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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/15/1990 � / Minutes of a Regular Meeting August 15, 1990 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Meeting Wednesday, August 15, 1990, 7:15 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER,ROLL CALL,AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Siegel called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:17 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Siegel, Mayor Pro Tern Hubbard, and Councilmembers Casey, Johnson, and Tryon. Absent: None Staff: City Manager/Acting City Clerk Thomas Frutchey; City Attorney Sandy Sloan; Director of Public Works Bill Ekern; Planning Director Ann Jamison �,. Press: Mary Fortney, Peninsula Times Tribune; Kristine Kern and Diane Evia, Town Crier 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 2.1 Presentation from the Library Commission on the November Ballot Measure, and a Request for the Council's Endorsement Elayne Dauber and Carol Tefft summarized reasons for the proposed expansion and extension of the the parcel tax. Important attributes of the Library include: its holdings include 20 books per person, versus a statewide average of 5.6; and its annual circulation reaches 41 books per square feet versus 24 in Mountain View and 10 in Menlo Park, both of which are undergoing expansions. MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Tryon, seconded by Johnson, and approved by a unanimous vote to endorse and support the expansion, to approve the use of the Council's name as an endorser of the parcel tax, and to thank Elayne, Carol, and all others who have worked so hard to make the expansion a reality. 1 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT (No Meeting) 4. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Tryon, and approved by the following roll call vote to adopt the entire consent calendar. AYES: Mayor Siegel and Councilmembers Casey, Hubbard, Johnson, and Tryon. NOES: None. 4.1 Approval of Minutes: July 24, 1990 4.2 Approval of Warrants: July 31, 1990 4.3 Financial Report: June 30, 1990 4.4 Waiver of an Improvement Security Agreement, Lands of Cochran 4.5 FY 1990-91 Pavement Management Project: Approval of Plans and Specs, and Authorization to Call for Bids--Reso # 41-90 4.6 Request for a One-year Extension on a Site Development Permit Lands of Odom, 26050 Quail Lane 4.7 Friends of Westwind Hoedown on September 8, 1990 and Banner 4.8 Second Amendment to Agreement to Provide Local Law Enforcement Agency Access to the California Identification System 4.9 California Rideshare Week, October 1-5 --Proclamation 4.10 Celebrate the Future of Children--Proclamation 4.11 Extending Date for Receiving Bids for Miscellaneous Drain Repairs--Reso # 42-90 5. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. 2 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS 6.1 FY 1990-91 Operating and Project Budget, and Appropriations Limit--Reso # 43-90 The City Manager indicated that since the Council has not yet had sufficient opportunity to complete its review of the proposed budget, and the community has not had an opportunity to see the results of the Council's study session deliberations, the preferred action would be to continue consideration of this item until September 5 and to extend the interim budget. MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Tryon, seconded by Hubbard, and approved by the following roll call vote to extend the interim budget for another month, through September 30, 1990, under the same conditions as the existing interim budget. AYES: Mayor Siegel and Councilmembers Casey, Hubbard, Johnson, and Tryon. NOES: None. 6.2 Tentative Map, Lands of Peterson/Weidman, 1330 La Paloma Road Council disclosures were as follows: all Councilmembers noted they had driven by or visited the property and had not discussed the proposal with the applicant or anyone else. The Public Hearing was opened. Bill Kull, Engineer for the applicant noted that they had no objections to the conditions proposed by staff, but did request that the setback and height limitations proposed by staff be eliminated from condition 15. The Public Hearing was dosed. The Council briefly discussed the conditions of approval for the map, concurring that the limitation on fence height in condition 15 should be removed and that additional wording should be added to condition I to address the future dedication of the proposed street in accordance with the policies adopted by the Roads Committee. 