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ORDINANCE NO. 239
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS
HILLS, AMENDING SECTIONS 9-4.102, 9-4.204, 9-4.205,
9-4.227, 9-4.229, 9-4.258, 9-4.501, 9-4.508, AND
9-4.712, SUBSECTION (7) OF SECTION 9-4.506, SUBSEC-
TIONS (a) AND (e) OF SECTION 9-4.603, SUBSECTION (d)
OF SECTION 9-4.703, THE FIRST SENTENCE AND SUBSECTIONS
(a), (b) AND (c) OF SECTION 9-4.604, THE FIRST SENTENCE
OF SECTION 9-4.701 AND 9-4.710; ADDING SUBSECTION (c)
TO SECTION 9-4.603, AND ARTICLE XV; AND REPEALING
SECTION 9-4.103, RESPECTIVELY, OF CHAPTER 4 ENTITLED
"SUBDIVISIONS" OF TITLE 9 ENTITLED "PLANNING AND
ZONING" OF THE LOS ALTOS HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE.
The City Council of the City of the Town of Los Altos
Hills does ORDAIN as follows:
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SECTION 1. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
The title of Section 9-4.102 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivi-
sions" of Title 9 0£ the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code is amended
to read as follows:
Purposes and Objectives.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.103 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of
Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is repealed.
SECTION 3. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.204 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of
Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended to
read as follows:
Section 9-4.204. Area, Net. "Net Area" shall mean
the gross area of any parcel of land, less panhandles and
all public and private easements for vehicular access
within the parcel, excluding easements primarily for
maintenance and emergency access. Panhandles are defined
separately.
SECTION 4. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.205 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of Title
9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended to read
as follows:
Section 9-4.204. Average Parcel Slope. For any
parcel, the average slope is the value 5, in percent,
computed in accordance with Section 9-4.604(b)(3).
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SECTION 5. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.227 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of Title
9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended to read
as follows:
Section 9-4.227. Foundation Design, Pole. "Pole
Foundation Design" shall be defined as a foundation de-
sign which supports the main structure from the earth
via the use of wooden poles or other similarly approved
pole devices. The installation of this foundation design
type shall result in little if any alteration of the
natural contours of the building site, and shall also
result in an air space beneath the lowest floor level
which is unenclosed.
SECTION 6. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.229 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions"
of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended
to read as follows:
Section 9-4.229. Frontage. "Frontage" shall
mean that portion of the length of a single parcel or
lot which abuts public or private road rights-of-way.
SECTION 7. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.258 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of Title
9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended to read
as follows:
Section 9-4.258. Road, Private. "Private Road" is
a road, way, or street in private ownership and under
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private maintenance, not offered for dedication as a
public road, way, place or street, which affords the
principal means of access to one or more lots or parcels
which do not have frontage on a public street.
SECTION 8. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
The second sentence of Section 9-4.501 of Chapter 4, entitled
"Subdivisions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code
hereby is amended to read as follows:
An over-riding concern is that the proposed
development and improvements will conform to the
General Plan and its elements, and to any applicable
special plans.
SECTION 9. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Subsection (7) of Section 9-4.506 of Chapter 4, entitled "Sub-
divisions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby
is amended to read as follows:
Section 9-4.506. Form of Tentative Map and
Accompanying Data.
(7) A number for each lot, approximate dimensions of the
lots, including frontage, depth, width and gross and net
area of each lot to the nearest hundredth (.01) of an
acre. Each lot shall have inscribed therein a circle,
one hundred sixty feet (160') in diameter, which includes
a building site.
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SECTION 10. AMENDMENT OF CODE
Section 9-4.508 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of
Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended
by changing
Section 9-4.504
appearing in the first sentence thereof to read
Section 9-4.505.
SECTION 11. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Subsection (a) of Section 9-4.603 of Chapter 4, entitled
"Subdivisions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code
hereby is amended to read as follows:
Section 9-4.603. Preparation of Tentative Lot
Design and Development Plans.
(a) Each lot shall contain a one hundred sixty foot
(160') circle inscribed totally within its boundaries.
In addition to containing a building site, said circle
shall have its general location determined by the
following:
SECTION 12. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.603 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of Title
9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended by
relettering subsections (c) to (t), inclusive, thereof as sub-
sections (d) to (u), respectively, and by adding a new subsection
(c) thereto to read as follows:
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Section 9-4.603. Preparation of Tentative Lot
Design and Development Plans.
(c) Each lot shall contain an area of at least one
(1.00)net acre within which no straight line exceeding
350 feet can be drawn.
SECTION 13. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Subsection (e) of Section 9-4.603 of Chapter 4, entitled "Sub-
divisions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code
hereby is amended to read as follows:
Section 9-4.603. Preparation of Tentative Lot
Design and Development Plans.
