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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-11-1969 Planning Commission Minutes :~. ' Y OF SARATOGA PLANNING CODi] N .:. MINUTES TIME: Monday, 11 August 1969, 7:30 P.M. ' PLACE: City Council Chambers, Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California. TYPE: Regular Meeting I, ROUTI~ ORGANIZATION The meeting ~s called to order by Cha':irman Norton. A, ROLL CALL. Present:= Comissioners Bacon, Crisp, Lively, Metcalf, Norton, and Smith. Absent: · "Comissioner ~aus. B. MINUTES Chair~n Norton advised that the f0rmt of the minutes of the 28 July 1969 meeting ~s quite different due to'~ replacement recorder filling in ~ile the regular recorder was 'on VacationS' He'SUgge~ted ~hat in the futUre'when "[he' regular recorder is absent the'. fill-in recorder be presented with an esta'blished formt to follow. Co~issioner Smith moved, seconded[ by C~missioner ~isp, that the reading of the minutes of the 28 July 1969', meeting be ~mived and they be approved e: as distributed to the Comission s~bject to the following changes: .... · ' ~= page 2.' ', ..II, B. . ,paragraph 5. ~. ,line 2.. idelete "imposed mny years a O"- page 3. , ,II. D.. ~paragraph 3.. .delete the second sentence and in paragraph 5 line 4. .change "use permit" to" -fice"; .... of page 5.. .G, V-333.. .paragraph 4.. .be changed to read as follows: "Moved by Co~issioner ~aus~ that' the Staff Report dated' 20 July 1969 be approved and the Variance granted. Seconded by Co~aissioner Smith. Motion carried unanimously." page 5. . .III. A. . .paragraph 2. . .line 7. . .change the word "vertical" to "alternative"; page 6. ..III. B. . .paragraph 1. . .be changed to read as follows: "The Secretary referred to Building Site Committee Report dated 28 July 1969 ~ich reco~ends approvnl of the tentative mp for' SDR-823 subject to general and specific conditions page 6.. .IV. A.. ,paragraph 1 be deleted. , .and instead insert the following: "The Assistant ~ianner read the staff. report dated 28 July 1969 reco~ending approval of A-310."- page 6.. .IV. B.. .paragraph 1. , .line 1.. ,be changed to read as follows: "The applicant requests approval of an off-site public interest sign at"; page 8. . .IX. A. .add the following sentence. . ."Commissioner Crisp stated that tony of the trees removed were ~lnut and diseased "' page 8.. .IX, B, . .paragraph 1.. .delete the entire paragraph; motion carried with Commissioner Lively abstaining. -1- Planning Commission Minutes - 11 August 1969 - Continued II. PUBLIC HFJRINGS A. UP-168 - Yves G. Casabonne, Sara~oga-sunnyvale Road - Request for Use Permit to Allow a Repair and Service Shop - Continued from 28 July 1969 The hearing relative to UP-168 w~.s re-opened at 7:40 P.M. The Secretary stated that nothing new had been:added to the file. Commissioner Smith stated that 1) he and Commissioner Bacon visited the area proposed for the requested use and found the parking to be inadequate 2) the subject building was originally built to provide a warehouse 'for the Redwood Empire2Lumber; therefore, the~e are no windows 3) the existing tenants were in'violation of the conditions (originally imposed) by displaying merchandise. outside and on the existing parking area and 4) the proposed buildipg is not suitable (without remodeling) for the type of use proposed. ;o Mr. and Mrs. Casabonne, the applicants, were present and Mrs. Casabonne stated that 1) the same amount of p~rking was provided ~en Redwood Empire Lumber occupied the subject building 2) the location for the proposed.repair and service shop will be temporary and 3) as soon as }~. Carreia (o~mer of the subject commercial park) completesconstruc- tion of the new building the shop.will be moved. Chairman Norton explained that the parking required for a warehouse is different from that required foriretail shops such as the one proposed by the applicant. The Secretary, in answer to an inquiry from Chairman Norton, stated that 1) the Staff ~ms not aware that .the location proposed for the repair shop would be temporary 2) the ~arking as presently indicated would not be adequate for the proposed use since one (i) space is.required for each 200-feet of floor area and 3) if some changes were made in the building and adequate parking were provided the requested Use Permit could be granted. Mr. Casabonne stated that he couid not afford to allocate a large sum of money for improvements of a temp6rary location. Commissioner Smith, in answer to an inquiry from Chairman Norton, stated. that the Subdivision Committee was not a~-mre that this would be a temporary arrangement, but that it did not really change the requirements relative to parking or Lthe status of the buil'ding itself. Mr. Casabonne, in answer to an inquiry from Commissioner Metcalf, stated that ~. Carreia is constructing a new building and when it is completed they will move the'repair shop from the temporary location. Commissioner Smith advised that the owner of the subject site: (Mr. Carreia) knows