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Home My WebLink About10/02/2008Minutes of a Regular Meeting Approved 11/06/08 $1r Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION THURSDAY, October 2, 2008, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Chairman Harpootlian, Commissioners Cottrell, Clow, Collins and Abraham Staff: Debbie Pedro, Planning Director; Nicole Horvitz, Assistant Planner and Victoria Ortland, Planning Secretary PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Planning Director, Debbie Pedro announced the resignation of Associate Planner Brian Froelich. Commissioner Clow informed the assembly of the death of Town resident and land developer, Brad Blackman. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1 LANDS OF EPISCOPAL LAYMAN'S GROUP OF LOS ALTOS (APPLICANT: AT&T WIRELESS); 26410 Duval Way, File #139 -08 -CUP -IS - ND; A Site Development Permit and Conditional Use Permit for a wireless communications facility consisting of six (6) panel antennas mounted to a 65' tree pole and a (14'L x 22'W x 7'H) ground equipment shelter at the church property. CEQA status -Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (staff -Brian Froelich) (CONTINUED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING). At the request of the applicant, the project was continued to the November 6, 2008 Planning Commission meeting. Chairman Harpootlian stated that the yellow public hearing site cad was not placed on the property, the shed location was not marked with story poles and the height of the antenna was not demonstrated on site. He requested that for the next hearing of the application, the locations be marked with story poles and a plan for landscape screening presented. ( Commissioner Collins did not support installation of story poles for every wireless `, communication application. Planning Cora nission Minutes Approved 11/06/08 October 2, 2008 Page 2 fit' Debbie Pedro, Planning Director, suggested that the applicant stake out the location of the building pad at ground level. Commissioner Cottrell said that the location of the shed could be staked out but constructing story poles to mark the height of antenna poles doesn't work. Chairman Harpoothan felt that for this project, marking the location of the shed was important, especially for landscape screening concerns from the neighbors. He stated that in general, story poles are a necessary part of the site development process. 3.2 LANDS OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (APPLICANT: T -MOBILE); 2350 Page Mill Road, File #87 -08 -CUP; A Conditional Use Permit renewal for an existing/previously approved wireless communications facility. CEQA review: exempt per 15301(a) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz). Nicole Horvitz, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report for the Conditional Use Permit renewal application for the T -Mobile facility located on the site of the California Department of Transportation maintenance yard at 2350 Page Mill Road. T -Mobile has a ground equipment cabinet on the rear of the property and two flush mounted antennas on the existing monopole owned by Sprint. T -Mobile's proposal was to replace the equipment cabinet and antennas in the same location. The new antennas would be slightly larger than the existing antennas. Six 15 40 gallon oleander shrubs would be planted along Page Mill Road to help mitigate the view of the pole and equipment cabinet. Commissioner Clow had inquired with staff regarding the possibility of replacing the monopole with a tree pole. Staff suggested that a condition of approval could be included stating that in the year 2009, when the Sprint CUP renewal comes before the Planning Commission and City Council, the monopole may be required to be replaced with a tree pole. At the time of that monopole upgrade, all the wireless carrier companies will need to remove and reinstall their antennas and equipment. Commissioner Clow explained that T -Mobile's CUP renewal application created an opportunity to make Sprint aware that the Planning Commission may request that a tree pole be installed as a replacement for the current pole that was approved in 1997. He felt that this information would allow Sprint added time to plan and budget the funds needed to make the monopole upgrade. Commissioner Abraham thought a new pole would make sense if Sprint was planning to replace the entire support structure but it seemed impractical to request a new pole withjust a change out of the antennas. Replacing the old pole with a new tree pole and antenna system would be very expensive. He said the site is a Cal Trans yard and not a neighborhood with beautiful homes. Commissioner Clow stated that a very large number of people traveling on Highway 280 and Page Mill Road see the unattractive pole every day. 4 Commissioner Collins suggested that the Planning Commission refrain from making the decision with this T -Mobile CUP renewal application, but notify Sprint that at a future time, an upgraded pole may be considered. Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/06/08 October 2, 2008 Page 3 Alex Morin, representative for T -Mobile, said that there are difficulties from a carrier's perspective regarding the removal and replacement of the antennas from the monopole to a tree pole for the purpose of aesthetics. The service coverage in the area would be disrupted for at least 30 to 60 days and the cost of a new pole would be approximately $80,000. He felt that the view of the existing pole was consistent with the industrial type use of the property. Commissioner Collins disagreed and stated that the visibility of the pole from the surrounding sloped areas in Town was a concern. Commissioner Cottrell thought that passersby were used to the view of the Cal Trans yard and all the sights associated with it, including the monopole. He thought a bureaucracy was being imposed that had no basis. Commissioner Abraham concurred and stated that all the carriers on the pole would suffer because of the expense incurred with changing the pole. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner Cottrell supported approving the conditional use permit without inclusion of the 4 added condition of approval for future pole placement. Commissioner Clow stated that it was important for Sprint to know that next year the Town may be looking at mitigation measures for the appearance of the monopole. He thought that people had just become accustomed to the ugly pole and that with the technological advances now available to help improve the aesthetics of the monopole, it would be a good thing to retrofit it if possible. He did not believe that cell service would be unavailable for 30 to 60 days. Commissioner Collins and Cottrell suggested having staff to advise Sprint that a future Planning Commission may ask for an upgrade to the present monopole. MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED: Motion made by Commissioner Cottrell and seconded by Commissioner Collins to forward a recommendation to the City Council to approve the conditional use permit as written. AYES: Commissioners Collins, Clow, Cottrell, Abraham and Chairman Harpootlian NOES: none 4. OLD BUSINESS - none 5. NEW BUSINESS — none Aw Planning Commission Minutes Approved 11/06/08 October 2, 2008 Page 4 �I 6. REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for September I lt'— Commissioner Abraham 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for September 25t'— Cancelled 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for October 9th—Commissioner Collins 6.4 Planning Commission Representative for October 2P— Commissioner Clow 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7.1 Approval of September 4, 2008 minutes MOTION SECONDED AND PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Motion by Commissioner Collins and seconded by Commissioner Cottrell to approve the September 4, 2008 minutes as corrected. On page two, in the last sentence of the next to the last paragraph, between the word "had" and the word "neighbor", remove the word "to" and insert the phrase "a phone conversation with". AYES: Commissioners Collins, Clow, Cottrell, Abraham and Chairman Harpootlian NOES: none Commissioner Harpootlian requested discussion on pathway in -lieu fee calculation at the next Planning Commission meeting. S. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK MEETING — SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 8.1 LANDS OF WOOD, 12400 Melody Lane, #111-08-ZP-SD-GP; A request for a Site Development Permit for a 7,041 square foot two story new residence (Maximum height 24'6") and the removal of heritage oak trees. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303 (a) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz) (Approved with conditions). 9. REPORT FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETING — SEPTEMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 16, SEPTEMBER 23 AND SEPTEMBER 30. 2008 9.1 LANDS OF JONES, 25080 La Loma Drive; File #198-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a 6,453 square foot new residence approved on April 24, 2007. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff -Brian Froelich) (Approved with conditions). 9.2 LANDS OF SOLTANZAD, 13330 Burke Road; File #165-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a 1,036 square foot first floor addition and remodel. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15301 (e) (Staff - Brian Froelich) (Approved with conditions). Planning Conunission Minutes Approved 11/06/08 October 2, 7008 Page 5 9.3 LANDS OF ARAKAWA, 26889 Nina Place; File 9167-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a 2,278 square foot major addition approved on April 3, 2007. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz) (Approved with conditions). 9.4 LANDS OF NIE, 13070 S. Alta Lane; File #136-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a 460 square foot addition and major remodel approved on November 29, 2005. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz) (Approved with conditions). 9.5 LANDS OF ZURAEK, 11856 Page Mill Road; File #201-08-ZP-SD-GD; A request for a Site Development Permit and Grading Permit for an approximate 7,000 square foot horse corral. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (Staff -Brian Froelich) (Approved with conditions). 9.6 LANDS OF SHAHIDI, 25349 La Rena Lane; File #199-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a 4,171 square foot residence approved September 7, 2006. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz) (Approved with conditions). 9.7 LANDS OF MUNCH, 12758 Leander Drive; File #178-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a 1,873 square foot major addition and remodel approved on June 19, 2007. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz) (Approved with conditions). 9.8 LANDS OF YANG, 28020 Laura Court; File #37-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan and a 720 square foot swimming pool. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) & 15303 (e) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz) (Approved with conditions). 9.9 LANDS OF MENTA, 14293 Saddle Mountain Drive; File #212-08-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a 523 square foot addition approved on October 9, 2007. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff -Nicole Horvitz) (Approved with conditions). 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 7:39 p.m. Resp tfully submitted, 4. Victoria Ortlard, Planning Secretary