The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05/26/1971CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING May 26, 1971 Mayor Walter A. Benson convened this special meeting at 7:45 P.M. at Los Altos Hills Town Hall. Due to the overflow crowd, the meeting was immediately adjourned to reconvene at 8:00 P. M. at Fremont Hilla School. Speaking to the approximate 175 attendees, Mayor Benson stated that this public hearing was called solely to address the County proposed Joint Housing Element and to hear from the residents of the Town to deter- mine the degree of support for the Town's adopted "Housing Element." The "Town Objectives" found on Pages 10 and 11 of the"Housing Element - Phase 1", which is an element of the Town's General Plan, states: 111. To provide opportunities for housing to meet the needs of families and individuals who are interested in rural living, that is, living in a quiet residential area where lot size, terrain, absence of traffic facilitates the pursuit of such activities as the raising of garden crops, maintenance of fruit trees, and the ownership of domestic animals. "2. To limit housing densities and structural types so as to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Community by minimizing the disfigurement of natural contours of the hills, the removal of existing trees, and the obtrusiveness of structures." Mayor Benson stated the above was adopted, after a Public Hearing, by Resolution No. 543 on October 6, 1969 by a nnanimous vote of the City Council. Communications supporting the Town's current zoning were read from: Mr. William S. Phy, 25616 Moody Road; Mr. Robert Fish, 13221 E. Sunset Drive; Mrs. Carol M. Phy, Vice President of Los Altos Hills Association; Mr. C. A. Bittman, 14350 Manuella Road; Mrs. Patrick S. Parise, 27807 Via Ventana; Mr, Keith Wadsworth, 14199 Stanford Court, and Mrs. Georgia M. Neuenberg, 27461 Sherlock Road. Communications urging support of the County Joint Housing Element were read from Mr. E. L. Gdazton, Co -Chairman of the Stanford Mid -Peninsula Urban Coalition and mrs. Yolanda Font, 14341 Liddicoat Circle, Mayor Benson stated that the first hour would be allowed for those wishing to speak in opposition to the County proposed Joint Housing Element. Floor participation opposing the County Housing Element was heard from: Mr. Dick Towle, representing the Los Altos Hills Association; Dr. Marjorie Evans, 14511 DeBell Drive, Peter N. Rosalthal, 10460 Albertsworth Lane; Mrs. Mildred Gallo, 25720 LaLenne Court; Mr. Greg E. Austin, Mrs. Judy Carico, 25311 O'Keefe Lane; Priscilla Weisbart, 27709 Via Cerro Gordo, R. W. Poole, 26041 Moody Road; Don E. Spencer, 27490 Sherlock Road; William C. Downey Jr. DeBell Dr.; Mrs. Hans Moeller, 11990 Page Mill Road; Mrs, Ruth 0, Smith, 14555 De Bell Drive; Mr. J. W. Dochnahl, 27980 Central Drive; Mrs. Millie Saviano, 12620 Corte Madera Lane; Ira Walston 26761 Robleda Ct.; A. M. Laws, 11210 Hooper Lane; Angie Boissevain, 27181 Sherlock Road; Mr. B. Sukiennicki, 27961 Central Drive; Dr. H. L. Schick, 26400 Weston Drive; Dick Towle, 26493 Weston Drive. Following this hour's discussion, Mayor Reason asked that the next hour be given to those wishing to speak in favor of the County proposed Joint Housing Element. Floor participants urging support of the Joint Housing Element included: Mr. Alan S. Maremont, Executive Director, Stanford Mid -Peninsula Urban Coalition Housing Development Corporation, Mr, E. L. Ginzton, Co -Chairman, Stanford Mid Peninsula Urban Coalition, Mrs. Wm. M.Eastman, 13221 E. ` Sunset Drive; Mrs. Lois Hogle, 2000 Page Mill Road, Mr. John M. Fowle, ` Former Mayor and City Councilman, 27060 Old Trace Road, Mr, John B. Rutherford, 13150 E. Sunset Drive (representing Mid -Peninsula Citizens for Fair Housing); Mr, Wallace Stegner, 13456 South Fork Lane Mrs. June Mcnwrai.th„ 13431 Wildcrest Drive, Mr, Larry Lawson, 13835 Page Mill Road, Mrs. John Rodsiek, Mr. William C. Fowkes, 13070 Cumbra Vista, Mrs, Diane Miller, 13076 Vista del Valle Ct.; and Mr. David Belluci, Adobe Creek Lodge. After hearing resident opinions on each sidl of the issue, the discussion returned to the Council for summation and determination of action to be taken. The majority of the Council, composed of Councilmen Corbett, Grabowski, Helgesson and Mayor Benson, voiced opposition to any modifi- cation of the Town's ordinances. They noted they supported the Town's minimum one -acre zoning when they were elected and that they would con- tinue to do so until the electorate indicated their wishes were otherwise, since the people have a right