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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/24/1991APPROVED PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 FREMONT ROAD LOS ALTOS HILLS, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH, 1991 cc: Cassettes #13-91 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chairman Jones and Commissioners Cheng, Comiso, Noel, Pahl Absent: Commissioners Ellinger, 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 POWELL, 25981 Vinedo Lane: A request for a Site Development permit for Grading Bill Ekern introduced this item noting the septic system had failed and required repair. If the cut and fill associated with the project is denied by the Town, the Santa Clara County Health Department will issue a permit for work respective of the slopes existing on the site. The Public Hearing was opened. Bill Powell, applicant noted a flatter area would be more stable for the drainfield as well as allowing area for lawn. He noted that if the proposed cut and fill was approved, a soils engineer would supervise the work. He felt the project was in character with the neighborhood, as nearly every lot has an area leveled for outdoor use. The Health Department said that with grass with a good root system, leveling works well. Mr. Powell also noted the area is not visible from neighboring properties. Commissioner Jones asked if the area proposed to be graded encompassed about the the same area as a tennis court. Mr. Powell responded that it would. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED July 24th, 1991 Page 2 Greg Bunton, architect, noted there would be about three feet of cut and three feet of fill, while neighboring properties have about eight feet of cut and fill. Marlyss Powell, applicant, noted they wished to use the graded area for outdoor living area. Art Berg, 25961 Vinedo Lane, noted the work would be an improvement compared to what is there now. The Public Hearing was closed. In response to a question from Commissioner Comiso, Bill Ekern noted the plans show a minimum of five feet of cut and fill. Commissioner Jones noted the drawings show a slope of 32% and if the property was developed now, the applicant would be asked to put the area into a conservation easement. In response to a question from Chairman Noel, Bill Ekern clarified that the Health Department was aware of the project proposed but were concerned with the Town's position before approving plans to replace the septic drainfield. Commissioner Pahl noted that grading to create outdoor area has been disapproved as a concept. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Pahl, seconded by Noel and passed to deny without prejudice the Site Development permit for grading. AYES: Chairman Noel and Commissioners Cheng, Comiso, Jones, Noel, Pahl NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Stutz 3.2 LANDS OF SAMUELS, 25751 Elena Road: A request for a Site Development permit for a Major Addition Margaret Netto introduced this item noting the proposed addition does not increase the nonconformity of the existing development. She noted Staff recommended one additional condition of approval, requiring that the applicant dedicate a 30 foot road right-of-way. The Public Hearing was opened. No one wishing to speak, the Public Hearing was closed. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED July 24th, 1991 Page 3 Bill Ekern noted the easement was probably 20 feet currently and clarified that dedication of the additional 10 feet of right-of-way will reduce the net acreage of the property by the additional 10 foot strip. Commissioner Jones noted the Lot Unit Factor was 1.96 without the dedication, so the property was not subdividable. Stuart Samuels noted the dedication was acceptable MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Pahl, seconded by Comiso and passed to approve the Site Development permit for a major addition with Staff Recommended Conditions 1 - 7 and the following Condition #8: 8. Prior to issuance of any building permits for this site, the owner shall dedicate a 30 foot road right-of-way to the Town for Elena Road. The owner shall prepare the exhibit showing the right-of-way to be dedicated and a legal description of this property. The Town shall provide the documents necessary to complete the dedication procedure. A current title report is necessary to complete the applicant's portion of this condition. AYES: Chairman Noel and Commissioners Cheng, Comiso, Jones, Noel, Pahl NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Stutz 3.3 LANDS OF CHIU, 28530 Matadero Creek Lane: A request fora Site Development permit for a New Residence and Swimming Pool Margaret Netto introduced this item noting the proposed development conforms to the the Subdivision Conditions of Approval as well as the Town's Zoning and Site Development Ordinances. The architect designed the residence to be low profile, cascading to the North. The Public Hearing was opened. Carol Gottlieb, Pathways Committee, requested restoration of the path along Matadero Creek Lane. She also noted the native path in the conservation easement should remain clear of debris and equipment. Lynn Miller, project architect, noted they tried to design a house that looked like it fit on the land. She also noted they had received verbal approval from two of the three members of the Matadero Creek Architectural Review Committee. In ` response to a question from Chairman Noel, Ms. Miller noted they had no objections to the Staff recommended conditions of approval. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED July 24th, 1991 Page 4 Commissioner Pahl noted he had never seen a property so constrained and never seen a house that fit so well on the property, giving his compliments to the architect. Bruce Chan, project landscape architect, noted their intention to use native plantings, and their interest in grouping trees naturally and buffering the neighboring properties with landscaping. The Public Hearing was closed. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Comiso, seconded by Jones and passed to approve the Site Development permit for a new residence and swimming pool with Staff Recommended Conditions 1 - 9 and with the following condition #10: 10. Pathway on Matadero Creek Lane shall be repaired to Type II -B standards and native path in conservation easement shall remain clear of debris and equipment. AYES: Chairman Noel and Commissioners Cheng, Comiso, Jones, Noel, Pahl NOES: None 0 ABSENT: Commissioners Ettinger, Stutz 3.4 LANDS OF FINN, 12005 Finn Lane: A request for a Site Development permit for a New Residence and Swimming Pool Margaret Netto introduced this item noting the grading proposed is necessary to lower the house to conform to the Subdivision conditions of approval. The Public Hearing was opened Steve Finn, applicant, noted the project architect, Dick Foust, was the third architect retained to design the residence for this site as others had felt it was an impossible lot. He noted they had worked with Councilmember Siegel and they had met with the Goeses, who wrote a note supporting the proposed development Commissioner Pahl noted that houses on the hill above would be looking down at a flat roof. He questioned whether a (mansurred) roof would look better with the house pushed as low as possible on the site, as required by the subdivision conditions. He noted it would require a map amendment. Bill Ekern noted the applicant would have to make a formal request to change the final map and would have to show that conditions have changed. