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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-20-1982 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES DATE: ,'.Tuesday, April 20, 1982 - 8:00 P.M. PLACE: ~'.Community Center Meeting Room, Allendale Avenue, Saratoga TYPE: ~djourned Regular Meeting Roll Call Present: Commissioners Bolger, King, Laden, Schaefer and Zambetti Absent:' Commissioners Crowther and Monia PUBLIC' HEARING A.' Consideration'Of Amendments to the 1974 General Plan of the -.City of. ~aratega (Areas A,"C and J) ~?~he public hearing began with the area representatives outlining their area plans. Dora Grens, representing Area A, highlighted the_~ain'points of concern for that area. One of.the Furposes of' the area plan is to reinforce and fill'out the Specific Plan. Another purpose is the prevention of landslides and to hold down the loss in life and property. Damage to hillside areas due heavy winter rains was cited. She stressed that the main concern was .the proposed.change of Pierce Road. She felt that the · inability of determining easements was a great problem. Area A felt they would like to prevent. this from happening'further up the hill, thus eliminating the costs to the City. The representatives of Area A proposed their suggestions. as economic and safety measures. The representatives strive to create"improvements to Pierce Road. Director of Planning and Policy Analysis stated he reviewed the General Plan with the City Attorney and presented.'their findings with particular attention being given to Item 14, this being the cancellation Of the Williamson Act.' Mr. Robinson informed the Committee that with.the passage of the Robinson Act effective January 1, Item 14 would have to be eliminated, but added that this should not detract from the resident concerns since the Robinson Act is more stringent than those of the existing Williamson Act. Dora Grens indicated that Williamson Act lands had been can- celled based on the finding of health, safety and welfare, and that is the reason Item 14 was worded as it was in the area plan. With regard to Item 15, Mr. Robinson pointed out, on the advice of the City Attorney, that the last portion of the second line allows some'~confusion in its interpretation. The City Attorney felt no geologist could be required to assure the safety in writing and further suggested that as written, the proposal might be opening the doors to the liability for the City. Mr. Robinson felt the wording should be modified or clarified. Mr. Robinson discussed the nature of Item 16, stating that the City has agreed to participate in the formation of a water assessment district in this area. Discussion followed. It was felt'that the people in the area would benefit because of the fact that their water pressure would be automatically increased and they would not be paying for the District. Discussion followed as to the status of Pierce Road, as to whether this road is an arterial or collector street. Staff defined an arterial street as any street which accumulates traffic from collector streets, and since Pierce Road i~ the major road in the western hillside, it is, therefore, an arterial road. It was maintained by staff that Pierce Road can be classified as an arterial street, while still protecting its environmental setting. Discussion followed on Area A. 1 With regard to Area C, the Lyngso property was discussed. The litigation issue has been resolved, therefore, Lyngso would have to leave~ Jerry-Kocir expressed concern about the parti- cular use of the Lyngso property and felt it has been quasi- commercial for years. The question now arises as to how to address the type of housing and zoning. It was pointed out that the zoning is R-1-12,500. Mr. Robinson summarized Area C's recommendations, asking for more emphasis on the gateway, Texaco station and the major revamping of the gateway with added emphasis on beautification. It was further stated that Items 6,7,8,9. and 10 of the golden rod (staff recommendation) were agreed to by the area representative. One point specifically dealt with the major vacant portions of the Carriea property, and it was pointed out that the recommended use of the property is residential or low density office use. The question was raised as to how to get the assessment district and the business improvement area formed. Mro Robinson pointed out that this could be done several ways, one of which includes the development of commercial property. Another involves long-term work with property owners. Jerry Kocir suggested that those who would not participate in the assessment plan be assessed when they apply for future permits. The question was posed as to where the funds were to come from for the beautification process. It was offered that ~his fund- ing could come from several sources, one of these being a special federal grant for planting street trees. Commissioner Schaefer suggested that staff contact Cal Trans to find out what funds might be available for any kind of beautification, with the idea that beautification might also increase safety. Commissioner Zambetti expressed concern for the C-V district, and questioned the fact that the C-V district was developed under the use permit and that