to determine the environment in which they wish to live. They noted that the Joint Housing Element as proposed by the County leads to maximum density which in addition to being contrary to current con- servation awareness trends, since it is wrong to abuse the land by allow- ing development to the saturation point, would also by current studies necessitate extensive tax hikes to provide the maximum services that would then be required. They summated that these "outside forces" intended upon breaking a community's zoning laws are not inevitable (as some had indicated) and that the Town of Los Altos Hills did have the strength and resources to combat them. WZ Councilman Davey addressed both the Town's zoning and Chapter III of the Housing Element. She stated that 6096 of the Town is still as when she was first elected -- 1 acre zoning. Reflecting upon her five years as Councilman, it was her feeling that the grid pattern created by the Town Ordinances has violated the land. She stated: "It was not inconsistent to say it was time to re-evaluate and reconsider the Town's zoning. We must look at ourselves and utilize master planning in its total environmental and social impact to bring about the changes necessary that I see this community must have. We now have the signal for change Marra suit) and we must change the 1 acre zoning." She stated the change will come about regardless whether the Town supports the County Housing Element. She stated such re -zoning with safeguards for slope and seismic problems could be combined with zoning for low income housing to obtain a proper social level mix within the community and still maintain density within the Holding Capacity projected for the Town. She concluded that density should be controlled in Santa Clara County as well as in the Town and the recommendations of the Planning Policy Committee for the proposed Joint Housing Element, principles which she endorses in total, should be prefaced with this thinking. Noting the late hour, Mayor Benson requested discussion move to resolutions to provide guidance for Councilman Grabowski who will represent the Town at the Policy Planning Committee meeting on 5-29-71 when member cities report on their recommendations for the proposed Joint Housing Element. RESOLUTIONS: Resolution No. 622 Endorsement of Joint Housing Element Mayor Benson read in entirety Resolution No. 622, a Resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills which endorses Chapter III of the Joint Housing Element. Motion by Councilman Davey, seconded by Corbett, to adopt resolution No. 622 failed by the following roll call vote. AYES: Councilman Davey NOES: Councilman Corbett, Grabowski, Helgesson and Mayor Benson, Resolution No. 623: Disapprove Joint Housing Element Mayor Benson read Resolution No. 623 in entirety, A Resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills which finds any action to change Town Zoning unacceptable. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Helgesson that Resolution No. 623 be adopted, and it was carried by the following roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Corbett, Grabowski, Helgesson and Mayor Benson. NOES: Councilman Davey. Resolution No. 624: Reaffirm Zoning Ordinance No. 78 Mayor Benson read Resolution No. 624 in entirety, A Resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills which establishes minimum lot size, maximum density and acceptable land use. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Helgesson, that Resolution No. 624 be adopted and it was carried by the following roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Corbett, Grabowski, Helgesson and Mayor Benson, NOES: Councilman Davey. -3- Resolution No. 625: Reaffirm Resolution No. 609 Rejecting Confederation Charges. Mayor Benson read Resolution No. 625 in entirety, A Resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills which reaffirms Resolution No. 609 rejecting Confederation de La Raza Charges. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Helgesson that Resolution No. 625 be adopted and it was carried by the following roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Corbett, Grabowski, Helgesson and Mayor Benson. NOES: Councilman Davey. Councilman Davey stated she opposed Resolutions 623, 624, and 625, since she had never seen nor heard them prior to this reading. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Benson adjourned the meeting at 10:55 P.M - to the next regular meeting on June 7, 1971. TJK/dq 5-26-71 L Respectfully submitted, � TED J. KLUZDK City Clerk Town of Los Altos Hills -4-