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED July 24th, 1991 Page 5 Commissioner Comiso noted the importance of a deed restriction but questioned whether in future development, consideration could be given to allowing for architectural solutions. Commissioner Comiso noted Mr. Finn had said he spoke to Councilmember Siegel. She wished to clarify that Mr. Siegel is a neighbor of Mr. Finn and talked to him as a neighbor, not as a representative of the Town. He is not voting on the application and has never taken action on the Finn subdivision as a councilmember. Mr. Finn noted his interest in constructing a widows walk Mr. Ekern noted that chimneys and antennas were the only things exempted from the height limitation. Commissioner Jones asked if the applicant objected to an additional condition prohibiting mechanical equipment on the roof of the residence. Mr. Finn noted he had no objections to the staff recommended conditions of approval or the disallowance of mechanical equipment on the roof. The Public Hearing was closed. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Comiso, seconded by Jones and passed to approve the Site Development permit for a new residence and swimming pool with Staff Recommended Conditions 1 - 8 and the following condition #9: 9. No mechanical equipment shall be placed on the roof of the residence. AYES: Chairman Noel and Commissioners Cheng, Comiso, Jones, Noel, Pahl NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioners Ellinger, Stutz 3.5 LANDS OF KOLYN ENTERPRISES, 13861 Cicerone Lane: A request for a Site Development permit for a New Residence and Swimming Pool This item was continued at the request of the applicant. 4. NEW BUSINESS Bill Ekern noted a Councilmember wished to know whether there was Planning Commission interest in the creation of a subcommittee to look into increasing setback size in line with the size of the house developed. Commissioner Comiso felt the issue was best reviewed on a case by case basis. Lai PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED July 24th, 1991 Page 6 Commissioner Pahl noted the Council doesn't review projects the Commission hasn't seen and wished to know why there was a letter from Peter Duxbury, project architect, for the Lands of Fong regarding changes in development approved by the Planning Commission. He requested clarification from Staff regarding Council's policy. Bill Ekern noted that at their meeting of July 17th, 1991 the City Council had not received a specific request for changes in proposed development. Council clarified that the location of a residence could not be changed at the Staff level of review. Mr. Ekern noted that after a lengthy discussion, the Council took no action on the Fong application. He noted Commissioner Pahl was correct, the Council does have a policy, and it is necessary to determine whether the change proposed is substantial. Commissioner Pahl noted that for the Lands of Fong, moving the house five feet was not a substantial change. He felt, however, that with a 30 percent slope a change of five feet would be substantial and he did not want considerations for the Fong's project to impact future projects. Commissioner Comiso also felt shifting the house five feet was not substantial for the proposed Fong residence. However, ordinarily she would like to see this type of change come before the Commission for review Commissioner Jones felt moving the house five feet was not a substantial change and expressed surprise that the neighbors thought it would make a difference. Chairman Noel also felt it was not a substantial change. Commissioner Cheng felt it was not necessary for the application to come before the Commission again for a five foot change. Commissioner Jones requested Staff check speed limit signage on Fremont Road in the school zone of Bullis-Purissima Elementary school. 5. OLD BUSINESS In response to a question from Commissioner Pahl, Bill Ekern noted there would be a report from Sun Country Cable at the next meeting. 6. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF TULY 10TH, 1991 Commissioner Comiso wished to clarify under Lands of Fong on page 8, line 2 in the paragraph preceding the closure of the Public Hearing, "...rather he liked the L site." PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APPROVED July 24th, 1991 Page 7 MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Comiso, seconded by Jones and passed by consensus to approve the minutes of July 10th, 1991 as amended. 7. REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 17TH. 1991 Commissioner Jones reported Lands of Fong was continued. Regarding Lands of Mooring, the applicant agreed to move the second unit to conform to the 30 foot setback with fees for the existing permit applied to the fees for the conforming second unit and with the primary residence application proceeding directly to the City Council for review. Regarding Lands of Harrington request for lot line adjustment, the applicant was required to adjust the lot line to allow a Lot Unit Factor of 1.0. Regarding Lands of Chou, the residence, tennis court, and pool were approved. The applicant lowered the residence four to six feet to address Council's concerns. 8. REPORT FROM THE SITE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF JULY 23RD, 1991 July 23rd, 1991: Bill Ekern reported one item was reviewed: DEL Investments - Tennis Court and Swimming Pool. Swimming pool was approved; however, the tennis court was denied as it is proposed in a conservation easement. 9. ADiOURNMENT Commissioner Comiso noted she would be the Planning Commission Representative to the City Council meeting of September 4th, 1991. Les Jones, City Manager, noted the legal meeting with the City Council and Planning Commission scheduled for July 17th had been preempted and was rescheduled for September 4th, 1991. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Pahl, seconded by Comiso and passed by consensus to adjourn to a site visit for the Lands of Ben Artzi, 27800 Via Feliz on September 11th, 1991 at 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Laura Johnson Planning Secretary