the C--N district does not require a use permit. He further questioned the requirements of a use permit for a business changing hands or changing the nature of its business. Mr. Robinson clarified these concerns and directed his response to the Blue Hills Area. It was determined that this area will be developed under a use permit regardless of acreage. Mr. Robinson recommended that if concern persisted, the change be made to iDcorporate 'this area into the Area C Plan. Staff then clarified by stating that the acreage limitation only deals with mixed commercial and residential use. The Commission questioned Area C's opposition to the gas station on the corner, to ascertain whether the objections were to the use or the structure. Action Program #2, addresses the issue, stating that action would be taken to enhance the gate- way and a redevelopment plan should include extensive landscaping. Particular attention should be given to a park-l-ike area on the corner. Discussion followed as to the type of park under consideration, whether active or passive, and further, whether a gas station could remain if it were combined with a landscaped area. Staff noted that the present use is designated as area to be preserved in conjunction with development, adding an opinion that the gateway proposal intends this corner be developed for landscape use. Commissioner King questioned if there was any way within the General Plan"~to obtain a use permit. '.Mr. Robinson suggested that perhaps by tightening up definition, or added that it can be accomplished by designating an area and placing specific design requirements upon it, or finally he suggested a use permit can be obtained for each use going into an area. The real consideration, Robinson maintained was whether options should be outlined in the General Plan with standard type of uses. It was suggested by Mr. Kocir that the City look at the zoning district, at the particular location and that it allow for some type of P-D zoning with various important things such as an open-space park and uses for every'business that goes into it. 2 He. further suggested that there be use permits for each business in order to know what busiDesses will be in the area. Consideration was given to the wording of the proposal by the Area Committee in order that the three parcels could be treated as a unit. Commissioner Zambetti initiated discussion about the Carriea property and its proposed uses. Criteria examined included problems with signage, access and traffic. Co**~unissioner Zambetti suggested that the Commission give the landowner direction as to proposed use. A summary of issues and recommendations. for Area J was read by Commissioner Zambetti at length (see =attaChed pages).'.' Concern was expressed about redefining zoning for the Village area. The Village was referred to as a clustering and butchering of zoning and the Area asks for a metes and bounds description with a physical topography map of the Village, which would then be called the Village overlay. All new uses within the C-C would require a use permit in order that the uses do not become more intense than the Area wishes. them to be. It was stated that the people do not want what C-V is, rather what they would like to see is some type of housing. As it stands, what they will end up with is some type of commercial development. A need for a turn-around was emphasized by Commissioner Zambetti as a means of improving circulation within the Village. Kathy McGoldrick, representing E1 Quito Park Homeowner's Association, pointed out that the General Plan was the topic at their last meeting, at which time a consensus was reached, confirming that they wished no hardware store, etc. on the Abram's property. Housing was also an issue, and it was called to the Commission's'attention that the association would rather see any type of housing, preferably single-family, instead of condominum zoning. John Kah!e made mention of a letter he had previously addressed to the Commission concerning the specific parcel he owns on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road on which stands a home designed by Julia Morgan. In the interest of long-term preservation, with historical impact, he requested usage of this str. u_cture as. a bed 'and 'breakfast'.hoUse. He added such use-would eliminate deteri~r. ation and present less 'traffic problems. He further suggested a conditional use permit be devised to allow bed and breakfast for historically designated buildings. Upon Kahle's invitation, the Commission arranged to visit the home on May 6. Commissioner King asked staff about the status of the manu- factured homes issue. Mr. Robinson informed him that staff had collected all the State bills regarding manufactured housing and could get the Ordinance back in May. He further stated that the City Attorney would be reviewing the bills also. Commissioner Schaefer brought up the General Plans for many other cities and suggested these plans could be reviewed upon request. Commissioner Schaefer. questioned whether to reinstate the Land Development Committee. It was decided to discuss this at a future meetings. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. binson Jr ect ' or of Planning & Policy Analysis 3