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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/08/20014 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Approved 12/13/01 Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, November 8, 2001, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road cc: Cassettes (1) #17-01 ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Planning Commission regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Chairman Wong, Commissioners Gottlieb, Cottrell, Vito & Clow Staff: Carl Cahill, Planning Director; Angelica Herrera, Assistant Planner; Lam Smith, Planning Secretary 2. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR -none 4 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION -METRO PCS, 2350 Old Page Mill Road (205-01-ZP-SD-CUP); A request for a Site Development Permit and Conditional Use Permit for the placement of three (3) antennas on an existing pole and equipment within an existing telecommunication facility. Staff introduced this item by noting that a week after the staff report was written the applicant contacted staff stating they needed to revise the project to extend the pole five feet. Staff would like the Commission to make an action to either denying the project or approve it as submitted with the applicant returning with a permit modification, a new project or a continuance, at the applicant's requests. The Planning Director explained there had been some concern earlier regarding the "Permit Streamlining Act" (State law) but if the applicant makes the request for a continuance then the Town is not subject to the "Permit Streamlining Act' for that period of time. He further discussed the time issues involved with a denial, approval and/or continuance. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING Karen McPherson, representing Metro PCS, stated they would like to co -locate on an existing pole in Los Altos Hills. Metro PCS is a new carrier in the community, trying to co -locate on existing monopoles so additional poles will not be needed. She provided a history of the application noting they drew a design and asked for approval from Sprint who owns the pole at the Old Page Mill Road site. Sprint notified Metro, after the application had been submitted, that kow the placement would be interfering with their antenna. In order for them to co -locate on the pole Planning Commission Minutes Approved 12/13/01 November 8, 2001 t Page 2 AW they need to be a certain distance away from the Sprint antennas. They just do not know where they need to be to not interfere with any other carriers. If the Commission would grant them an extension it would allow them time to study how the antennas will interface with each other. She formally asked for a continuation for Metro PCS. Commissioner Gottlieb voiced concern if the pole was extended another five feet. Ms. McPherson provided facsimiles of what the five foot extension would look like with their antennas hanging from it (one existing and one proposed with the five foot extension). She was not positive they would come back asking for the five foot extension, but if they were able to due the extension they would be able to flush mount the antennas so they would be less obtrusive to the neighbors, painted green. CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING Discussion ensued regarding a continuance to a date uncertain and new notices sent out to the residents within 500 feet, when the project returns. Much like story poles, staff would ask for some type of mockup to be installed on the pole if a five foot projection was requested to see if there was any neighborhood interest in the extension of the pole. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion by Commissioner Cottrell and seconded by Commissioner Clow to approve a continuance for a Site Development Permit and Conditional Use Permit for the placement of three (3) antennas on an existing pole and equipment within an existing telecommunication facility, California Department of Transportation -Metro PCS. 2350 Old Page Mill Road, at the request of the applicant, Metro PCS, to a date uncertain. AYES: Chairman Wong, Commissioners Gottlieb, Vitu, Clow & Cottrell NOES: None This item will be rescheduled for a future meeting with notices to the neighbors within 500 feet of the project site. 4. OLD BUSINESS 4.1 Report from subcommittees - none 5.1 Joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting December 6° at 6:00 p.m. (short seminar on plan reading) 5.2 "Meeting Management" video was viewed by the Planning Commission 6. REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for November I' , Commissioner Wong, reported on the following items: bicycle laws; award of contract for website redesign; update on Mayor's goals and objectives for FY 2001-02; and proposed Planning Commission Planning Commission Minutes Approved 12/13/01 November 8, 2001 Page 3 4 recommendation that carports should be counted as floor area, Planning Commission meetings once a month; and that the City Council consider a minimum requirements for two -car covered parking. 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for November 15° — Commissioner Vitu 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for December 6'b — Commissioner Clow 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7.1 Approval of the October 25, 2001 minutes PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve the October 25, 2001 minutes with an addition to page 4, third paragraph, fifth line, "Town has jurisdiction". 8. REPORT FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETING—OCTOBER 30, 2001 8.1 LANDS OF WANG, 27581 Samuel Lane (189-01-ZP-SD); A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan. Approved with conditions. 9. ADJOURNMENT Prior to adjournment, Commissioner Cottrell voiced concern regarding an item on the October 18'" City Council agenda, descending order of priority: exterior colors of structures and fences policy; conservation easements (Design Review Guidelines); grading policy; driveway design (Design Review Guidelines); architectural features and neighborhood compatibility; siting & high site visibility (Design Review Guidelines); fences and walls & entry gates and columns (Design Review Guidelines); lighting policy; development area and tennis/sport courts, driveways, and pervious surfaces policy; landscaping; and site development policy statement. This is an impressive list of assignments for the Planning Commission. His concerns were as follows: (a) there was a conflict with the Municipal Code and Policy Review Committee (what they are doing versus what the Commission is suppose to do); and (b) the Commission is not doing any planning. He felt the Commission should be involved with the policy review process. The committee should be expanded to include at least one Planning Commissioner. Discussion ensued. It was agreed that Commissioner Cottrell will write a letter to the City Council recommending at least one Planning Commissioner (on a rotating basis) be apart of each topic discussion when above mentioned items are reviewed. The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:45 p.m. Res ectfully submitted, � "` Lani Smith ! Planning Secretary