbors as much they would be happy to put the dirt there. Paul Weber, 12585 Miraloma Way, noted past problems with dirt from the subject property coming down onto his property, and expressed concern with the addition of any fill. ` Bill Owen, 24601 Voorhees Drive, noted his wish to keep screening vegetation v between properties and concern with height, noting he was in support of Staff recommendations to keep the house lower in the ground, maybe keeping to a single story. The Public Hearing was closed. Commissioner Carico noted she would like to see the applicant mitigate the height, as recommended by Staff, and suggested dirt from grading be removed from the site to avoid drainage problems. In response to a question from Chairman Jones, Bill Ekern noted there was no specific polity of dirt cut, but generally any cut has been used to set the house into the site and any remaining cut has been exported. Chairman Jones noted that if the applicant wished to retain the dirt on site it could be conditioned to be professionally engineered. Mr. Ekern noted the the importance of consideration of whether fill is a desirable function. Commissioner Noel expressed concern with the proposed fill and noted he would like to see the house further down the hill. Commissioner Comiso noted she felt the visual impact of the house could be mitigated, but noted concern with the proposed fill. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 3 MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED: Motion by Carico, seconded by Noel and failed to deny the Site Development permit without prejudice to allow for redesign. AYES: Commissioners Carico, Noel NOES: Chairman Jones, Commissioner Comiso ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz MOT1ON SECONDED AND FAILED: Motion by Noel, seconded by Carico and failed to send the application to the City Council, noting the 2:2 vote to deny the Site Development permit. AYES: Commissioners Carico, Noel NOES: Chairman Jones, Commissioner Comiso ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz Chairman Jones asked if the applicant would agree to continue the application to the next Planning Commission meeting with the goal of getting further information on the existing residence and the relationship of this residence to the Owen residence in terms of height. Pong Ng agreed to continue the application. He noted that if a better place to use the �Wv fill could be found, he would like to see if it can be kept on site. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Comiso, seconded by Jones and passed to continue this item to the Planning Commission meeting of May 8th, 1991 for further review, with the applicant supplying depiction of proposed mitigation and onsite representation of heights. AYES: Chairman Jones and Commissioners Carico, Comiso NOES: Commissioner Noel ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz 3.2 LANDS OF COLO, 10401 Magdalena Avenue: A request for a Site Development permit for a New Residence and Swimming Pool Margaret Netto introduced this item, noting the proposed residence was in approximately the same location and had the same layout as a new residence approved by the Planning Commission in August, 1990. The Public Hearing was opened. Bob Owen, 445 S. San Antonio Road, noted the proposed new residence had the same basic layout as the house approved by the Planning Commission last year, but PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 4 was pushed closer to the street. He noted the current design excluded the gables of the previously approved plan, eliminating mass. Commissioner Noel noted the proposed cut and fill. Mr. Owen noted the dirt moved will be used for the driveway. Denise Cote, 25557 Fernhill Drive, expressed concern with the visual impact of the proposed new residence, noting the proposed house comes further out onto the edge of the hill, and will be over the tree line as well as necessitating the removal of a number of trees. Jeanne Chandler, 10571 Magdalena Avenue, requested that the house be moved forward on the site, noting concern that she will have a full view of the house as proposed, whereas with the past residence her view was of the existing trees. She presented a list of neighbors who would be impacted by the development. Jim Colo, 10520 Magdalena Avenue, applicant, noted he spoke with the neighbors within 300 feet of the property who found the proposed development acceptable, submitting a list of signatures. He clarified that the removal of three existing trees on site, one a Cypress a tree surgeon advised him could not be saved, is what will allow the house to be moved forward on the site. The Public Hearing was closed. Commissioner Carico asked whether there was any way to reposition the house to mitigate the impact on the Chandlers. Bob Owen responded that moving the house closer to Magdalena Avenue would necessitate the removal of at least four more trees. Commissioner Jones noted that if this proposal was denied, the property owner could proceed with the plans already approved for the site which appeared to be more obtrusive than the current proposal. Commissioner Comiso noted the concerns expressed by neighbors with the impact of the proposed residence, suggesting mitigation through plantings. Bob Owen noted trees would mitigate the development, but if they are planted they should be topped when they get to a certain height to preserve the view from the site. Jim Colo clarified that he had no plans to remove any more trees. He noted preservation of views from the property could be done through pruning rather than removal of trees. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Noel, seconded by Jones and `, passed by consensus to reopen the public hearing. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 5 Denise Cote noted trees could not cover a two-story house. She noted dismay that a house as large as the currently proposed house had already been approved on the site. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Noel, seconded by Jones and passed by consensus to close the public hearing. The Commission discussed requirements for mitigation. Commissioner Jones suggested making note of the importance of mitigation on the side of the property toward the Chandler property and inclusion of the Chandlers and Cotes in the notification for landscape planting review. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Comiso, seconded by Carico and passed to approve the Site Development permit for a new residence and swimming pool with Staff Recommended Conditions 1 - 8 AYES: Chairman Jones and Commissioners Carico, Comiso, Noel NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz 3.3 LANDS OF MOVASSATE, 12581 Mojan Lane: A request for a Site Development permit for a New Residence and Secondary Dwelling Unit Margaret Netto introduced this item, referring to the Staff Report, noting Staff's recommendation that the pad grade be lowered. In response to a question from Commissioner Noel, Margaret Netto clarified that the proposed new residence is very similar to the house on Mojan Lane the Planning Commission approved at their last meeting. In response to a question from Commissioner Comiso, Bill Ekern clarified that in Staff's consideration it is better to have four feet of cut to elevation 700 feet, rather than having four feet of fill at the the rear of the house to elevation 704 feet to make the pad flat. He noted it would require redesign of a portion of the house. In response to a question from Commissioner Noel, Margaret Netto clarified that she had spoken with the applicant and he would rather not step the house down. The Public Hearing was opened. Manou Movassate, applicant and project engineer, presented a cross section of the proposed new residence. No PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 6 In response to a question from Commissioner Carico, Bill Ekern noted his recommendation would lessen the vertical aspect off the back of the house. As proposed the house would be built out on fill at the back portion of the house, at elevation 705 feet where natural grade is elevation 700 feet. Mr. Movassate clarified that there is going to be more crawlspace, rather than fill. Bill Ekern noted that it will be set on a 4-1 /2 foot retaining wall. Mr. Movassate noted that inside the house, the number of steps from the entry would be increased from 4 to 12, and it would be necessary to create steps from the family room to the kitchen. Chairman Jones noted that the area where the house is sited doesn't slope much and it was not clear to him that the intent of the ordinance and the figures agree. If the slope in the area of the house was 17% he could understand the requirement. Bill Ekern noted it was necessary to consider whether the house that's being proposed is appropriate to the site. He noted that how the house works internally is the architects concern, but it is critical to consider whether it is desirable to build up the downhill portions of houses. `, The Public Hearing was closed. Commissioner Comiso noted agreement that it is necessary to work a house into a hill, particularly where the slope is 18% or greater, but felt there would be little difference in the impact of the development on or from offsite for this particular property with redesign. The Commission discussed Staff Recommended Condition #9. Bill Ekern noted there were many Eucalyptus trees existing onsite, and while it was a unique feature of the site, it can be addressed at landscaping planting. He suggested deletion of Condition #9. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Carico, seconded by Noel and passed to approve the Site Development permit for a new residence and second unit with Staff Recommended Conditions 1 - 8, 10, 11. AYES: Commissioners Carico, Comiso, Noel NOES: Chairman Jones ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 7 MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Comiso, seconded by Jones and passed to reconsider the vote for the Site Development permit for a new residence and second unit. AYES: Chairman Jones and Commissioners Comiso, Noel NOES: Commissioner Carico ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz The Commission further discussed Condition #11. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Noel, seconded by Comiso and passed to approve the Site Development permit for a new residence and second unit with Staff Recommended Conditions 1 - 8 and 10. AYES: Chairman Jones and Commissioners Comiso, Noel NOES: Commissioner Carico ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Pahl, Stutz The Planning Commission took a brief intermission. 