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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-04-1982 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES DATE: Tuesday, May 4, 1982 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Community Center Meeting Room, Allendale Avenue, Saratoga TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting ROUTINE ORGANIZATION Present: Commissioners Bolger, King, Monia, Schaefer. Commissioner Zambetti arrived late. Absent: Commissioners Crowther and Laden PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of amendments to the 1974 General Plan of the City of Saratoga; Planning Areas B, G, H, and I. Area B Staff outlined the area proposals indicating the desire of the residents to have the area maintained with the same type of land uses, primarily single-family dwellings. Staff further noted that all of the area concerns dealt with traffic, specifically with traffic signals at Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Blauer and Big Basin and Fourth, also with the possibility of sound barriers. The Area asked that the City study the flow of traffic and consider the impact of increased traffic before any development begins. Mr. Kocir spoke on behalf of the proposal, summarizing the proposal, and crosswalks and asking for painted medians or pedestrian islands at Pierce, Brandywine and Blauer, asking further for an acceleration- deceleration lane off of Pierce Road and the entrance to the Argonaut Shopping Center to eliminate the need for frontage roads. He asked that a traffic light also be included at this location. Kocir then addressed the easement between Argonaut Shopping Center and the City- owned property on Cox Avenue and the.posSibility of a barricade wall between Mr. Wong's property and the Argonaut Shopping Center. Staff suggested this issue be discussed at the May 18th Study Session and further suggested that the issue be reviewed with the present City Council to familiarize them with the issue. Kocir proceeded to discuss the possibility of a traffic light at Blauer which was needed because of the school children, shopping center and the residents~ The problems of a left turn out of the shopping center, a-need for a stop'sign and a crosswalk at the shopping center and the danger of the bicycle path on the west side of Pierce Road were noted. by Kocir. A request was made from the audience for a bicycle path through Paramount Drive, through Brookwood, and through Foothill. With regards to the issue density in Area B, Commissioner King pointed out that the area behind the Villages already has high-density condominiums and, therefore, he maintained, that long-term development of this side of the Village would benefit the housing needs of the community and the further economic viability of the Village. 'Residents in this area may have spoken at the Village Area Plan meetings. Kathy McGoldrick was concerned with the ability of the small streets in the condominium area to handle additional traffic and was further concerned with the preservation of Foothill Park. Commissioner Zambetti moved to allow the density and develop the area conforming to the density of the surrounding areas except for the area surrounded by Area J and McCarthyville area. Commissioner King ~.econded the motion. The motion was retracted bY Commissioner Zambetti after discussion with the audience and other Commissioners. Commissioner Bolger moved to accept item number one as written. Commissioner Monia seconded the motion. Commissioners Bolger and .i_' Monia voted to accept the motion. Commissioner King opposed with Commissioners Schaefer and Zambetti abstaining. A wording change was made in item number two, changing the words "shall be" to "should be", following discussion of the appropriate terminology. With consideration to item number three, Commissioner Schaefer moved that the traffic be reviewed to"enable those living in the area of Fourth Street to safely enter Big Basin Way during peak traffic and holiday times when traffic is heavy,'without specifying how this should be done. Commissioner King seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. Items four, five and six were considered to be favorable as proposed. Commissioner Monia moved that item se~en~".be .added, .stating'that. watkways~Should.be considered.'.for Pierce,'B~andyWine, and Blauer~.. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Unanimous decision to add action program 8 to have bike paths on both sides of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. Commissioner Monia moved to recommend that a stop sign be placed in the parking lot, COmiDg OUt Of the ArgoD. aut Shopping Center. Commissioner Schaefer did not feel a motion was necessary and it was decided to leave the issue up to the City Council. Area G Staff pointed out the emphasis of this proposal was on making sure that the one-acre residential developments be predominant throughout the area, further noting the recommendations of the residents for very low densitysingle-.family developments, .specifically, R-1-40,000. The residents also ask' that any improvements of the roads should be definitely oriented to the mitigation of traffic hazards and that the scenic aspects be preserved. Commissioner'Monia asked that a note be added to the General Plan requesting the review of the hazardous area, specifically, the right turn onto Fruitvale from Burgundy since shrubbery and a fence obstructed vision; thus, the area was dangerous because of the possibility of unseen joggers. Commissioner Monia moved to accept the Area G plan as proposed. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Area H Staff outlined the proposal noting the request of the residents stating that all future developments in the area be limited to single-family residential uses, and that the areas of more ~an one unit per acre be confided to the west side of Wildcat Creek. The proposal asked that flood zoning be enforced,. that open space recreation be provided, and that Saratoga Avenue be improved from Fruitvale to Herriman, with the traffic lanes bein'g clearly defined. It was further requested that the City orchard be designated a historical preserve under th.e Heritage Preservation Ordinance, and finally, that the Redwood School, if not used for school purposes, be designated R-1-40,000. Jody Meggs discussed the. danger of the poorly marked bike lanes and traffic lanes,'.further indicating the danger posed by the width of the street since trees posed an obstruction problem. Commissioner King moved to include in item number four, the delineation of traffic and bike lanes, the pruning of trees and the improvement o'f safety along Saratoga Avenue. Commissioner Schaefer included that additional reflectors might be added. Commissioner Zambetti seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Monia moved to approve Area H with the recommendations as amended in item number four. Commissioner King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Area I No one was present to address the issue. Staff outlined the proposal in which the residents ask .that if an inconsistency arises in the status quo zoning and that zoning outlined in the General Plan, that the General Plan take precedence. The residents asked that the' Oak School be retained as an operating school, indicating that if the school must close, only a "soft" use be designated. Commissioner Scbaefer defined "soft" use as residential .or low density development. Bicycle and pedestrian paths, landscaping for Saratoga-S~nnyvale Road, sound barrier walls and a safe access to Mendelsohn and Piedmont Roads were additional concerns of the residents. Discussion ensued concerning the clarity of item one as to the zoning inconsistencies to determine the true intent of the residents. Commissioner Monia moved that the zoning be kept consistent with the 'map and that the density conform to the surrounding areas, adding that the area chairman should be notified that this is how the Commission construes the information received. Commissioner King seconded"'the motion. .The motion passed 3-2, with Commissioners Bolger and Schaefer opposing. Staff was directed to set May 26 for a public hearing to discuss Area I and the density issue. Topics for discussion for the May 18 meeting were determined to be areas E, D, F, K and L. Commissioner Schaefer moved to adjourn the Regular Adjourned Meeting. Commissioner King seconded the motion.' The motion passed and the meeting was adjo',~rned at 9:35 p.m. .~s on, Jr. Director of Planning & Policy Analysis