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Home My WebLink About03-08-2000 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES DATE: Wednesday, March 8, 2000 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Adult Care Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, CA TYPE: Regular Meeting Vice Chairman Page called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Jackman, Kurasch, Patrick and Vice Chairman Page Absent: Commissioners Barry, Roupe and Chairwoman Bernald Staff: Director Walgren PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MINUTES - February 23, 2000 IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONERS PATRICK/KURASCH THAT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 23, 2000, BE APPROVED WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS. PASSED 2-0 (COMMISSIONER JACKMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN PAGE ABSTAINED. COMMISSIONERS BARRY, ROUPE AND CHAIRWOMAN BERNALD WERE ABSENT.) Page 7, paragraph 3, last sentence, “...compatible versus incompatible on the City’s part.” Page 18, paragraph 3, 7th sentence, “...percentages of new construction over what is existing construction as it would...” ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There was no one present who wished to speak. REPORT OF POSTING AGENDA Director Walgren declared that pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on March 3, 2000. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO PACKET Director Walgren announced that the packet had the following correction: Under Item 2, Saunders public hearing, the proposed height on page 3 should be 26 ft. rather than 25 ft. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 2 MARCH 8, 2000 CONSENT CALENDAR 1. V-99-014 (397-26-022) – LAFFOON, 14191 Squirrel Hollow Lane; Request for Variance approval for the addition of 279 square feet to the existing 3,438 square foot residence. Variance approval is necessary to further exceed the maximum allowable floor area for the site, which is 3,200 square feet. The site is 17,206 square feet and is located within an R-1-15,000 zoning district. (CONTINUED TO 4/12/00 AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT) IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONERS PATRICK/JACKMAN TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. PASSED 5-0 (COMMISSIONERS BARRY, ROUPE, AND CHAIRWOMAN BERNALD WERE ABSENT.) PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. DR-99-064 (517-12-022) – SAUNDERS, 20550 Lomita Avenue; Request for Design Review approval to demolish an existing 2,930 square foot, single story residence and construct a new 4,258 square foot, two story residence. The property is 20,047 square feet (net) and is located within an R-1-40,000 zoning district. Director Walgren presented the staff report, noting the request is for Design Review to demolish an existing 2,930 square foot single-story residence and construct a new 4,258 square foot two-story residence on a 20,047 net square foot lot. The site is located in an R-1-40,000 zoning district and meets all minimum zoning standard requirements. Staff recommends approval, subject to conditions in the staff report. Staff met with neighbors on the project who requested additional conditions: (1) replacement trees for the Black Acacia to be placed in the same location; (2) applicant to provide advance notice to the neighbors of the demolition schedule and the name and phone number of a contact person; and (3) arborist to be contracted to evaluate tree #3 on the property, including review by the City Arborist. Vice Chairman Page opened the Public Hearing at 7:45 p.m. Allen Nikitin, Architect, displayed a color drawing of the property. He said the project was unique due to the location of the oak tree. The homeowners wanted a single-story house with a second story for a guest room. The homeowners were concerned about the trees and had an arborist on site. He said the house is within the 26 foot height limit and was close to the footprint of the existing house. Commissioner Patrick asked if there were any objections to the conditions suggested by the neighbors. Rena Saunders, property owner, agreed to the conditions. John Purvis, 20602 Lomita Avenue, said his view of the mountains was precious, and the second PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 3 MARCH 8, 2000 story would cause an unacceptable impairment of his view. He expressed concern with any extension of the building and the increase in footprint of the house. He asked the Planning Commission to consider preservation of the tree. He added that he was told by a City planner that his view would not be affected. He felt there was inadequacy in the public hearing notice. He requested that the house not be two stories and that the height be 18 feet. Commissioner Kurasch asked if the public hearing notice was erroneous. Director Walgren said the public hearing notice indicated the proposed size of the house was 4,068 square foot, but the actual proposed size is 4,258 square feet. He felt that the notice was legal and did not represent any problems. Vice Chairman Page asked about the location of the views from Mr. Purvis’ house. Mr. Purvis said his view was from four places in his house including the master bedroom and deck, the French doors in the family room, windows facing the property, and from the entire back yard. Tracy Purvis, 20602 Lomita, said the ambiance of the back yard was based on the views. Beverly Darlington, 30604 Lomita, said the house would not impact her view of the hills. The proposed house will sit closer to her property. She noted that the house was 13 feet from her property and there was 19 feet on the other side of the house. She expressed concern about construction being allowed seven days a week. Mr. Nikitin said the second story addition was 600 feet which was a small portion of the rest of the house. Regarding the side yard setback, he said the garage would be on the 13 foot side of the house. He did not believe the placement of the second story was unreasonable to the project. Commissioner Kurasch noted that the maximum height allowed was 26 feet and asked about the height of the other part of the house. Mr. Nikitin said the tallest portion of the first story was 23 feet. Vice Chairman Page asked if the second story could be placed on the side of the house closest to the church property. Mr. Nikitin responded that the area of the house closest to the church property had a vaulted ceiling. Commissioner Kurasch asked about the ceiling height. Mr. Nikitin said the ceiling was 10 feet, but he was willing to go to 9 feet 4 inches. COMMISSIONERS PATRICK/JACKMAN MOVED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING (AT 8:25 P.M.) PASSED 4-0 (COMMISSIONERS BARRY, ROUPE, AND CHAIRWOMAN BERNALD WERE ABSENT) PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 4 MARCH 8, 2000 Commissioner Kurasch said the architect tried to look at ways to accommodate the property owner and the neighbor’s view. She did not believe there was room for redesign except for possibly lowering the roof height. Commissioner Jackman said the project was good planning, given the square footage of the lot and the location of the trees. Commissioner Patrick agreed that the plan was excellent for the constrained lot. She would have been more concerned if the two-story addition was larger. She said she would vote in favor of the project. Vice Chairman Page said much work went into creating an appropriate home, with the second story kept to a minimum. He suggested limiting the weekend construction activity. Director Walgren noted that larger projects have been limited to construction activity Monday through Friday only. Commissioner Kurasch suggested adding a condition to have pruning or maintenance prescribed for a period of time under the supervision of the arborist. Director Walgren said the trees would be monitored until the project is finaled. COMMISSIONERS PATRICK/JACKMAN MOVED TO APPROVE DR-99-064 WITH THE THREE CONDITIONS SUGGESTED BY THE NEIGHBORS: REPLACEMENT TREES FOR THE BLACK ACACIA TO BE PLACED IN THE SAME LOCATION; APPLICANT TO PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTICE TO THE NEIGHBORS OF THE DEMOLITION SCHEDULE AND THE NAME AND PHONE NUMBER OF A CONTACT PERSON; AND ARBORIST TO BE CONTRACTED TO EVALUATE TREE #3 ON THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING REVIEW BY THE CITY ARBORIST. ADDITIONAL CONDITION THAT THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE BE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY PER THE CITY’S REQUIREMENTS. PASSED 4-0 (COMMISSIONERS BARRY, ROUPE AND CHAIRWOMAN BERNALD ABSENT) 3. DR-99-057 and SD-95-007.3 (503-82-001) – FANG/TSENG, 18000 Rodeo Creek Hollow; Request for Design Review approval for the construction of a new 4,206 square foot, single story, single family residence. The site is 17,010 square feet and is located within an R-1-12,500 zoning district. The applicant is also requesting modification of the approval of the Rodeo Creek Hollow Subdivision (SD-95-007) to change the required exterior side yard setback from 37 feet to 25 feet. Director Walgren presented the staff report noting the applicant is requesting Design Review approval for construction of a new 4,206 square foot, single-story family residence. The applicant is requesting modification of the approval of the Rodeo Creek Hollow Subdivision to change the required exterior side yard setback from 37 feet to 25 feet. The project meets the zoning requirements, and staff recommends approval of the application. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 5 MARCH 8, 2000 Vice Chairman Page opened the public hearing at 8:43 p.m. Mr. Fang, Designer, said he tried to reduce the mass of the house and tried to minimize the impact on the oak tree on the neighboring property. Commissioner Patrick asked if the designer considered wood siding. Mr. Fang said people like stucco because it is easier to maintain and less expensive than wood siding. COMMISSIONERS PATRICK/JACKMAN MOVED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING (AT 8:48 P.M.) PASSED 4-0 (COMMISSIONERS BARRY, ROUPE, AND CHAIRWOMAN BERNALD ABSENT) Commissioner Jackman said the plan was good and suggested a condition, due to the proximity of Sunnyvale/Saratoga Road, that no second story be allowed. Commissioner Kurasch agreed that a second story should not be allowed and suggested adding a condition that the arborist review the landscape measures. Director Walgren said a clause could be added to the resolution that would restrict the structure to a single story. COMMISSIONERS JACKMAN/KURASCH MOVED TO APPROVE DR-99-057 SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS THAT NO SECOND STORY BE ALLOWED AND THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOLLOW THE ARBORIST REPORT. PASSED 4-0 (COMMISSIONERS BARRY AND ROUPE AND CHAIRWOMAN BERNALD ABSENT) DIRECTOR ITEMS - Review of draft retreat agenda Director Walgren distributed the draft retreat agenda. COMMISSION ITEMS There were none. COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 6 MARCH 8, 2000 WRITTEN - City Council minutes for adjourned meeting of February 8, special meetings of February 11 and February 18, and regular meeting of February 16, 2000 - noted - Notices for regular Planning Commission meeting of March 22, 2000 - noted ADJOURNMENT TO NEXT MEETING Vice Chairman Page adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m. to Wednesday, March 22, 2000, Council Chambers/Civic Theatre, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA MINUTES PREPARED AND SUBMITTED BY: Ruth Swanson Minutes Clerk MINUTES AMENDED AND APPROVED BY: James Walgren Secretary to the Planning Commission