(e) Gross and net acreage of each individual lot to
the nearest hundredth (0.01) of an acre which may be
based on the calculation of the gross and net acreage
of the entire parcel.
SECTION 14. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
The first sentence and subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section
9-4.604 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of Title 9 of the
Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby are amended to read as
follows:
Section 9-4.604. Lot Size and Requirements.
The provisions of this section are minimum require-
ments for parcels used or intended to be used for
primary uses. Other ordinances of the City may impose
standards requiring substantially larger parcels.
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(a) Minimum parcel or lot area. No parcel or lot shall
have a net area less than 43,560 square feet.
(b) Slope density requirements. In addition to the
requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section,
the average area of parcels or lots created in any sub-
division, after May 16, 1972, shall not be less than the
following:
(1) Where the average slope of the parcel to be
subdivided is greater than ten percent (108), but not
greater than forty-five percent (458), the average net
lot area shall not be less than "a" as determined by the
following formula:
a = 1 where "S" is the average
1-.02143 (S-10)
slope of the parcel in percent as defined in subparagraph
(3) below.
(2) Where the average slope of the parcel to be
subdivided is greater than forty-five percent (458),
the following provisions shall be adhered to:
(i) The number of lots and average net lot
area permitted shall be based on a demonstration by the
applicant and finding by the Planning Commission that
each lot and related subdivision improvements can be
developed in compliance with the provisions of Section
9-4.102.
(ii) As a guideline, the formula provisions
set forth in subparagraph (1) of this subsection (b)
will be used by the Planning Commission to determine the
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the adequacy of the average net lot area of subdivi-
sions having average slopes up to and including 508.
(iii) In no case shall the average net lot area be
less than the area required by the provisions of sub-
paragraph (1) of this subsection (b) for a slope of forty-
five percent (458).
(3) For the purpose of subparagraphs (1) and (2)
of this subsection, the average slope of a parcel to be
subdivided shall be determined according to the formula
S = .00229 IL where:
A
(i) S is the average slope in percent;
(ii) I is the contour interval in feet;
(iii) L is the combined length of contour lines in
scale feet within the gross area; and
(iv) A is the gross area in acres of the parcel to be
subdivided.
(4) The topographic base map used to provide the
above information shall meet the requirements for tenta-
tive subdivision maps as set forth in Section 9-4.603
of this Chapter. Any portion or portions of a parcel to
be subdivided which have a natural slope greater than
fifty-five percent (558) may, as an option of the appli-
cant be assigned a slope of fifty-five percent (558) for
the purposes of computing the average slope of the
entire parcel. This option does not apply to artificial
cut and fill slopes.
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(5) Any proposed lot which is large enough to
be further subdivided pursuant to the provisions of
subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection (b) shall
be excluded in computing the average slope and average
net lot area in the balance of the subdivision.
(6) It is intended that the flexibility in indi-
vidual lot sizes permitted by the provisions of this Chapter
shall be used for the purpose of maximizing the inherent
usefulness of each lot as a superior building site and in
adjusting the overall subdivision to natural conditions,
terrain and the surrounding neighborhood. Generally,
within a subdivision, lot size shall increase with in-
creasing slope in order to achieve optimum overall subdivi-
sion design and the objectives given in Section 9-4.102. The
Planning Commission shall review the size of individual lots
to determine compliance with this intent.
(7) Once a final subdivision map has been recorded
for a subdivision, lot lines shall thereafter not be altered
so as to allow a greater number of lots in that subdivision
than the maximum permitted by the provisions of subparagraphs
(1) and (2) of this subsection (b). Lots not included in
the total net acreage used in determining average lot area,
as provided for in subparagraph (5) of this subsection (b),
may be further divided subject to the provisions of this
Chapter and other laws of the City.
(c) An exception shall be permitted in a proposed subdivision
creating not more than three (3) lots where the parcel proposed to be
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subdivided was formed prior to the Incorporation of the City. For
slope density calculations, the area (A) shall be computed from the
existing right-of-way line, except when the existing right-of-way is
less than forty feet (401), 3n which case the area (A) shall be com-
puted from a line twenty feet (201) from the center line of the
existing right-of-way.
SECTION 15. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
The first sentence of Section 9-4.701 of Chapter 4, entitled
"Subdivisions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code
hereby is amended to read as follows:
Section 9-4.701. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is
to establish basic road design standards that meet the
requirements of Section 9-4.102 and seek to balance the
necessity for safe roadways which provide adequate immediate
and long term circulation while simultaneously causing the
least modification to the native state of lands.
SECTION 15. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Subsection (d) of Section 9-4.704 of Chapter 4, entitled
"Subdivisions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code
hereby is amended to read as follows:
Section 9-4.703. Rights-of-way.