full well what the situation is in connection with the parking for the subject development and is apparentlynot being straightforward with the applicant. The Secre.tary stated that }~. Carreia is attempting to turn his commercial park into a retail shopping center. Commissioner Crisp stated that 'the subject building was originally designed for a lumber yard warehouse and the Planning Commission cannot go along with any other use for the building as it presently exists. -2- ~lanning Commission Minutes - 11 August 1969 - Continued II. A. UP-168 - Continued The Secretary, in answer to a question from }~rs. Casabonne, stated that the parking provided by Mr. Carr~ia is for another building (not to be used by the applicant) and cannot be .c6nsidered as parking for the pro- posed use. Commissioner Metcalf reconunended= that the o~.mer be required to come in- with a complete plan for his entire development. Commissioner Crisp. explained that the Subdivision Committee did ask the owner to meet and discuss this matter but }~. Carreia did not seem interested in doing so. ~.. Chairman Norton suggested that perhaps the applicant could find another location for his business. The Secretary advised that the applicant did negotiate for a ·location on Big Basin Way, but that locationidid not approach the one proposed as far as being reasonable. Mr. Casabonne, in answer to an inquiry from the Secretary, stated that 1) ·'·even if the building were remodeled and the parking were adequate he would not stay in the subject building permanently.2) the money designated for the proposed· shop is quickly disappearing since he "i's not presently in a business and is using his reserv& fund to meet living expenses and 3) Mr.' Carreia does have the foundation :for the new building and will soon start -' :.= construction : :. . · =-..... .. The SeC'retary explained that 1) '~the foundation referred to by the applicant has been in its present form for almost four years 2) an on-site inspection was made by the Staff and members of the Subdivision Committee and 3) the subject application could be temporarily withdrawn in order to allow time for the applicant to ·make some changes in his request if he so desires. Commissioner Smith, in answer to 'an inquiry from Commissioner Lively, stated that there are some shops 'already in the area; therefore, it would not be feasible to arrange parking to be used ·exclusively by the proposed retail shop. Chairman Norton stated that if the Planning Commission did approve (for two months) this application for a temporary location and at the end of that time the new building is not:. completed a difficult situation would be created. The Secretary stated that, at this time~ it would be best to either continue UP-168 or allow the applicant to withdraw same. Chairman Norton pointed out that :if the matter were continued it would allow time for the applicant to seek another location. The Secretary suggested that ~. Carreia be contacted again a"nd informed of the requirements that must be met in connection with the development of his commercial park. ~ Commissioner Crisp stated that he would like to see the application withdrawn without prejudice since 1) the parking on the subject site is inadequate and 2) the building is not suitable for this type of use and cannot be made suit- able. He further stated that he could see no reason for continuing the subject app licat ion. Chairman Norton, in answer to an inquiry from Mrs. Casabonne, explained that action will be taken to eliminate~ the illegal sheet metal shop operating in the subject commercial park. " Plan~in5 Commission Minutes - 11 August 1~69 - Continued II. A. UP-168 - Continued The Planning Commission agreed tt~at th% proposed use is not Suitable· for the proposed location and·recommended the m-atter be continued to the next regular meeting to allow time for the applicant to 1) submit a letter request- ing withdra~.ml of UP-168 :or' 2) find ~nother location for the proposed repair and service shop. Chair,nan Norton closed the hearing for the evening at 8:09 P.M., directed UP-168' continued to the next regular meeting and referred same to the Subdivision Con~nittee. B. UP-169 - GeOrge W. Day, Farwell Avenue and E1Puente I~y ' ReqUest for Use Permit to Allow a Model:Home Sales Office - Continued from 28 July 1969 The hearing relative to UP-169 w~s re-opened at 8:10 P.M. The Secretary read a lett'er'received from ~. Vince 'Faso (Vice-President George Day Construction) · ' '.'. requesting that UP-169 be continued to the next regular meeting. No one.7.present in the-audience wished to comment relative to this matter. Chairman Norton closed the hearing for the evening at 8:11 P.M., directed UP-169 continued to the meeting of 25 August 1969 and referred same back to the Subdivision Committee. C. UP-170 -·Saratoga Tennis Club, K0mina Avenue -.Request for Use Permit to Allow Expansion of Tennis Club - Continued from 28 July 1969 ~ The hearing in connection with uP-170 ~s resumed at 8:12 P.M. The Secretary j-:'..."/. stated that Dr. Foster (Chairman of the Expansion Committee for the Saratoga Tennis ·Club) requested that UP-170 be continued to allow additional time to resolve parking problems and other details of the proposed expansion. No one else present offered any comments. At 8:13 P.Mo Chairman Norton closZed the hearing for the evening, directed UP-170 continued to the next regullar meeting and referred same to the Sub- division Committee. D. V-334 - Sunset Associates, Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road - Request for Variance in Connection with Free-Standing Pole Sign and ~ximum Sign Area The Chairman opened the hearing. at 8:14 P.M. The Secretary stated the Notices of Hearing were mailed and then briefly reviewed this application. }~. Terry Land (Ad-Art, Inc.) was present to represent the applicant and submitted a rendering of the proposed sign. He stated that 1) Mr. Harvey Sharp~ President of Sunset Associates and owner of Sunset Associates, Inc. ~s present 2) the applicant does operate two distinct and different businesses in one building and needs the proposed sign to advertise the dual business. Mr. Sharp explained that 1) the gusiness designated as Sunse[ Associates will retail casual furniture; Whereas, Sunset Associates, Inc. is a swimming pool company and 2) both of these operations will be in one shop. b~. Land stated that there is swift moving traffic along Highway 85 and the subject establishment is set back quite a.distance; therefore, a different type of sign is needed than would be necessary for a business on Big Basin Way. plan~in8 Commission Minutes - 11AuSust 1969 - Continued II. D. V-334 - Continued Chairman Norton explained that Sunset AsSo~iatesi located in a C-V (Visitor-Commercial) Zoning .District; whereas, the"businesseS on 'Big Basin Way are'not in the same "C-V"'Z0ning District. Mr. Land stated that 1) there a~e ot~er free-standing signs along the subject area to provide identification 2) the applicant will operate two seperate businesses under one roof; therefore, his sign needs will be different from the other single businesses in the area 3) the pro- posed signs are in keeping with the aims of Saratoga 4) ~. Sharp started the dual venture on 15 April 1969 5) the anticipated .volume for'both ventures has fallen below expectations because customers cannot locate the shop due to lack of proper identification and 6) the proposed sign is designed to catch the eye of the fast moving traffic. At 8:29 P.M. Chairman Norton closed the hearing for evening, directed V-334 continued to the next regular meeting and referred same to the Variance Committee for study. Commissioner Crisp, on behalf of-the Variance Committee, arranged appointment with the applicant for an on-site inspection for 3:40 P.M. on Wednesday, 20 August 1969. E. V-335 - Kenneth L. Proulx, McCulloch Avenue - Request for Variance in Connection with Side Yard and Rear Yard S~back Requirements for Accessory Structure · / ~' The hearing relative to V-335 wa~ opened at 8:30 P..M. The Secretary stated -=,~'.'.' !- that .the Notices of Hearing'were.mailed and then briefly reviewed this application. He further stated that no communications were received rela- tive to V-33~., ,~. ~ ' to approve' a 17~-foot rear yard. setback in lieu of the required 25-feet and a...S.i~e yar~ ~. 3-.feet__~n~Fe~d of'.~h~._required 8~-feet. No one else present wished to comment. .' Chairman Norton, at 8:43 P.M,, closed the hearinS for the evening, referred V-335 to the Variance Committee for study and directed same continued to the next regular meeting. Commissioner Crisp, Chairman of the Variance Corm~,ittee, arranged for an on-site inspection of the site for approximately 4:30 P.M, on Wednesday, 20 August 1969. F. V-336 - William Weimer, Toll Gate Road - Request f. or Variance in Connection with Interior Side Yard. Setback. Requirements for Swirmmin5 Pool The hearing relative to V-336 wa~ opened at 8:33 P,M. The Secretary stated the Notices of Hearing were mailed and briefly reviewed this application. The Secretary read a statement of reasons filed by '.the applicant. Commissioner Lively asked >~. Weimer if (aside from the setback requirements of the City) there were any deed.restrictions that would prohibit construction of a pool on the property? ~. Weimer answered theft the deed restrictions ..Tfor-this area would not prohibit.him from puttins '~.n a pool }~, Weimer, in answer to an inquiry from Chairman ~orton, stated that the area of the yard designated for the proposed pool has firm soil; therefore, a retaining ~rall will not be necessary. No one else present wished to comment relative to ~-336. Chairman Norton closed the hearing for the evening 'at 8:39 P,M., directed V-336" continued to the next regular meetinE and referred :same to the Variance Committee. Commissioner Crisp, on behalf of.the Variance CoF~mi'ttee, arranted for an on-site inspection of the site for 4:00 P,M, o~ Wednesday, 20 August 1969. .