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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/25/19954w Minutes of a Regular Meeting Approved 11/8/95 Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, October 25,1995,7:00 p.m. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road cc: Cassettes #24-95 ( 1 ) 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Chairman McMahon, Commissioners Cheng, Gottlieb, Finn & Stutz Absent: Commissioners Doran & Schreiner Staff: Curtis Williams, Planning Director; Sheryl Proft, Assistant Engineer; Susan Manca, Planner; Lani Lonberger, Planning Secretary 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR -none 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1 LANDS OF NICHOLSON/LIN/BIEBER, 12950 Robleda Road/12800 W. Sunset Drive (139 -95 -LLA); A request for a lot line adjustment. Staff had nothing further to add to the report. Commissioner Gottlieb asked if there was a map showing how the other land would be subdivided as she was concerned with the Commission allowing a lot line change which, if the other property subdivides, would not comply with Town regulations. Mr. Williams responded that they do not have such a map nor do they have any authority to ask for a map. The only criteria for a lot line adjustment is whether the resulting lots meet the zoning code. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING John Nicholson, 75 Cristich Lane, Campbell, one of the owners of parcel B, was available for questions. It was noted that Bieber was the owner of parcel A. CLOSED PUBLIC TESTIMONY Commissioner Gottlieb felt they were creating a substandard lot, if subdivided. Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/8/95 October 25,1995 Page 2 MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Commission Cheng and seconded by Commissioner Finn to recommend to the City Council approval of a lot line adjustment, Lands of Nicholson/Lin/Bieber. AYES: Chairman McMahon, Commissioners Cheng & Finn ABSTAIN: Commissioners Gottlieb & Stutz ABSENT: Commissioners Doran & Schreiner This item will appear on the City Council consent calendar November 15, 1995. 3.2 LANDS OF BASIJI, 27880 Fawn Creek Court (164-95-ZP-SD); A request for a Site Development Permit for a major addition/remodel. Commissioner Gottlieb stepped down from hearing the application as she received the plans late and could not view the property as the entrance was alarmed. Commissioner Cheng asked if the applicant can have a pathway on the Santa Clara Valley Water District easement. Ms. Manca clarified the location of the pathway noting it was a gravel path which is allowed in conservation easements. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING Jennifer Basiji, 27880 Fawn Creek Court, applicant, was available for questions. Mrs. Fante, 27835 Lupine Road, questioned the height of the project even though she cannot see the story poles from her property. Mr. Williams clarified that the addition is one story and almost 1,000 square feet. Lewis McBride, 5 Arastradero Road, Portola Valley, applicant's designer, commented that they did not put up a story pole for height as the addition will not be higher then the current structure. CLOSED PUBLIC TESTIMONY When asked, staff was not sure why the parking was originally approved in the setback and road right-of-way. There was a driveway design approved previously by the Site Development Committee but beyond that approval no one knew why it was approved in the setback and road right-of-way. Commissioner Stutz felt it was originally approved because there was no side lot area to get into the property, commenting this was a very large lot with a very small building area. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Commissioner Finn and seconded by Commissioner Stutz to approve the Site Development Permit for the Lands of Basiji for an addition and remodel of an existing residence. IF1 Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/8/95 October 25,1995 ( Page 3 AYES: Chairman McMahon, Commissioners Cheng, Stutz & Finn ABSTAIN: Commissioner Gottlieb ABSENT: Commissioners Doran & Schreiner This item will appear on the City Council consent calendar November 15,1995. 3.3 LANDS OF CHAWLA, 24289 Hillview Road (58-95-ZP-SD-); A request for a Site Development Permit for a new residence, pool and cabana. Commissioner Gottlieb stepped down from the public hearing as she is a neighbor within 300 feet of the project. Staff had nothing further to add to the staff report. Commissioner Finn remarked that the applicant had addressed all the issues which were of concern in prior meetings. Commissioner Stutz questioned the location of the garage being shifted to the northwest from the previous application asking how much. Staff responded 11 feet. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING Daryl Harris, R & H Associates, 10091 Streeter Road, Auburn, applicant's architect, was ( available for questions. He had read the conditions of approval. aw Joanne Vadinsky, 24250 Hillview, neighbor across the street, had reviewed the plans and supported the project. Bob Worcester, 24221 Hillview Drive, east side neighbor, recommended approval CLOSED PUBLIC TESTIMONY Commissioner Finn noted that the garage was 49 feet from the side yard property line. He felt this gave the area enough room for landscaping and a buffer between properties. He was happy with the design. Commissioner Cheng was very impressed with the new design. Chairman McMahon agreed with both Commissioners. Commissioner Stutz questioned the height of the cabana noting it was 166" asking if it could be lowered by 2 feet. Mr. Harris commented that the height was matching the roof slope. They had lowered the height one foot from the previous meeting. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Commissioner Finn and seconded by Commissioner Cheng to approve a Site Development Permit for a new residence, pool and cabana for the Lands of Chawla. Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/8/95 October 25, 1995 Page 4 AYES: Chairman McMahon, Commissioners Cheng, Stutz & Finn ABSTAIN: Commissioner Gottlieb ABSENT: Commissioners Doran & Schreiner This item will appear on the City Council consent calendar November 15,1995. Brief break at 7:30 p.m. 3.4 LANDS OF TENG, 25420 Crescent Lane (154-95-ZP-SD-GD); A request for a Site Development Permit for a major addition/ cabana. Commissioner Stutz stepped down from the public hearing as she is a neighbor within 300 feet of the project. Several letters had been received from neighbors, the Conrads, the Cabrals and a petition signed by several neighbors with copies provided to the Commissioners registering opposition to the granting of a site development permit for an accessory building. Commissioner Finn asked if this structure were to have a kitchen what would be the restricted size. Staff responded it would then be defined as a secondary unit, restricted to 1,000 square feet maximum with an additional parking space required; five (5) total on site. Commissioner Gottlieb asked if access from Elena was restricted. Mrs. Proft noted the use of the Town guidelines, servicing a property from the less traveled road. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING Greg Benton, 5546 Harvard Drive, San Jose, architect, noted surprise at the resistance to the project. He felt they have tried to conform to all of the Town ordinances, to the needs of the owners of the property and to the neighborhood. He had met twice with the closest neighbors (the Cabrals), showing them plans of the project. After the first meeting, they reduced the size of the project and square footage and again met with the same neighbors. He did not feel there was a problem with views. He clarified that there was never any intention of using this as a secondary unit, questioning the definition of a guest house versus a cabana. What they were requesting was additional square footage for the house. He would classify the project as more of an addition. Herbert Cabral, 25325 Elena Road, commented on the impact of the project, both visually and by the noise which will be caused by the dogs which will be housed in the structure. He did not previously know the number of bedrooms (3) and bathrooms (3) being proposed. His concerns included excess run-off water, drainage, storm water leaking into the sewage tank, soil erosion, negative impact on the value of his property, and adequate landscaping. Judy Conrad, 25360 Becky Lane, neighbors directly across the street, was concerned with the size of the project and the noise related to the new structure and from the J Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/8/95 October 25, 1995 ( Page 5 Teng's two dogs. She also noted how easy it would be to provide a kitchen with a microwave oven which would turn the structure into a guest house. Dave Milgram, 25440 Crescent Lane, was also concerned with the noise, current and future, from the Teng's dogs. Sylvia Drexler, 25440 Becky Lane, was concerned with the project size noting that they were putting two houses on a one acre lot. She objected to the project. Mary Stutz, 25310 Elena Road, neighbor, discussed the definition or uses permitted of an accessory building as noted in the Municipal Code, Section 10-1.202. She did not feel this project met this definition. She also commented on Section 10-1.702 "accessory uses and structures permitted." Bedroom type living should be limited to 1,000 square feet. She felt this was not an accessory structure and if the applicant needed more room they should add on to the existing house. She also commented on drainage noting the siting of the accessory structure was in exactly the wrong place on the lot. She also commented on the number of trees on the property which are dead and should be removed prior to building. CLOSED PUBLIC TESTIMONY 4 Discussion ensued. Commissioner Finn would like to see 1,000 square feet maximum and suggested the setbacks on Elena Road be 60-70 feet. Commissioner Gottlieb felt the existing deck should be eliminated, they should add one more legal parking space, and requested no construction trucks enter from Elena Road. Commissioner Cheng also felt the structure should be limited to 1,000 square feet and moved towards the west to reduce the impact on neighbors. Chairman McMahon agreed with all comments including the dead trees and as it related to the dogs, suggested the Mitigation Program (LAMP). She suggested the project either be reduced, and remain somewhere where it is or if it remains the same size, located back up towards the house at a maximum 1,000 square feet or connected to the house as either a second floor or a continuation of the first floor. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Commissioner Gottlieb and seconded by Commissioner Finn to continue the Lands of Teng for re -design. AYES: Chairman McMahon, Commissioners Gottlieb, Finn & Cheng ABSTAIN: Commissioner Stutz ABSENT: Commissioners Doran & Schreiner The project will be re -noticed for public hearing at a later date Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/8/95 October 25, 1995 Page 6 4. REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING 1j 4.1 There was no report as the October 18th City Council meeting had been canceled. 4.2 Planning Commission Representative for the November 1st meeting will be Commissioner Finn. 5. NEW BUSINESS -none. The Pathway Element will be on the next agenda for discussion. 6.1 Report from subcommittees. Commissioner Gottlieb reported on the "Planning Issues" subcommittee meeting discussing non -conformity issues, four legal parking spaces, and reserved permitted development area. Commissioner Stutz reported on the Housing Element subcommittee which should have a draft prepared shortly using the survey taken last year to again be reviewed by the subcommittee prior to scheduling for a public hearing meeting. 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7.1 Approval of the October 11, 1995 special meeting minutes. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve the October 11th minutes with Commissioner Cheng abstaining. 7.2 Approval of the October 11, 1995 minutes. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve the October 11, 1995 minutes. 8. REPORT FROM THE SITE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF OCTOBER 17 AND 24.1995 8.1 LANDS OF REDDY, 12788 La Cresta Drive; A request for a Site Development Permit for a pool and landscape plan. Approved with conditions October 17, 1995. 8.2 LANDS OF KELEM, 26323 Esperanza; A request for a Site Development Permit for a pool. Approved with conditions October 24th. F3 Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/8/95 October 25, 1995 Page 7 8.3 LANDS OF HWONG,12813 Clausen Court; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape review for a sport court. Approved with conditions October 24th. Commissioner Gottlieb and Commissioner Cheng requested the Lands of Jabbour scheduled for a Site Development Committee hearing October 31st be pulled and heard before the Planning Commission. 9. ADTOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:45 p.m. Res ectfully submitted, Lard Lonberger Planning Secretary