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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-06-1960 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION TIE:: June 6, 1960 - 7-"30 P.M. PLACE:: Fruitvale School, Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California TYPE:. Public Hearing - Proposed General Plan I ORGANIZATION Chairman Webster called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. and states that a Public Hearing was being held on the Proposed General Plan. Chairman Webster introduced the City Representatives present. Chairman Webster gave the background of the General Plan. The formation of the Citizens Committee, the study of their recommendations; the Study Sessions of the City Council, the Pl~ing Commission, Adminis- trative Staff and the Planning Consultant; the compilation of these s~udies by the Pl~n~ing Consultant end the presentation of the Proposed General Plan for Public Hearings. Chairman Webster stated that the General Plan was to be a flexible guide for the orderly development of Saratoga for the next 25 or 30 years, not a restrictive law; a guide to zoning and not actual zoning law. The cost of preparing the General Plan to be born equally by the Federal Government and the City of Saratoga. Chairman Webster introduced Mr. Lawrence Livingston, Planning Consultant, who presented the Proposed General Plan, a truly general plan, not specific as to each lot or parcel, to the public. Mr. Livingston explained in detail the five major policies; Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Parks and Other Public Areas and Streets and Highways. He clarified his presentation by pointing out the various areas on the General Plan Map. FLr. Livingston stated that the value of a General Plan depends upon how it is used, and that the next five years. would set the character of Saratoga for the next century. The General Plan when adopted by the City Council will be, by State law, !The Plan" until sanended by the City Council, which will be needed in perhaps five years time as conditions change. The General Plan will be the guide for the City Council and the Pl~ing Commission on specific zoning matters. -1- III QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION Chairman Webster briefly instructed the Public on the procedure of presenting their questions and or comments, and stated 6he order in which various portions of the plan would be considered. The following people spoke for or against the policies listed below: ~. RESIDENTIAL 1. Mrs. Elsie S. Patrick - 18506 Prospect Mrs. Patrick Verde Vista Mrs. Patrick, owner of 1.39 acres on the corner of Verde Vista Boyce Lane and Boyce Lane, pointed out that this is in a proposed acre zoning area, while adjoining property is zoned for much smaller parcels. She protested its inclusion in very Low density resi- dential area. Chairman Webster stated that the lines that are Webster drawn are general in nature, and a specific study would be made of actual zoning changes with Public Hearings being held. ltrs. Patrick stressed that it was level ground with small houses, Mrs. Patrick in vicinity and a nursery near, so that it was semi-commercial. Modest homes in partially developed area. 2. Mrs. Allen Boyce - 20900 Boyce Lane ~Lrs. Boyce Boyce Lane ~rs. Boyce used the Map to show that the proposed line between General Area low and higher density should be moved to the West if it were to place level land in the higher density zoning area. She suggested changing the line on the General Plan Map to a straigh; line from the westerly most point of the lO,O00 sq. ft. zone to a point near the end of Reid Lane. She objected to having an unrealistically drawn line left on the map when it is accepted. 3. George Cooper - 22701 Mt. Eden Road Cooper Apts. Mr. Cooper, representing himself end several other property Highway 9 & Harriman owners, presented a plan for developing 20 acres near Highway 9 and Harriman Avenue into an apartment community for retired people, with reasonable rates and including recreation facilitie: etc:, a non-garden type of apartments. He does not feel it is necessary to restrict apartments to the area shown on the map but should include a larger parcel. The next zoning not require -2- Cooper the extreme low density, with $200.00 plus units, which has Re :~ Apts. been proposed in the General Plan. Stoner 4. Norman Stoner, Attorney, 129 Csrdinal Lane, Los Gatos Herriman Highway 9 Mr. Stoner, attorney representing group interested in developing Apts. area near High School - Herriman and Highway 9 - 20 acre parcel. Mr. Stoner stated that the concept of having apartments only close to business sections should not be the rule. He read an article by the President of the American Institute of Architects, which appeared in "House & Home for 1960" regarding multi-family dwellings in other cities. He mentioned Bay Tree Apartments in T. os Gatos, 22 units per acre, stating that if it is necessary to have a density of 22 units per acre in order to have rent of $200.00 and above, would it not be prohibitive with 7 units per ac~e. F~r. Livingston stated that Bay Trees was mentioned in the Living s t on Re :. Multi. General Plan because it was only Garden Type Apartment in area, not necessarily a pattern. He further stated that 7 ~nits an acre is an overall average figure and is not intended to rep- resent high or low density, but an average density. There are some s_reas around the Village which will remain the entire time span of the plan, with much lower density since single family residences are already established. Lower cost housing could be provided very attractively in the Village area through court type units over shops etc:. There are three types of lots, requiring 5,000 sq. ft., 4,000 sq. ft. or 3,000 sq. ft. per unit - in an ar,a zoned for 3,000 sq. ft. per unit there could be about 15 units, and there are no plans to change this. B. CO~CIAL 1. Fred H. Smith - San Tomas Road Smith Pro~. Mr. Smith questioned commercial zoning in area of his property z one -3- Smith Prof. adjoining Quito Shopping Center. Chairman Webster advised that this is zoned for Professional Webster and administrative - Cox and Saratoga Avenue. Kraule 2. Mrs. Otto Kraule - l~J~:O Springer Village Mrs. Kraule questioned commercial zoning in area between creek and Big Basin Way - Retail or P~rking. Chairman Webster stated that this is shown as ultimate com- Webster mercial use - parking, retail etc:.. F~s. Kraule asked if property at Fourth and Springer is multi- Kraule Multi. family dwelling area. Webster Chairman Webster advised that it is. 3. Mrs. Theodore Rosenfeld - 19~41 Los Gatos-Saratoga Rd. Rosenfeld C-S Zone Mrs. Rosenfeld asked about C-S zone setback from Highway 9 and if centerline had been determined. Mr. Livingston stated that the highway will be 90 ft. and Livingston property line will be 45 ft. from centerline when est~olished; the required setback from the property line is 70 ft., which allows room for service lane and parking area. C. INDUSTRIAL 1. Mr. Theodore Rosenreid - 19441 Los gatos-Saratoga Rd. Rosenfeld Professional Mr. Rosenreid requested catagories designated in C-S zone, and if they included Professional. Mr. Livingston stated that the catagories were too numerous to Livingston read at the meeting, and suggested that he contact the City Office for a copy of the C-S regulations. 2. Sam Hernandez - 1~626 Big Basin Way Hernandez industry Mr. Hernandez asked - "If light industry is such an awful thing, why is it that so many cities welcome it?" Mr. Livingston commented that each community should make its Livingston own decisions and the policy adopted by the Citizens Committee is that they do not want industry in Saratoga. He pointed out that in a community like Saratoga - minimum ser- vice city - industry would greatly increase cost of Police _~_ Livingston Re: Hernandez fire protection, and there would be a greater tendency toward Industry lower priced homes for the workers in these industries - hence lower tax income per residence. D. SCHOOLS · PARES - OTHER PUBLIC AREAS 1. Mrs. Allen Boyce ~ 20900 Boyce Lane Boyce Parks Mrs. Boyce inquired about the purchase of land for parks requir- Bonds ing a bond issue. Mr. Livingston said that it would, depending upon circumstances; Livingston but he hoped that it would encourage some people to donate property for parks. E. STREETS AND HIGHWAYS 1. Don Orlando - 18922 Prospect Road Orlando Lawrence Mr. Orlando asked what happened to the Lawrence Station Freeway Station Freewa~v and what about the interchange. Mr. Livingston explained that no interchange was required, as Livingston there was nee~ for only a lO0 ft. right-of-way south of Prospect along Quito Road. He stated there will be no change within 2~ years - only on the West Valley Freeway. 2. R. W. Gillespie - 13385 Sur~ Lane Gillespie Gravel Mr. Gillespie asked "will gravel trucks be permitted to use Trucks Routes Surrey Lane if extended to Highway 9 and Pierce Road if bridge strengthened and condition of Pierce improved?" Mr. Livingston said the City would have the right to designate Livingston which streets would be used for truck traffic, and suggested tha; P~. Gillespie send in a written communication. Chairman Webster stated that lack of traffic on Pierce not Webster due to condition, but cooperation of Quarry Operators. 3. Oscar K. Freyschlag - 1512~ Quito Road Freysc~lag Quito trees Protested any change in Quito Road that would remove any large trees. He st§ted that he would send in a written statement Re: ls~rge trees/He stated that he would send in a written state- ment before the June 20th meeting. -5- 4. Dr. Charles Johnston -- 21616 Brookwood Lane Johnston Village QUestioned the Saratoga Avenue extension and asked if it would By-Pass not be more feasible to plan a by=pass starting at a point further north to divert traffic. ~. Livingston stated that a by-pass to the north had previous- Livingston ly had consideration by the County, but he recommended that it .. be dropped, because of cost and number of homes eliminated. He pointed out that the route along the creek was more econom- ical and it also provided a circle to enter the Village by one road and leave by another. Dr. Johnston slated he would submit a written plan to the Pls~ing Commission. 