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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/30/1994Minutes of an Adjourned Regular Meeting March 30, 1994 Town of Los Altos Hills Joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, March 30,1994,5:30 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Johnson called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission to order at 5:35 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Johnson and Councilmembers Dauber, Siegel and Tryon C Planning Commissioners Comiso, Cheng, Ettinger, Schreiner, Sinunu (arrived at 6:50 p.m.) and Stutz Absent: Councilmember Hubbard and Commissioner Takamoto Staff: City Manager Les M. Jones, II, Planning Director Linda Niles, Director of Public Works Jeff Peterson and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: None 2. STATUS OF GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS REVISIONS The Planning Director noted that according to State regulations the General Plan can only be updated three times a year. Therefore, the revised elements were going to Council for approval a few at a time. To date the Planning Commission had reviewed the Household Hazardous Waste Element, the Source Reduction Element, the Mineral Element and the Path and Trail Element. The Seisimic Element and the Noise Elements were almost ready to go to Council and work on the Land Use Element and Circulation Element had begun. Dauber asked if the State mandated what was required in the General Plan? She believed the General Plan should be an easily readable document and only contain March 30, 1994 what was necessary. The Commission discussed how they were working on achieving this goal. Commissioner Schreiner went through the revisions made to the Path and Trail Element as an example of the work involved in making the General Element a workable, readable document. 3. DISCUSSION OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS A. Is it achieving its intent? Looking at it from the applicant's view. Johnson believed the development process was working but it was possible that some of the ordinances needed changing. He cited the Town allowing 6,000 square foot homes on an acre as an area that might be modified. Tryon believed the Site Development Process was working much better now. Each site needed to be reviewed in relation to the surrounding lots. Johnson concurred with this statement. Commissioner Ettinger referred to the contributions of the Pathways Recreation Parks Committee, the standard conditions of approval and the lack of complaints by applicants. Dauber asked the Commission to discuss any application where they felt they could not deny an application but where they had serious concerns about the project. In other words the project was not done in conformance with perhaps the intent or overall objective of the ordinances. Tryon noted that the Commissioners can clearly state in the minutes why they vote no on a project or what their qualified approval might be. Comiso stated that she did not believe the Commissioners felt constrained when dealing with applications. Council discussed the availability of the Planning Commission minutes before Council makes a decision on a property. Should a project be delayed until the minutes were available? Tryon believed it was all part of the process and the Council should wait until the minutes were ready so they would have all the information on a project. Comiso believed the residents should be told up front how long the process was going to take. If it should turn out to be a shorter time all the better but the applicant will not have been misted as to the timetable. Council asked about changes to the conditions of approval and whether or not such changes could be made by the Council after approval by the Planning Commission without public hearings. The City Attorney would have to review this issue. A discussion took place on the enforcement of the imposed conditions particularly that of landscaping. Siegel raised the issue of increased remodeling in the future and the grandfathering factor. The City Manager noted that occupancy was the determining factor to get the conditions done. What constitutes a remodel was also addressed. The Commission had begun to discuss this issue at their last meeting. If a new house is built but it is called a remodel what happens to the non -conforming structures? Ettinger stated the importance of consistency. Rebuilds are going to have to comply with the March 30, 1994 ordinances. Stutz stated that she believed 4,000 square feet allowed for a remodel on a half acre to an acre was far too high. Comiso raised the issue of the drainage problem in the area of Moon Lane. They had asked for the formation of subcommittee of residents of the area, Council and Commission representatives. Johnson commended the Commission for all their work. Johnson also reported that Jim Sfnunu was resigning from the Commission because he was moving out of Town. Mr. Sinunu was thanked for his contributions to the Town in serving on the Planning Commission. Councilmembers and Commissioners agreed upon the following items for further action: 1.) Decision regarding when Council will have Planning Commission items brought to them. Shall this be deferred until the Council has the minutes from the Planning Commission meeting? 2.) Give the Planning Commission discretion as to what constitutes a new house. 3.) Method of dealing with subdivision types of problems (i.e. drainage) when a new house comes in for review. ` 4.) Discussion of requiring structural studies for earthquakes at time of major `. remodel. 5.) Review of MFA for extra small lots. 6.) Study policy of leaving fill on the lots. 4. RECORD KEEPING/ACCESS AND UPDATING 5. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the March 30, 1994 Adjourned Regular Meeting were approved at the April 20, 1994 City Council Meeting. March 30, 1994