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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1Minutes of a Special Meeting Town of Los Altos Hills PLANNING COMMISSION Thursday, January 09, 2014, 7:00 P.M Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 Note: This document contains links that work in combination with the online version of the Minutes. htti)://www.losaltoshills.ca.aov/city-government/planning-commission/renorts 1. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chair Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner.Tankha Staff: Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director; Steve Padovan, Consultant Planner; Jaime McAvoy, Planning Secretary Chair Abraham noted a re -order of the agenda. 2. . PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR There were no presentations from the floor 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS At this time the Planning Commission considered Public Hearing Item 3.2. 3.2 AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 6 SANITATION AND HEALTH. CHAPTER 4 SEWAGE, ARTICLE 1 SEWAGE DISPOSAL, OF THE LOS ALTOS HILLS MUNIICIPAL CODE WITH REGARD TO PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS; FILE # 376-13-MISC; CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15061 (b) (3) (Staff -Debbie Pedro) - CONTINUED FROM DECEMBER 5, 2013 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. Community Development Director Debbie Pedro presented the staff report. Commission asked questions of staff. 1 Commissioner Mandle inquired about the section that refers to septic system :.failure.Ms. Peden confirmed that if a system cannot be brought to code, the -,County will work with the homeowner to get the system as close to code as 4Y possible. With the new ordinance, there are more options on acceptable septic designs, including alternative systems. The Commission expressed concern that there may be a public health hazard if the system is not brought up to code. Heather Forshey (DEH) clarified that the baseline for this process is no environmental hazard, no discharges, and no public health risk. Commissioner Partridge asked the representative to confirm that secondary dwelling units no longer have to have their own septic system, and that they can now connect to the primary tank. Ms. Peden confirmed this, stating that while a second system is not required, the existing tank may have to be upgraded. Commissioner Partridge asked the representative to give the Commission a few examples of alternative systems and any impact they might have. Commissioner Tankha stated she did not see a statement in the ordinance stating the responsibility of the homeowner to report a failing system. Ms. Peden and Ms.Pedro confirmed that this was in fact in the current ordinance, and while they are establishing a procedure with DEH for them to report any system failure they receive to the Town, this will not be stated in the ordinance. Chair Abraham inquired about how fees are established and whether it is consistent through the county. Ms. Peden confirmed the fees are consistent throughout the county. A conventional system would cost the homeowner an average of $15 — 20,000 to install and alternative systems can run $25 — 50,000. Alternative systems come with an operating permit with mandatory inspection, which will cost approximately $219 hourly. This will be the first time Santa Clara County has allowed alternative systems. Ms. Peden added that per the new ordinance, septic pumpers are now required to perform an inspection while pumping, and are required to inform the homeowner and the DEH when there is an issue; they can no longer walker away if they find one. Homeowners can consult the county to confirm that the claim is valid if they are concerned that a false claim has been made by companies that service septic tanks. Chair Abraham opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Samuel Broydo, Los Altos Hills, asked if he has an existing septic that works does he have to do anything because of the new code. Ms. Peden stated that an update may only be triggered in cases of failure or major remodel. F4 Enrique Klein, Los Altos Hills, stated his concern about environmental damage that could be caused by reducing the minimum distance to 200 feet, and stated his objection to the clause that a person only has to connect to sewer if it is a gravity flow system. Commissioner Partridge asked Mr. Klein for any advice he may have about further extending the sewer system. Are there things the Town could be doing to facilitate main lines such as the Mora Drive project? Mr. Klein suggested a reimbursement program for people who benefit from extending the sewer lines. Drew Maran, Drew Maran Construction, stated his support of the ordinance because it will protect open spaces more by not requiring secondary drainage fields. He also said that the alternative systems, which have been used in all other Bay Area counties, are good systems and positive alternatives. Mia Muraki, Swatt Myers Architects, stated her support of the new ordinance, and how it will limit the disturbance to the natural site. Ralph Brunner, Los Altos Hills, spoke in support of the .ordinance change and how it will protect the open spaces in Town. Chair Abraham closed the PUBLIC HEARING. Commissioner Couperus stated his support of the project. With the new technology it is time to update our systems and get in sync with the rest of the County. He acknowledged the positive effects of the changes, making it easier to construct secondary dwelling units. Commissioner Mandle stated her support of the update. She likes the options of alternative systems and is happy to see that certain Town standards are being retained. Commissioner Partridge does not support the 200 foot connection requirement, or the exceptions allowed for non -gravity flow system. He would prefer that the Town follow the County's conditions, but supports the update otherwise. Commissioner Tankha stated her agreement with Commissioner Partridge, and that the Town should follow the county standards for 300 foot connection distance. Chair Abraham mentioned past issues the Town has had with sewer capacity. He is concerned over whether or not the Town should make residents connect if they have a functional septic system. Commission discussed the possibility of changing the connection distance condition, as well as possibly making a distinction between new residences and major additions. Ms. Pedro suggested coming back after consulting with engineering and seeing the types and sizes of projects coming in that are connecting to the sewer system. Samuel Broydo spoke again, stated his septic system meets all the requirements, the sewer system, unless they choose to. agreement with Chair Abraham, if the . we should not require them to connect to Heather Forshey clarified that AB885, per the state, has a connection distance requirement of 200 feet. MOTION MADE: Commissioner Mandle moved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to adopt the draft ordinance in attachment one as proposed. The motion lacked a second and was lost. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Partridge moved to continue to the next Planning Commission Meeting, and requested that staff obtain additional information on AB885. In addition, to analyze the differences between the State, County and Town's sewer connection regulations. Specifically the requirements for the 200' connection distance, additions/remodels, and gravity flow systems. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Couperus. AYES: Chair Abraham, Commissioner Couperus, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha NOES: Commissioner Mandle ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. The Planning Commission now considered Public Hearing Item 3.1. 3.1 AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 8 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE (Buildin Regulations) to adopt the 2013 California Building` Standards Code, including but not limited to Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing Energy. Fire, and California Green Building Standards Codes with local amendments. File #380-13-MISC; CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15061 (b) (3) (Staff Steve Padovan). Consultant Planner Steve Padovan presented the staff report. 4 Commissioner Partridge inquired about the new chapters being proposed under Title VIII. Mr. Padovan clarified that Title VIII is being re -organized and that these were existing chapters that have been extracted or modified from other sections of Code. Chair Abraham asked if there were any requirements go above and beyond the state building code. Mr. Padovan clarified that the majority of the changes involve the Fire Code, but there are some building, California residential, and minor changes in the mechanical and plumbing codes. Most of the code amendments are similar to previously adopted amendments. Commission asked staff questions to clarify different details of the new or modified code sections. Chair Abraham opened the PUBLIC HEARING. Samuel Broydo, Los Altos Hills, inquired about the California Green Building Code Residential Checklist staff had provided at the meeting. Commissioner Abraham asked questions in regards to sections discussing appeals, PG&E, and modifications to the California Fire Code in reference to the Wildland Urban Interface area, more specifically a possible need for an update. Requested staffoutline the process required to update the Wildland Urban Interface map. Commissioner Mandle stated that she agreed that an update may be needed, but does not think it is an issue for the Planning Commission. Chair Abraham also noted grammatical errors and sections he felt should be removed. Chair Abraham closed the PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Commissioner Partridge moved to forward a recommendation to the city council to adopt the attached ordinance, to repeal chapters 1 - 9 of Title 8 of the LAHMC, adopt the 2013 California building standards code with amendments and renumber and amend the existing chapters in title 8 not related to the code updates. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tankha. Commissioner Mandle expressed an interest in the responses to Chair Abraham's questions. She is inclined to approve, but asked for suggestions as to how the Planning Commission could obtain these answers without holding up the approval. Ms. Pedro suggested inviting the Fire Marshall to meet with the Planning Commission to go over the changes made to the fire code. AYES: Commissioner Couperus. Commissioner Mandle, Commissioner Partridge, Commissioner Tankha NOES: Chair Abraham ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None OTION CARRIED. 4. OLD BUSINESS - none 5. NEW BUSINESS 5_1 Planning Commissioners Academy March 26-28, San Francisco, CA. Community Development Director Debbie Pedro presented this item. Commissioner Partridge suggested a meeting of Planning Commissioners from our comparable cities to discuss common issues. Commissioner Couperus further added the idea to make it an open-ended conversation about different ideas on how to handle situations in Town. 5_2 Designation of one member of the Planning Commission to act as a member of the Subdivision Committee per Los Altos Hills Municipal Code Section 9-1.407 and 9-1-510- Chair -1.510_ Chair Abraham appointed himself as the liaison to the Subdivision Committee. 6. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 6.1 Planning Commission Representative for December 12 - Commissioner Tankha Commissioner Tankha presented the report on this meeting. 6.2 Planning Commission Representative for January 16 -Commissioner Mandle 6.3 Planning Commission Representative for February 20 - Commissioner Partridge 6.4 Planning Commission Representative for March 20 - Chair Abraham 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7.1 Approval of December 5, 2013 minutes. 11 Commissioners Mandle, Couperus, and Chair Abraham noted corrections to the minutes.. MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Commissioner Tankha, seconded by Commissioner Mandle and passed unanimously to approve, with corrections, the December 5, 2013 minutes. 8. REPORTS FROM FAST TRACK MEETINGS - DECEMBER 17, 2013. 8.1 LANDS OF PENDHARKAR, 25955 La Loma Drive; File # 265-13-ZP-SD-GD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a major remodel/new residence. The proposal includes a 1,118 square foot first story addition, a 659 second story addition, and interior remodel. (Maximum height: 27'). CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15303 (a) (Staff- Brian Froelich). 9. REPORTS FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS - DECEMBER 10, 2013. 9.1 , LANDS OF TERZIS AND CHAN, 12733 Dianne Drive; File #338-13-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan for a new two story residence with basement and a pool approved at a Fast track hearing on October 4, 2011. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff Nicole Horvitz). 9.2 LANDS OF RAO, 26005 Newbridge Drive; File #319-13-ZP-SD; A request for a Site Development Permit for a landscape screening -plan for a new residence with a basement approved at the Fast Track hearing on February 14, 2012. CEQA review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304 (b) (Staff- Nicole Horvitz). 10. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 10:04 P.M.