HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/03/1990 Minutes of an Adjourned Regular Meeting
October 3, 1990
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Meeting
Wednesday, October 3, 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 6:04
p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Siegel, Mayor Pro Tem Hubbard, and Councilmembers
Johnson and Tryon
Absent: Councilmember Casey
Staff: City Manager Thomas Frutchey; City Attorney Sandy Sloan;
Director of Public Works Bill Ekern; and Planning Director Ann
Jamison
Press: None
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING: HILLTOPS AND RIDGELINES; SMALL LOTS
Discussion addressed initially the objective of the Town's efforts to protect
sensitive sites in Town. Primary reasons include ensuring that development on
prominent sites--sites that are highly visible and that have a disproportionate
impact on defining the Town and creating its overall image--is consistent with the
Town's overall goals, as stated in the General Plan and Code:
"to ensure that the site, location, and configuration of structures are
unobtrusive when viewed from off-site; that scenic views are retained; that
buildings do not dominate the natural landscape; that ridgelines and hilltops
are preserved; and that the siting of structures is consistent with other
provisions of" the Code "concerning grading, drainage, and erosion control."
The pre-eminent importance of creating subdivisions that allow this to happen was
discussed. The Town is now faced with existing lots, on Saddle Court for instance,
that almost prevent houses from being placed anywhere else but on top of a ridge
or hill, in ways that will be difficult to mitigate.
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Tools the Town currently has or could make use of to further its objectives that
were discussed:
• Notices in the real estate advertisement sections of newspapers and in the
multiple listing service, reminding potential buyers to talk to us as part of
their decision-making process.
• A similar notice to be included by title companies in the closing packet
requiring the buyer's signature before a sale could be completed.
• A booklet, prepared by the Town, and given out by the Chamber of
Commerce, school districts, realtors, and others to potential residents.
• The parcel data base.
• A version of site analysis, as an early step in the subdivision process.
• Site analysis as an early step in site development.
• Town-imposed limits on development, including: maximum stories,
maximum height, average maximum height (to avoid block homes);
maximum altitude (to preserve view lines); less formal landscaping, with
t large trees; and architectural controls, including avoiding highly visible
` roofing expanses and requiring dark roofing and siding.
Discussion centered on getting information to potential lot buyers and home-
builders as early as possible, being as consistent as possible in our decisions,
and controlling and containing subjectivity. Note was made of the problems
we have had in achieving these over the past few years and the courage
required of decision-makers.
Additional discussion focussed on site analysis, and its potential for assisting
the process. Carrots that were discussed as able to be offered to people for
undergoing site analysis included:
• A faster or smoother process, with fewer steps. This would require
increasing some of the decision thresholds, combining two or more
current steps in the process, and involving fewer layers of the
organization.
• Greater development area, floor area, or some other enhancement
for good design.
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• A better end product. We will probably need some successes before
we can offer this carrot.
Sticks that were discussed included requiring site analysis, but with caveats.
3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
None.
4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
'
Thomas Frutchey
Acting City Clerk
Minutes of October 3, 1990 Adjourned Regular Meeting approved at
November 7, 1990 Council Meeting.
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