5. Donald Kleyensteuber - 14280 Lutheria Way Kleyensteuber Pres ~vation I-~. Kleyensteuber stated that he has worked with the Highway Tree§ High. 9 Saratoga Ave. Association interested in preserving rural areas. He protested the widening of Highway 9 and Saratoga Avenue - stating that the trees lining Skratoga Avenue most beautiful in the area. He also stated there was no assurance that the street work will be done to preserve the trees. He believes that the West Valley Freeway will take care of increased traffic. Lawrence Livingston quoted the following figures on vehicles ~ivingston in July 1959: Highway 9) Sun. 12,100 Saratoga South) Sun. 5,700 Non. 9,800 of Fruitvale ) Mon. 4,600 Predictions for Saratoga Lawrence Livingston 15,000 De Leuw, Cather 28,000 FIr. Livingston stated that if this street^improvement is care- fully designed, most of the large trees can be preserved in the parking lanes. D~. Kleyensteuber asked if Public would yote for bonds if no Kleyensteuber Bonds assurance of tree protection. Webster Financing not valid for discussion now.. Seperate hearing. -6- 6. Ron Knapt - 13630 Surrey Lane Mr. Knapt said he inquired at the City Office some time ago Knapt Surrey Lane and was told that Surrey Lane was not a proposed thru street. Mr. Livingston explained that the information given him was,at Livingston that tim~ correct, and it has only recently developed to be a collector street. 7. Morris Tripp - 15231 Quito Road Tripp Quito Rd. Asked - "Can we consider narrowing or put more curves in roads?" narrowing Specifically Austin Corners to Railroad track on Quito. Mr. Livingston said they have not reco~ehded addition of Livingston curves to any street, but he believed it could be done by forming an assessment district. He added, however, that all new collector streets do curve, desirable to slow traffic and for better appearance. 8. Mrs. R. W. Walby - 18561 Marshall Lane Walby School Mrs. Walby stated that since Marshall Lane School will be on Traffic Quito Sobey Road she believes that the road should be widened South of Pollard because of increased traffic. Mr. Livingston explained that ~11~~r~X Livingston ~ with "to" and "from" traffic to the school the traffic will increase, but not during peak hours sufficient to require additional lanes. 9. Mrs. Leon Messier - 15~lO Quito Messier Los Gatos ~s. Messier protested the proposed boundary chan~ between Proposal Los Gatos and Saratoga, which she claims will enable Los Gatos to make a four lane road, which is inconsistent with the General Plan and would destroy the beauty of Quito Road. She asked if an election would be condidered. Mr. Howe, City Administrator, explained Los Gatos's proposal as- Howe presented to the City Council., Messier ~s. Messier said protests would be sent in by the residents. Chairman Webster suggested they be sent to the City Council Webster since the~ at presen~ have this under advisement. -7- Mrs. Messier stated that in last 3 years more accidents hap- Messier accidents Quito pened on wide portion of Quito Road than on winding section.. Mr. Livingston reiterated that Quito South of Pollard would Livingston remain 2 lane road. lO. Elmer Halstead - Verde Vist~ Lane Halstead Verde Vista ~. Halstead asked if Verde Vista Lane was Private or City private street Street, and whether the property owners could form an assessment district. ~. Howe advised that any time the property owners dedicated Howe the land, it will become a city street, and that anyone can form an assessment district. Webster Chairman Webster suggested that ~~~. Halstead contact the City Office for further clarification. ll. P. J. Walker - 1~660 Quito Road Walker Q~ito Mr. Walker asked if 35 miles per hour was the proper speed trees widening limit on Quito Road. Chairman Webster advised that this subject did not come under Webster the General Plan and could not be discussed. ~. Walker asked if creek will be changed if Quito widened and Walker asked if 2 lanes would be enough, and stated he hoped that the beauty of the road would be preserved. Mr. r~ivingston quoted the following forecast for 1985, and add- Livingston ed that a precise plan would be reviewed prior to its adoption: Quito Rd. from Prospect to Pollard 18,000 - ~ lanes " " Pollard South ll,000 - 2 lanes 12. Marion Raney --18671 Maude Avenue Raney Mr. Rayney asked what the present traffic count is on Quito Road count on Quito Mr. Livingston quoted figures obtained from Mr. Huff as 4,500 on the north end and 1,800 on the south end. 13. Dick Brooding - 19969 Scotland Drive Brooding timing on Mr. Brooding asked if the proposed freeway has a timeing and freeway how might this affect ~ow of traffic on other streets Livingston Mr. Eivingston said that this is a Federal Aid Route, depend- to ent upon Federal funds, and it could ba as late as 1970 before t~' Brooding the route is opened to traffic, but present plans call for 1965. Chairman Webster ~ounced that the next public hearing on the proposed General Plan will be held on Monday, June 20th 1960. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. City Personnel: Planning Commissioners: Anderson, Higgins, Bennett, Webster, City Administrator, Director of Public Works, Pls~ing Consultant Press: 3