-52. Fla~ninZ. commission tes - 11 August ].969 - Contin Ill. BUILDING SITES AN~ SUBDIVISIONS. None ' , IV. DESIGN REVIEW A. A-324 - Reed Carpets, Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road - Final Design Review Identification Sign Commissioner Metcalf, after reading the Staff Report dated 11 August 1969 relative to A-324, recon~nended that the subject report be amended as follows: paragraph 1.. .sentences 3, 4, and 5=be deleted; and Condition (a) be changed to read asffollows:! -~'.' (a) An additional s~gn of 12 square feet to be located to the Center of the side elevation of the Reed's Carpet Unit (side of bu{lding facing Saratoga-S~nnyvale Road). After a brief discussion, Com_m~sioner Metcalf moved, seconded by Commissioner Bacon, that the Staff Report dated !l_~ugust 1969 be adopted, as amended, and that Final Design Approval be'~nted for an identification sign as shm.m on Exhibits "A" ~nd "~" and su~j~'t~'~the conditions stated in said report; motion carried unanimously. V. CITY COUNCIL REPORT ./ ~,..! C mmissioner Metcalf gave a sunmary of items reviewed and action taken at ~ . o s · '!!:.:"~'[:""the City.COunCil meeting of 6 August 1969 with emphasis on matter of particular interest to the'Commission. VIo PLA~ING POLICY CO~D!ITTEE REPORT None VII. OLD BUSINESS A. ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COE~TTE~ - Report of Des~Sn Review Conm~ittee Commissioner Metcalf explained :that the Architectural Advisory Committee was originally initiated by Miles Rankin, local realtor and George Kocher, local'building designer. ~. Rankin was present and stated that 1) he read the prepared report relative to the Architectural Advisory. Committee and it basically solves part of the problems; however, there is one point (~ich stresses the type of architecture to be used in the City) missing from the proposed ordinance that was included.in the original draft'2) they are trying to keep Saratoga charming and different from surrounding communities and 3) he recommends the follo~ing wording be inserted as Item (1) and renumber other items as (2)~and (3), under Objectives and Criteria: "Building design of those buildings referred to the Architectural Advisory Committee, shall be in keep- ing with Saratoga's historical heritage and shall further the feeling of a quaint Village atmosphere." ~. Rankin further stated that [he suggested additional wording 1) is general and gives the Planning Commission and Design Review Committee the lee-way they need. 2) will bind the whole proposed ordinance together so that people who propose to build in Saratoga will have the requirements of the City available and 3) is essential to the proposed ordinance and he hoped the Commission would give it their consideration. P~anping Commission es - 11 August 1969 - Cont VII. A. ARCHITECTURAL - Continued Commissioner Lively stated that' in Item B,.. .paragraph 2.. .line 2. . . of the subject Architectural Report the word "shall" should be changed to y Chairman Norton explained that'at ~resent the Planning Commission does· not apply Design Review to. individual homes, but does apply same to signs and all commercial developments. Mr. Rankin, in answer to an inq=uiry from Commissioner Lively, stated that it was 0r~ginally proposed ~that only Professional and Commercial areas be submitted to the Architectural Advisory Committee, but the ordinance could be enlarged to include all areas. Commissioner Metcalf stated that he understood that under the original proposalonly matters pertainin~ to the development of the Village on Big Basin Way would be submitted for review to the Architectural Advisory Committee. Fir. Rankin stated that 1) in the informal discussions the aforementioned was discussed 2) the Village a~ea on Big Basin Way is the heart of Saratoga and if all else fails he would 'like to save the Village, but would like to create the same quaint atmosphere in all of Saratoga. Mr. George Kocher, bldg. designer,.·stated that 1) he felt the existing Design Review Ordinance has no strength and is not capable of dealing Cit ' with the y s architectural needs of today and 2) approximately the same design standards are used today as were put in effect'at the time the .... · , · City ~s incorporated. Commissioner Metcalf stated tha~ he could see how the downtown Village area could be quaint, but he could see difficulty in providing the same quainthess in the Quito and Blu~ Hills Shopping Centers'. Chairm~n Norton explained that ~he ordinance' would not affect the areas already built. Chairman Norton directed the matter continued to the meeting of 25 August 1969 and requested the Commission to give th'e proposed ordinance their careful consideration. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. ~. Robert L.' ~arham - Request to Add Ambulance Service as a Permitted or Conditional Use in C-V (Visitor-Commercial) Zoning District The Secretary read a communication received from ~. Durham requesting that ambulance service be allowed in the "C-V" Zoning District on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. The Secretary, in answer to an ~nquiry from ChairP~n Norton~ stated that the use is not now allowed in any zpning district but the Planning Commission could add the use in the "C-V" (Visitor-Commercial) Zoning District if they decide it is incidental to the funeral home that will be operating at the subject location. He further stated that the ambulance service will be operated independently of the funeral home. Mr. Durham, in answer to an inquiry from Chairman Norton, stated that S~ate'I~.w prohibits the use of funeral home vehicIes as regular ambulances; therefore, a separate vehicle for ambulance purposes is necessary in Saratoga. -7- Planning Commission Mi - 11 August 1969 - Coneinue, VIII. A. DL~F_4M- Continued ~[r. Durham, in ans~,yer to an inquiry frown Connnissioner Metcalf, stated that additional construction will .not be necessary to provide space for the ambulance service at the proposed location since one of the three car' garages (o~med by the adjoining funeral" home) can be used. He further 5stated that 1) all other ambulance 'services are at least six miles away from Saratoga and 2). ~. ~son of the Santa Clara County Communications (ambulance dispatcher) is in favor of the proposed ambulance service . situating in Saratoga. ~. Fields, o~mer of the ambulance service, stated that 1) the Los GatOs and Campbell Ambulance Services have been serving the areas of SaratOga that are not now serve~ by the Fields Ambulance Service' from Sunnyvale 2) an ambulance service was provided in Saratoga sometime ago by a San Jose Company,. but no ~ need for the service ~s sho~,m at that time since the other ambulance services available provided adequate service and 3) %better service can be provided by 'Sit~ting this service in the City since the demand has now been sho~. Chairm~ Norton directed that the subject request for an ambulance service be set for infor~l public hear{ng for the meeting of 25 August 1969 and referred same to the Subidivision Co~ittee for study and (time permitting) a report. B. Request Received from Miles Rankin - Request for Interpretation of Setback Requirements The Secretary stated that a comn~unication had been received from Miles -Rankin requesting that the 133-'foot leg of Lot 12 on Surrey ~ne be . ~-.. ~.. considered as a side boundary rather than a rear boundary. He further stated that ~. Rankin made this request on the .basis that the Zoning Ordinance allows the Planning CoEission to determine yard lines for irregular shaped lots. Chairman Norton referred 1,~. Rankin'~ request to the Subdivision Committee for study and directed same continued to the next regular meeting. C. FoSter Homes in Residential Districts The Secretary s~ated that the Staff, as a result of study and discussion with the City Attorney, has prepared a report relative to foster children for review by the Commission. The' City Attorney is of the opinion that there ~s some~in the ~y: Famill is defined in the Zoning Ordinance. o Chairman N rton stated that perhap~ the nmtter is entitled to some special language in the ordinance and should be carefully considered. Commissioner Smith 'stated that he felt the City Attorney should submit an opinion relative .to the paragraph defining ~ as stated on page 4.. . of Zoning Ordinance NS-3. He further stated that there should be some limit as to the number of children allowed in foster homes. Commissioner Lively ~tated that. he did not feel any restriction should be placed on foster homes simply because one individual has submitted a com- plaint. Chairman Norton 1) explained thatr foster' 'homes are performing a public service and 2) recom~mended that the matter be continued to the meeting of 8 September 1969 and at...th~.z_~.~me..reach an agreement after obtaining an opinion from .the city Attorney. -8- PJe. nnin~ Con~.nission Minutes - 11 August 1969 - Continued -.3.' IX ~ COr,R,'.,.I~.~ICATIONS A. ~,rRITTEN Letter from Doris Taugas - Reques't for Parksites The Secretary read a letter received from }~rs'. Doris Taugas, Wardell Court, requesting that some consfderation be given to locating a park .. in her neighborhood to provide some play area for the children living in that area. Chairman Norton directed that the' letter be added to the Park Plan file under study by the Park and Recreation Cormmission and the Park and Recreation Commission and request t b present at the 25 August 1969 meeting in order to discuss and describe the Park and Recreation proposals.' B. O~L ' ~ .~~ Chairman Norton acknowledged, with pleasure, ~ ' ' n . Robbins, ~s. McGuire and I,~. Frampton, 1,~s. e Women Voters,.}~. ~rtin of the Prides Crossing Homeo~,,~er's Association, ~ ~. Rankin, local realtor, and i~:.' Kocher, building designer. He, also, thanked ." · }~s. McGuire for the' coffee to be; served immediately after the meeting. ' .X:~ ~' ADJOI~R4E~. Chairman Norton declared the meet:ing adjourned at. 10:20 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Stanley' ~. %alker, Secretary Saratoga Planning Cormmission