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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/05/1997 (2)NN Minutes of a Regular Meeting March 5,1997 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Meeting Wednesday, March 5, 1997,6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Hubbard called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Hubbard and Councilmembers Casey, Dauber, Johnson and Siegel Absent: None Staff: City Manager/City Engineer Jeff Peterson, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, Planning Director Curtis Williams and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Clyde Noel, Los Altos Town Crier MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to add the following item to the agenda as an urgency item: A Proclamation Congratulating Mayor Hubbard on his March 5, 1997 Birthday. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to add the following item to the agenda as an urgency item: A Proclamation naming March 8,1997 as'Gainax Day'. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously to add the following item to the agenda as an urgency item: Closed Session: Existing Litigation: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8(a) -- Searfoss and Lopez vs. Los Altos Hills. 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS March 5, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting 2.1 Appointment to Environmental Design and Protection Committee (including %W approval of increase in committee membership to eight) Sandra Humphries, 26238 Fremont Road, expressed her interest in serving on the Environmental Design and Protection Committee. She noted that she had lived in the Town for twenty-two years and had experience with indoor plant materials as well as outdoor plantings. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Siegel and passed unanimously to increase the membership of the Environmental Design and Protection Committee to eight. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously to appoint Sandra Humphries to the Environmental Design and Protection Committee for a term of two years. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported that the following actions were taken at the 2/26/97 Planning Commission Meeting: Lands of Wong, 12352 Priscilla Lane: approved request for a Site Development Permit for a new residence; Lands of Thomas, 14576 DeBell Drive: approved request for a site development permit and a conditional use permit for a minor addition, Lands of Coffman, 25280 Cantata Way: approved request for a site development permit for a major addition and remodel; Lands of Krause, 25858 Westwind Way: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence, a variance to allow grading and improvements to cross a property line, and an amendment to a recorded tract map to allow access from Westwind Way; and Lands of California Water Service Company, Magdalena and Eastbrook Avenues: denied request for a site development permit, conditional use permit, variance and a negative declaration for the placement of a 32 foot high PCS pole and antennas, and adjacent equipment cabinets -- continued to next Planning Commission meeting for preparation of the findings for denial. The Planning Director further reported that a public hearing would be scheduled for the April 2nd Council Meeting on the grading policy and second unit policy. At their 3/26/97 Planning Commission Meeting, the issue of nonconforming structures was agendized for review. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: Item Removed: 4.1 (Dauber) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically: March 5, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting p 4.2 Reviewed Warrants: $370.828.33 (2/18/97) 4.3 Issued Proclamation: March 8,1997'Gainax Day' Item Removed: 4.1 Approval of Minutes: February 19,1997 (Regular Meeting) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of the February 19, 1997 City Council Meeting with the following corrections: Page 2, Item 5.1, first paragraph, third sentence should read: "Hubbard, with the concurence of Casey and Dauber, expressed concern about too much emphasis on neighbor approval."; Page 6, Item 8.1.3, last sentence should read: "However, although progress was being made, construction might not begin this summer."; and Page 6, Item 8.1.4, sentence should read: "The City Manager commented that the Wythe/ Vitu subdivision was progressing with as much activity as could be taken at this time of year." 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Discussion of exterior materials for Stonebrook Subdivision a. Lohr Properties) The Planning Director's staff report outlined the issue before Council on use of exterior materials. The Stonebrook Subdivision included a total of 32 lots with 22 of these being owned and developed by J. Lohr Properties. The Planning Commission had expressed concerns about the similarity of design of these homes as there appeared to be a heavy emphasis on the use of stucco. The issue now before Council was whether or not the Planning Director should send a letter to J. Lohr Properties on the use of exterior materials. It was determined that this was a moot point at this time because the recommendations on exterior materials were being met. Jerry Lohr, J. Lohr Properties, commented that they had been working quite well with the Town and had endeavored to address the exterior materials issue by using a variety of designs for their homes. He did have some