3.4 LANDS OF LOONEY, 13332 Lenox Way: A request for a Conditional Development Permit, a Variance to the required 40 foot frontyard setback for a 280 square foot Addition, and a Site Development permit for an Addition and Decking. Margaret Netto introduced this item, noting the 280 square foot addition was replacing existing development. She noted Staff's recommendation for approval. Commissioner Comiso asked if the asphalt proposed to be removed was in trade for new development area. Ms. Netto responded that it was not. The Public Hearing was opened. Lisa Webster Puri, 12775 Viscaino Road, project architect, clarified that the existing residence was in the setback and noted their attempt to limit the impact as much as possible, extending out in the most logical manner. She noted concern with the requirement for landscaping. Chairman Jones clarified that a landscape plan was required, not landscaping. Dot Schreiner, 14301 Saddle Mountain Drive, Pathways Chair, presented the Master Pathway plan, explaining the Pathways Committee wished to connect the system in ` this area to trails in Los Altos. She noted the applicant indicated to her the property `,. behind their property was Redwood Grove, and suggested it might be possible to PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 8 have a gate on the easement the Town already has (13390 Lenox Way). She noted there was an existing chain link fence between the grove and Los Altos Hills. Commissioner Carico noted she recalled an agreement with Los Altos regarding joint trail use, suggesting the Pathways Committee check with the City of Los Altos Ms. Webster Puri noted the logical point of access was from the property which the Town already had a dedicated easement on. The portion of the Looney property under consideration is very steep and the lot is very narrow. The Commission discussed the connection between this project and the request for a path. It was suggested that utilization of the existing easement might be the best solution. Mrs. Schreiner noted she would do further research. Herb Meyers, 13303 Lenox Way, noted he had no problem with the proposed construction, only concern with the narrowness of the road specifically during construction as the road is easily blocked. Mike Looney, applicant, noted location for the gate under consideration was very `, steep and he had concerns with kid traffic in Redwood Grove. He felt the natural extension of the pathway system was off Fremont Road. The Public Hearing was closed. Commissioner Comiso noted she felt there was nothing to be gained in removal of the 200 square feet of asphalt as proposed. Margaret Netto noted retaining the paving would not increase the variance, only the CDP. Lisa Webster Puri clarified that the applicant would like to keep the area paved if possible. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Carico, seconded by Noel and passed to approve the Conditional Development permit and Variance to the required 40 foot front yard setback for an addition with Staff Recommended findings and conditions, allowing retention of the 200 square feet of asphalt. AYES: Chairman Jones and Commissioners Carico, Comiso, Noel NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioners Ettinger, Pahl, Stutz PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 9 4. NEW BUSINESS Chairman Jones noted efforts to allow Commissioner Stutz to participate in meetings from her home. He noted the Mayor had suggested that if applicants agreed, it may be acceptable for her to participate via telephone. Bill Ekern suggested that at the upcoming City Council meeting, the Planning Commission representative ask if there was some legal method by which Commissioner Stutz could participate in Planning Commission meetings. Commissioner Carico noted she hoped the fence subcommittee would look at the fence along O'Keefe Lane. Commissioner Comiso requested the next Town newsletter include notification of the next toxic waste drop off day (scheduled for July 13th, 1991). Commissioner Carico suggested the Town's consideration of allowing new water hookups relative to the drought. Bill Ekern clarified that water usage is in the jurisdiction of the California Water Service and Purissima Hills County Water District and not the Town. 5. OLD BUSINESS 5.1 Update on the activities of the General Plan Housing and Mineral Resource subcommittees Bill Ekern noted he would distribute the draft document from the Mineral Resource subcommittee. 6. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF APRIL 10TH 1991 Commissioner Carico removed the minutes to clarify under LANDS OF LIU, on page three: Commissioner Carico noted the Planning Commission and Staff were there to protect him as well as his. neighbors and were not entertaining any form of victimization. Commissioner Comiso wished to clarify under LANDS OF MOORING, on page 8: Commissioner Comiso suggested that we be careful that each house not be at the same setback so as not to create another Arastradero Road. Commissioner Comiso also wished to clarify, under New Business page 10: Commissioner Comiso noted the discussion at the last Planning Commission meeting regarding outside living space as a finding for a variance and suggested it be agendized for discussion. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED April 24th, 1991 Page 10 MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Noel, seconded by Comiso, and passed to approve the minutes of April 10th, 1991 as amended. 7. REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 17TH, 1991 Chairman Jones reported the City Council removed the LANDS OF LIU from the consent calendar for discussion and concurred with the Planning Commission approval of the project by a 3:1 vote. Council held a public hearing on the LANDS OF WONG, upholding the Planning Commission approval of a variance unanimously, and forwarding the project to the City Attorney to draft findings. Council continued the LANDS OF WHEATLEY request for connection to sanitary sewer. Bill Ekern noted Council approved the design and concept of the plan for the Arastradero Road entrance. 8. REPORT FROM THE SITE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL 23RD, 1991 April 23rd, 1991: Margaret Netto reported two items were reviewed and approved: Cheng - Landscaping.. Eleven Oak trees along Altamont Road and 3 crab apple trees were required. Choong - landscaping. Plantings along the northern property line were required. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Laura Johnson Planning Secretary