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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-1990 Planning Commission Minutes (2)VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT November 14, 1990 Item 7 (Peninsula Townhomes Assoc.) Comments of Commissioner Caldwell COMMISSIONER C~T.nWELL: As I stated at our last study session, this proposal that's before us tonight is the proposal that I most favor out of the ones that have been presented; and I think that you've addressed some of the overall bulk and density issues that we have raised in the past. I have a problem with making the variance findings for the rear commercial setback and I'm wondering if staff can provide any assistance here in taking a fresh look at that and see how we might go about it otherwise if we can't make the findings. For instance, I'm wondering if there is some mechanism by which we can have some kind of zoning amendments so that there is an exception created for this kind of situation where you have abutting commercial and residential uses because I do think that that zero lot line there is useful. I guess what I've learned tonight is that the reduction in the side yard setback is a matter of the conditional use permit not a variance. MR. EMSLIE: For the residential portion. There's still a variance for the commercial portions. COMMISSIONER CALDWELL: Well, I have a problem with the one for that commercial portion. Commercial parking, I went back and looked at the site and I noted that right now the Hubbard and Johnson parking area is being used by somebody, I don't know whether it's the patrons of the neighboring commercial areas. So it's clearly a problem. There's a spillover effect already so I am concerned about the limitation on commercial parking and my preference is to move closer to a one space per 200 square foot of commercial space ratio than what we have right now. Density, I like the cottage approach quite a bit. One thing that I noticed in reviewing the staff's July report is that the recent townhome developments that have been approved by the Planning Commission average about nine units per acre and we're talking about twelve units per acre here. This is connected to my concern about providing what I determine usable open space to the residents who will be living in this development and I suppose if, I'd sort of like some kind of a fresh look at the, as you move further down the village on the main street... COMMISSIONER BURGER: .You mean a redesign? COMMISSIONER CALDW~.~-~ Well, let me finish. I think there's room there to sort of create another opening like you have at the beginning with that village green effect and I think that would really add to the feeling of spaciousness and some of the characteristics of Saratoga that I would like to emulate as well in this development. Noise, it sounds like you're proposing a 14- foot wall on the south side and you've got some sort of...no? COMMISSIONER TUCKER: I understood the applicant to say that the 14-foot wall is the building per se. COMMISSIONER CALDWELL: I see. COMMISSIONER TUCKER; Am I correct in that? APPLICANT: Correct. COMMISSIONER CAT.nW~3.: Okay. Well, there's that whole issue as we're coming to the [unintelligible] where if there are some troubling noises created by the neighboring commercial use whether at some point those residents in your development are going to be upset by that and whether there are some things that you can do to structurally mitigate that, I'd like to look into that a little bit more. I don't know how much thought you've given to that. As you said this letter was recently submitted .and you did mention the double-paned windows but perhaps there are some other things that can be done to address that. The traffic signal, I would be ~.amenabl~'.. to the reimbursement agreement. I have to say though that I sort of interpreted the staff report that referred to City Engineer's finding to mean that the City Engineer did look at your development.and determined that the increased traffic that would be generated by it would warrant your paying for that traffic signal in full. Nonetheless, I think that I'd be happy to look at that to get some further input from Larry and think about the reimbursement agreement. I think that the landscaping plan is important and my preference would be that that come before us for approval if not tonight soon in the future so that we can take a look at that.