concern that the Planning Commission would become more involved with design review than site approval. Dauber commented that the Planning Commission had raised a valid concern that all of the homes in this large subdivision were beginning to look alike. Siegel noted that this was a unique situation because it was such a large subdivision. Council may see this issue again when the homes in the Vidovich Subdivision came in for review but this would not be a matter for discussion for most parts of Town. Council thanked the Lohrs for their cooperative response to this matter. March 5, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Request for relief of improvement costs, Rogez Subdivision, 13901 W. Edith Avenue Abigail Ahrens, representing Mr. and Mrs. Rogez, explained to the Council their request for relief of certain improvement costs for this subdivision. She believed the development of this property was of great benefit to the community. It provided for sewers, addressed the flooding issue in the area and got the property out of the Williamson Act. However, she referred to the specific condition concerning the requirement to construct on-site storm drainage improvements and requested that this amount be reduced to $45,000. They believed this was a reasonable amount for their project and they should not have to bear the cost for the entire Robleda Drainage Basin. Her client was also requesting that their house building permit be processed as quickly as possible and that it be prioritized over any current project. The City Manager referred to his report and the request from the Rogez for cost relief of $74,550 for installation of the storm drain pipe across their subdivision. He noted that the Rogez' subdivision was approved in August, 1996 subject to certain approved conditions of approval. One of these conditions was the installation of storm drain improvements to convey the existing Robleda Road corridor drainage through the subdivision to Adobe Creek. Concerning the request by the Rogez to have their building permit ready in approximately six weeks, the City Manager stated that this was not possible because of the grading moratorium, the fact that it was taking about four months to process house plans and the conditions of approval had to be completed before issuance of building permits. Council adjourned to a Closed Session on Existing Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8(a) -- Searfoss and Lopez vs. Los Altos Hills at 7:05 p.m. and reconvened at 8:20 p.m. Council stated that there was some merit in some of the Rogez' arguments. Therefore, they directed staff to negotiate a settlement with the Rogez in an expedient manner. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB -COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8.1.1 Paving Projects Much 5, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting (w The City Manager reported that the paving projects on Moody, Magdalena and Viscaino were essentially completed. 8.2 City Attorney 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence PASSED BY CONSENSUS: It was agreed to take no action on the request from the City of Lomita concerning flying the POW/MIA flag at post offices and city facilities. 9. COUNCIL -INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Master Path Plan (Councilmember Siegel) Siegel noted that the second Council Meeting in May was being announced in the newsletter as the public hearing date for the first neighborhood discussion of master path plan changes. Council concurred with this date. 9.2 Scanner (Councilmember Johnson) Johnson announced that Technology Improvement Committee member Mike Scott had donated to the Town a scanner and also donated his time to connecting it to the appropriate computer at Town Hall. It was agreed the Mayor would send a thank you letter. 9.3 Library Commission (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber commented that two applicants had expressed an interest in serving on the Library Commission. Because of scheduling she asked that these interviews be scheduled for the first meeting in April. 9.4 Council Vacation Calendar (Councilmember Siegel) Siegel asked that the Council vacation calendar be agendized for discussion. Council concurred with this request. 9.5 Rhus Ridge Parking (Councilmember Siegel) Siegel inquired about the petition signed by residents on Rhus Ridge concerning their parking issue. The City Manager reported that Rhus Ridge, although a private street, March 5, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting ( could be designated as a street covered by the vehicle code. By doing this they would be covered by the Sheriff's patrol for parking enforcement. Council concurred that this should be done and the City Manager should write to Mary Davey about this action. 9.6 Parikh Project on Elena (Mayor Pro Tem Casey) Casey noted that she had met with Bob Hall who had expressed concerns about the Parikh project on Elena. One of the issues raised was whether the home was being built in the approved location. The Planning Director responded that the site had been certified by an engineer and, prior to an occupancy permit, the screening would be installed and approved. 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Res ectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the March 5, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the March 19,1997 City Council Meeting. �r March 5, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting