HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/19/1990 h,, Minutes of an Adjourned Regular Meeting
September 19, 1990
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Meeting
Wednesday, September 19, 1990,5:45 P.M.
Council Chambers. 26379 Fremont Road
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Siegel called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at
5:45 p.m. at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Siegel,Mayor Pro Tern Hubbard, and
Councilmembers Casey,Johnson, and Tryon
Absent None
Staff: City Manager Thomas Fnitchey; City Attorney Sandy Sloan;
Director of Public Works Bill Ekern; Planning Director Ann
Jamison
Press: None
2. CLOSED SESSION RE:
2.1 Personnel—Government Code Section 54957.6
3. DISCUSSION OF SITE DEVELOPMENT ORDNANCE
Several issues were discussed; consensus was achieved on some of the
issues.
Allowable development (MDA and MFA). For a lot with a 1-acre LUF,
our current ordinances allow a maximum of 6,000 square feet of
development area and 4,000 square feet of floor area. Consensus was
reached that the Town has the discretionary ability to select allowable
levels of development and floor areas that are lower (down to 4,000
square feet of floor area and 5,000 square feet of development area for
lots iwth a Lot Unit Factor greater than .50), as long as they are based on
certain stated factors. These factors need not be formal findings, but
must have a supportable rationale. It was noted that one advantage of
the site analysis process is that applicants would not have to anticipate
• what discretion might be exercised. It was also noted that the key issue
( is how to exercise the discretion and how to communicate it, in
�r advance, to applicants.
4t.
Allowable initial development. Agreement was not reached that the
Town should, in certain circumstances, limit the initial amount of
allowed development, to ensure that future buyers have the ability to
expand. Agreement was achieved, however, that the Town can require
a redesign, to ensure that reasonable features (that provide for normal
living) are included within the design.
Height. Consensus was reached that height, like MDA and MFA, as
specified in the Code, is a maximum and can be reduced at the Town's
discretion, as long as the criteria are stated.
Setbacks. The front setback is set by the code at 40 feet other setbacks
are set at 30 feet In this case the Code is specifying a minimum.
Consensus was achieved that the Town has the ability, at the site
development stage, to increase one or more of the required setbacks.
Once again,those factors leading to the decision should be stated and
concern was noted with regard to communicating this early to
applicants.
Protection/Continuation of Non-conformities. It was noted that the
Town's Code is much more liberal than the code of most other
communities, in that it allows most non-conforming structures to be
modified or rebuilt without requiring that they be brought into
conformance.
The City Attorney stated that at the time of subdivision the Town can
place restrictions beyond those states in the Zoning Ordinance. This is
because subdivision of land is a privilege granted by the Town and not
a property right
4. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
None.
5. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:07
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/4w Thomas Frutchey
Acting City Clerk
The minutes of the September 19, 1990 Adjourned Regular Meeting were approved at
the November 7, 1990 Council Meeting.