3 MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Johnson, 4111, seconded by Tryon, and passed by the following roll call vote to certify the mitigated negative declaration for the proposed subdivision. AYES: Mayor Seigel and Councilmembers Casey, Hubbard, Johnson, and Tryon. NOES: None. MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Hubbard, and passed by the following roll call vote to approve the subdivision as proposed with the conditions of approval recommended by staff noting that the 4.5 foot height limit applicable to fences be removed from condition 15 and that condition I be amended to include language requiring the dedication of the street right-of-way at the time the adjacent parcel to the north subdivides. AYES: Mayor Seigel and Councilmembers Hubbard, Johnson and Tryon. NOES: Councilmember Casey Councilmember Casey clarified that while she supported the subdivision overall thqii voted against it because she did not support the-setbeek-a height limitations included in condition 15. MENDED BY COUNCIL 9/5/90) 6.3 Tentative Map, Lands of Circle, 26541 Taaffe Road Council disclosures were as follows: all Councilmembers noted they had visited the property and-lead-net-spoken-with -the eppl4eattt: Hubbard had spoken with the applicant and Tryon had spoken with Ken Pastrof. (AMENDED BY COUNCIL 9/5/90) The Public Hearing was opened. Ken Pastroff, Planning Consultant for the applicant spoke in favor of the subdivision describing the advantages of building on the areas of 30% slope and showed a series of slides taken from various vantage points on and around the property. agreed with the staff report recommending denial Glen Fuller, 12989 Vista Del Valle supported-staff'-s-pfeposai and referenced a letter from the Gossetts, neighbors of the project, who were also concerned about the proposal. (AMENDED BY COUNCIL 9/5/90) Bill Sullivan, 26531 Taaffe Road, a neighbor, expressed concern over the constrained nature of the lot. 4 `r Paul Nowack, Engineer for the applicant also spoke in favor of the proposal noting that the geologic concerns with the proposal had all been addressed. Delos Circle, 26541 Taaffe Road spoke in support of his subdivision proposal. He noted that he wanted to build a conservative house on the new lot for his daughter. The Public Hearing was closed. The Council discussed various means of providing mitigation measures such that a Mitigated Negative Declaration could be certified. Councilmember Casey suggested a restriction on the size of house that could be built. MOTION SECONDED AND WITHDRAWN: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Casey, who subsequently withdrew her second, to certify a Mitigated Negative Declaration with the mitigation of reducing the size of houses allowed on the lots. Councilmember Tryon expressed concern that the motion did not address all the relevant environmental issues. At this point, Councilmember Casey withdrew her second. MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Seigel, and passed by the following roll call vote to deny without prejudice the proposed subdivision, noting the findings outlined below. 1. The subdivision as proposed would require development to occur in areas specifically precluded from development by the General Plan and the Subdivision Ordinance of the Town of Los Altos Hills by calling for construction in areas of 30% or more slope. In addition, the subdivision as proposed is not in conformance with the Land Use Element of the General Plan--specifically Principles 3, 4, 5 and 6--as it does not adequately address issues of topography such as steep slopes and other natural constraints. The suitability of this lot for development is not appiupriate as the building site on the 2. Te-new-lot Is-nel-suitab 4or-develepmentras-it is not lot capable of accommodating the amount of development that would otherwise be permitted without encroaching into areas of 30% or more slope, septic drainfields, code setbacks, and human habitation setbacks associated with the kair earthquake fault that crosses the property. AYES: Mayor Siegel and Councilmembers Hubbard, Johnson and Tryon. NOES: None. Ait MAtN Crwltiaarr.IC e4frr 5 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.1 Urgency Ordinance Requiring a Conditional Development Permit for Lots Constrained by Human Habitation Setback Requirements The City Manager explained the need for this ordinance, as well as the need for its passage on an urgency basis. As the more difficult lots in Town start to be developed, increasing constraints are being faced, including net areas of less than 0.5 acres, geologic setbacks, and noise setbacks. The conditional development process currently addresses lots of less than 0.5 acres, but there is no process that addresses lots with significant human habitation setbacks. There have already been at least two development projects in the Town that addressed significant noise setbacks; another—the McCulloch subdivision—is pending. Due to the earthquake and E recent subdivisions--including Ridgeview Estates--there