(d) Minimum rights-of-way widths shall be as follows:
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Type of Road
Arterial Road
Arterial Road, Hillside
Collector Road
Collector Road, Hillside
Local Road
Local Road, Hillside
Cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac, Hillside
Fire or Emergency Road
SECTION 17. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
%'
Minimum Right -of -Way
Sixty feet (60')
Sixty feet (60')
Sixty feet (60')
Sixty feet (60')
Sixty feet (60')
Fifty feet (50')
Forty feet (40')
Forty feet (40')
Variable
The first sentence of Section 9-4.710 of Chapter 4, entitled
"Subdivisions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code
hereby is amended to read as follows:
Section 9-4.710. Turning Circles. Turning circles at
the end of cul-de-sac streets shall have a roadway radius
of not less than thirty-two feet (32') and a right of way
radius of forty feet (40'), except that in mountainous or
hillside areas the roadway radius may be reduced to twenty-
two feet (221), and the right-of-way radius to twenty-
eight feet (28').
SECTION 18. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Section 9-4.712 of Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivisions" of
Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code hereby is amended
to read as follows:
Section 9-4.712. Private Roads. Private roads are permitted
provided the following requirements are met,
(a) The road is not a through road and there is clear
assurance it will remain so in the future. It cannot remain
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private if it becomes a through road.
(b) All lots served by the private road are included
in a road maintenance agreementwhich runs with the land
and is acceptable to the City Attorney.
SECTION 19. AMENDMENT OF CODE.
Article XV hereby is added to Chapter 4, entitled "Subdivi-
sions" of Title 9 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code, to
read as follows:
ARTICLE XV. Conditional Exceptions.
Section 9-4.1501. Commission Recommendations. The Plan-
ning Commission may recommend for Council approval condi-
tional exceptions from the provisions of this Chapter -
when, in the opinion of the Planning Commission undue
hardship may result from the strict compliance with the
provisions of this Chapter, and an exception would not be
contrary to the public interests. In making its findings,
the Planning Commission shall consider the existing land
use of the area, the nature of the proposed use of the land,
and the effect on traffic conditions probable therefrom.
However, no conditional exception shall be recommended for
Council approval unless the Planning Commission finds:
(a) That there are special circumstances or conditions
affecting such property so that the strict application of
the provisions of this Chapter would deprive the applicant
of the reasonable use of his land; and
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(b) That, by granting the conditional exception
applied for, any other landowner shall not be deprived of
the reasonable use of his land nor be subjected to undue
burdens or hardships or be deprived of any material use
or enjoyment of his property.
Section 9-4.1502. Council Consideration and Notices.
Upon the receipt of the recommendation for a conditional
exception from the Commission, the Council shall, at its
next regular meeting, act upon the recommendation and either
approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve such recom-
mendation.
Before any Council action is taken following the
recommendation of the Planning Commission for a conditional
exception, the subdivider shall have two (2) days' notice
of the meeting and intended action. Notice shall also be
given to any person who appeared at the hearing of the Planning
Commission and filed with the City Clerk a request for such
notice.
SECTION 20. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence,
clause or phrase of this Ordinance, or any part thereof, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is for any
reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid or ineffective by
any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect
the validity or effectiveness or application of the remaining
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portions of this Ordinance, or any part thereof, which can be
given effect without the invalid portion or application. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed each sec-
tion, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more
sections, subsections, subdivision, paragraphs, sentences, clauses,
or phrases be declared unconstitutional or invalid or ineffec-
tive.
SECTION 3. URGENCY MEASURE.
The immediate preservation of the public safety, health and
welfare requires the adoption of this Ordiance as an urgency mea-
sure. The facts constituting the need for such action are:
The City of the Town of Los Altos Hills has undertaken a study
of the subdivision regulations of the Town, among others, to
determine inadequacies therein and the consistency or lack thereof
with the General Plan of the Town.
In order to provide current regulations in the areas of form
of tentative maps, lot design and development plans, size and
requirements of lots, slope density requirements, road widths
and a procedure for granting conditional exceptions, the City
Council of the City of the Town of Los Altos Hills has caused to
be prepared modifications of local subdivision regulations which
the City Council has determined to be appropriate and necessary,
and which have been adopted as part of the within Ordinance.
In order that the foregoing regulations be available without
delay to be used by the property owners within the Town now
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desiring to commence development of their respective properties, It Is
necessary that the foregoing regulations be effective Immediately.
Therefore, this Ordinance is declared to be an Ordinance adopted
as an urgency measure and Is to be effective January 4, 1978.
This Ordinance shall be posted within the Town of Los Altos Hills
In three (3) public places.
Approved at a regular meeting of the City Council January 4, 1978,
by the following roll call vote.
AYES: Mayor Brown, Councilmembers Cheney, Hillestad, McReynolds
and Proft.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
APPROVED:
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance was Introduced, passed
and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of the
Town of Los Altos Hills held on the 4th day of January, 1978.
City Clerk
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