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Home My WebLink About10/11/1995Minutes of a Special Meeting Approved 10/25/95 Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, October 11,1995, 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road cc: Cassettes #22-95 ( 2 ) 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIAtNCE The Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Chairman McMahon, Commissioners Gottlieb, Finn, Schreiner, Doran (arrived 5:45) & Stutz Absent: Commissioner Cheng Staff: Curtis Williams, Planning Director; Jeff Peterson, City Manager; Sandy Sloan, City Attorney; Lani Lonberger, Planning Secretary 3.1 LANDS OF VIDOVICH, QUARRY HILLS SUBDIVISION TENTATIVE MAP, 11920 Stonebrook Drive (254 -93 -TM and 257- 93-EIR); A request for certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report, amendments to the Town's General Plan, Pre - Zoning to the R -A (Residential -Agricultural) District, and approval of a Tentative Map for 23 lots on 78 acres (continued from September 7 and 26,1995). Chairman McMahon opened the discussion suggesting reviewing the 11 items as listed in the staff report plus additional topics which included the upper area (lots 18, 19, 20, 21 at the 520 elevation) becoming common open space rather than a part of the lots; recommending the area be donated to Mid Peninsula Open Space District or keeping it in the homeowners association. Mr. Peterson proposed a line on the map rather than using the 520 elevation which was in agreement with the Commissioners. Discussion ensued regarding requiring Stonebrook to be a through road as L noted in the General Plan or an emergency access road only. Commissioner Schreiner asked staff with either the through road or the emergency access road Planning Commission Minutes Approved 10/25/95 October 11, 1995 Page 2 would the corrective grading and the retaining wall be required? Mr. Peterson 'r/ noted that the corrective grading was recommended by the applicant's geotechnical engineer. The Town geologist agreed with that recommendation to improve the stability of the upper quarry wall. The corrective grading would result in the removal of the berm and the oak trees along the rim. It was noted that it was possible to widen the road a little without the corrective grading. Chairman McMahon noted that the corrective grading issue was a separate issue from deciding whether or not to make Stonebrook a through road. She commented that the Commission has the option of accepting or not accepting the geologists recommendation regarding the corrective grading. The consensus vote was 4 against the corrective grading, I for, and 1 undecided. Discussion ensued regarding requiring Stonebrook to be a through road or an emergency access road only. The consensus vote was 4/2 for Stonebrook to be a through road, engineered for regular traffic, widening the road to a minimum of 20 feet. Regulating and/or limiting the size of trucks to a certain weight was agreed upon. The exact weight restriction will be handled by the Public Works Department. Some large limbs of trees would need to be removed for vehicular safety. The next issue discussed was the lift station and force main up Stonebrook Drive, private or public, and who could connect to it. Mr. Peterson suggested a condition stating that the lift station cost be borne by the homeowners association until such time that there are future connections and then at that time it would be taken over by the Town. There are some problems connected to this proposal, one being if the association is maintaining the lift station and the Town takes it over in 5-10 years in poor condition, the Town has an immediate capital cost to correct it. It was suggested to require the builder to over build the lift station with a sanitary sewer reimbursement agreement as people hook up so the builder could be reimbursed for the oversizing. The consensus vote was 4/2 in favor of the lift station and force main up Stonebrook Drive to be sized to a reasonable size to accommodate future use. Mr. Peterson commented that the lift station can be designed to incorporate backup storage and power in the event of failure. Plans can be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer and the Planning Director, as well as by the City of Los Altos (condition #32). A reimbursement agreement can be prepared to reimburse the developer for future connections from outside the subdivision, subject to a specified time limitation. Commissioner Stutz suggested deleting "if necessary" from Item 4 on page 2 of the staff report. The Commissioners agreed. 4 Planning Commission Minutes Approved 10/25/95 October 11, 1995 Page 3 4 Commissioner Gottlieb suggested a conservation easement over the Hale Creek Bypass Channel and outlet channel from lot 5 to the Juan Prado Mesa Preserve, to encompass an area 25 feet south of the channel banks to the northern property lines of Lots 5-11. She would like to make sure the creek is not ever lined with anything other than natural materials. Commissioner Gottlieb would also like lot 2 eliminated as pie shaped lots are very difficult to design on due to setbacks, etc. Commissioner Stutz agreed, suggesting lots 1, 2 and 3 become two lots. There was a consensus not to eliminate lot 2. Commissioner Gottlieb asked if the entrance to the path along the lake needed to be between lots 13 and 14 noting they had discussed previously an emergency access easement to the lake. She would like to see it opposite Street "A" so when you drive into the subdivision, you would have a view of the lake. Mr. Peterson, looking at the Tentative Map, noted that there was between a 30- 35 foot drop from Street "B" to the lake front from the common lot line between lots 15 and 16. Since the applicant has already built a ramp in front of lot 12, unfortunately, they are forced to use that area. The grade consideration makes it difficult if not impossible to do it along lot 15 and 16 common lot line. Commissioner Gottlieb would still like a view easement. Mr. Williams commented that the way to accomplish this would be to have 50 foot side yard setbacks on each of those lots to create a 100 foot view corridor to the lake. A consensus vote was 6/0 in favor of a view corridor. Commissioner Schreiner felt from an environmental standpoint, the subdivision should have a reduced number of lots, suggesting eliminating lots 17 and 19 (in addition to lots 20 and 21) for a better design as far as density was concerned and to provide an open space area for possible recreation (tennis court). She would like to see more room for the lots in the back. The consensus vote was 4/2 against the elimination of lots 17 and 19. There was a consensus that Street "B" shall meander within the road right-of-way. The Planning Director suggested an additional condition (revised #6) stating that the revised Tentative Map provide revised calculating of gross and net lot area, lot unit factor, maximum floor area, and maximum development area for each residential lot in the subdivision. The calculations should be based on anticipated final grades for the lots, as approved by the City Engineer. Further discussion ensued regarding conditions #43 and #45. It was agreed to expand the wording on 43.h) to read "restrictions on uses allowed within Parcel "B" (common open space lot), Parcel "A" (lake, including its use as a water source for fire protection , and for the conservation easement over the Hale Creek bypass channel, .....; expanding of 431) to include "the common area open Planning Commission Minutes Approved 10/25/95 October 11, 1995 Page 4 space lots (Parcel "B"), conservation easements, landscaping, .....; and adding 43. m) "the required 50 foot side yard setbacks along the eastern boundary of lot 16 and the western boundary of lot 15." Condition #45 wording was expanded to include "pursuant to the recommendations of the Lake Management Plan as amended and supplemented by the EIR mitigation measures" and "shall be incorporated into the CC&R's for the subdivision." Condition #58, second sentence, was expanded to include "plantings along the quarry wall, and restoration of other disturbed areas." Other suggested recommendations included fencing below the quarry wall to be of a natural material; #14, adding, "with input from the Town historian"; add to #10, expanding wording that Parcel "A" is not to be used as a residential building site and the conservation easement over Hale Creek is limited to planting of native vegetation, and for pathways and necessary utilities; and #58 to include wording regarding plantings. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Commissioner Doran and seconded by Commissioner Finn to forward to the City Council, (1.) the Supplemental EIR, (a) and (b) as noted in the staff report as amended, and recommend to the City Council 2. (a) through (f) as noted in the staff report with noted revisions and amendments. AYES: Chairman McMahon, Commissioners Stutz, Finn, Doran & Gottlieb NOES: Commissioner Schreiner ABSENT: Commissioner Cheng This item will be noticed for a public hearing by the City Council for October 30, 1995 t • L" The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 7:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, LaniLonberger Planning Secretary *J