are several pending proposals that are constrained by geologic setbacks. In light of the very difficult process the resulted on the recent McDonald proposal, it is important that residents and developers know as quickly as possible of the Town's concern and the steps that will be necessary for safe development to occur on these sites. The urgency ordinance remains in effect for only 45 days. During this time the Planning Commission is directed by the City Council to hold public hearings and bring a recommendation back to the Council for the permanent adoption of the ordinance. If this process is not completed within 45 days, the Council can extend the term of the urgency ordinance for up to 1 year, in total. The City Manager also indicated that Mr. Russ Carter, the lead person on the McCulloch subdivision, has reviewed this item and is fully in support of the proposed urgency ordinance. MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Tryon, and approved by a majority vote to waive L reading.or the ordinance. Councilmember Casey indicated that she abstained on this motion. 6 MOTION SECONDED AND APPROVED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Hubbard, and passed by the following roll call vote to adopt the urgency ordinance:1F337 AYES: Mayor Siegel and Councilmembers Hubbard, Johnson, and Tryon. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Casey. 8.2 Council Assumption of Site Development Review for New and Major Remodels and Issuance of Conditional Development Permits For A Six-Month Period (N4E DID BY OOUNCIL 9/5/90) Mayor Seigel outlined the contents of his memo to the Council noting his concerns that the Planning Commission is unclear about Council policy. He noted that this proposal would give the Council an opportunity to review specific developments and determine the prime issues of concern. Jones and Pahl (AMENDED BY COUNCIL 9/5/90) Planning Commissioner} Neel-an4-Cariee spoke in opposition to the proposal noting that they believed it was more appropriate to address these kinds of issues in joint Planning Commission/ City Council meetings. Finance Cwmmittor' Chairman Phil Darter MEMO) BY Commissioner, Stutz and ;enes spoke in favor of the proposal oODNcu, noting that they believed it would further improve 9/5/90) understanding of the ordinances by both the Planning Commission and City Council. After some Council discussion in which Councilmembers generally voiced opposition to the proposal Mayor Seigel withdrew the proposal. The Council expressed their desire to address specific issues of concern in work sessions, including both the Council and Commission, scheduled for the hour immediately before regular Council meetings and in specially scheduled joint sessions. Mayor Seigel requested that each Commissioner and Councilmember submit a list of their three highest priorities for the Town to address in these sessions. 9. REPORTS FROM COMMIIIEES AND SUB-COMMTI PEES None. 7 411. 10. STAFF REPORTS 10.1 City Manager None. 10.2 City Attorney None. 10.3 City Clerk 10.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence 11. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS 11.1 Scheduling of Council Consideration of: a. Hilltop and Ridgeline Issues: An Approach to Re-examining Sections 10-2.701 and 702, "Ridgeline Preservation', of the Municipal Code (Councilmember Johnson) b. Development of Small Lots: Request to Schedule Consideration of an Overhaul to Sections 10-1.502(c), "Minimum MDA," and 10-1.503(c), "Minimum MFA" (Councilmember Johnson) c. Site Development Policy (Continued from August 1, 1990) d. Staff Requiring Certain Types of Building Materials (Councilmember Casey) e. Swimming Pool Fences (Mayor Pro Tern Hubbard) There being no objection, Mayor Siegel added two other recent memos to the agenda, both of which had been placed at Council positions. These were Councilmember Johnson's memo of July 2 on ridgeline and hilltop development and Councilmember Casey's memo of August 11 on architectural review. The Council decided by consensus that each Councilmember and Planning Commissioner would provide to staff a list of their top three or four development related concerns, and that these would be agendized for the September 5 meeting. 8 gior Councilmember Tryon complimented Mary Christie on her recent article in the Town Crier,;extelling-khe-rural-ensue meat-in-i.-eankl es Hills-and—the- damage lu that-environment- caused-by some recent homes. (AMENDED BY COUNCIL 9/5/90) Councilmember Tryon also urged people to try to work with the ordinance we have, which have proven successful for many years, and which were developed with much effort and expertise, rather than trying to change everything. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 411/ Thomas Frutchey Acting City Clerk taw 9