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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-21-1975 Planning Commission Minutes'.; - ~i CITY OF SARATOGA PLANNING COM~flSSI }fINUTES DATE: Monday, July 21, 1975 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California TYPE: Special Public Hearing - 1975 General Plan Review; Continued from ~y 19, 1975 I. ROUTINE ORGANIZATION A. ROLL CALL Present:Commissioners Belanger, Callon, Lustig, Marshall, Martin, Woodward and Zambetti Absent: None B. ~NUTES Commissioner Woodward moved, seconded by Commissioner Zambetti, that the read- ing of the minutes of the ~-~'~!~,~i975.~"-Special Public Hearing meeting be waived, and that they be appr0~ed as distributed to the Commission. The mo- tion was carried; Commissioners Lustig and Martin abstained. C. REPORT ON COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE ~ETING OF JL~E 16~ 1975 The Secretary briefly summarized the items discussed at the Committee-of-the- I~ole meeting held on June 16, 1975. He noted that these matters would be more thoroughly discussed under the specific headings to follow. The Secretary took this opportunity to recommend to the Planning Commission that public hearings be opened on the applicable General Plan matters, soli- cit public testimony, and take the appropriate action pertinent to each matter. He suggested that if there were General Plan matters which the Commission wished to continue, these matters be continued to a regular Planning Commission meeting in lieu of scheduling another special public hearing on the General Plan. Note was made that Staff Reports had not been prepared on the agendized items, but that recommended actions were presented in the memorandum to the Commission dated July 18, 1975. IIo WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE A. ALLEN DE GRANGE, Letter Requesting Change in General Plan Designation of Property Located on Cox Avenue; Continued from May 19~ 1975 Chairman Marshall r'eopened the public hearing on this matter at 7:40 p.m. The Secretary noted that Mr. DeGrange had requested a change of zoning on his 1.284-acre parcel located on Saratoga/Cox Avenues from "PA" to "PD Commercial." He pointed out that'this matter had been referred to the Committee-of-the- I~ole meeting of June 16, 1975 at which time Mr.'DeGrange had presented a new proposal for development of this site as an "elderly housing project".under Section 231 of the HUD-FHA N~n-Assist~'d~7-Program. The Secretary reported that this proposal had met with general acceptance by the Commission, and that Staff had held subsequent meetings with Mr. DeGrange to discuss in more detail the proposal. He stated that Staff felt that'elderly housing for ~ this site was!economically_y~.abl~.~ and compatible to coordinate and_c_omple- ment the existing uses in the area. Con~equen[l~, ~ta'f~"f~i["~ere was no further need to pursue discussions on the requeste~eneral ~!~_cbang~, a~ th4 suggestion was made that Mr. DeGrange proceed with an application for Senior Citizen Housing on this site. The Secretary pointed out that Mr. DeGrange was aware of this suggestion. No further comments were made. Commissioner Woodward moved, seconded by Commissioner Martin, that the public hearing on Mr. DeGrange's request to rezone the property located on Saratoga Avenue and Cox Avenue from "PA" to "PD Commercial" be closed. The motion was -1- SPECIAL PLrBLIC HEARING:.~JLrLy 21~ 1975 II. A. ALLEN DE GRANGE - Cont'd carried unanimously, and the public hearing was closed at 7:44 p.m. Commissioner Belanger moved, seconded by Commissioner Callon, that the Planning Commission terminate proceedings relative to Mr. DeGrange's request to amend the General Plan in lieu of h'~s ability to accommodate the proposed plan with- out changing the General Plan. The motion was carried unanimously. B. JOHN WEIR, Letter Requesting Consideration of Designation of Fremont High School Site Located on Prospect Road; Continued from ~y 19~ 1975 Chairman Marshall reopened the public hearing on this matter at 7:45 p.m. The Secretary pointed out that Mr. Weir (per his letter and petition from the ArguJllo Homeo?ners Association containing. 250+ signatures) had requested the 40+ acre Fremont High School Site located on Prospect Road be ~eZ~ned ~o R-i-40,000. He explained that prior to the issuance of the City Council's policy relative to zoning consistency, the Planning Commission had taken action at a special public hearing to recommend to the City Council that the site be rezoned from R-l-12,_SD_0_ and.oR-l-15,000 to R-I-20,000 PC; further, that this recommendation was presently__ _fb'~fo'~he Council for consideration+' The Secretary explained that according to~ ~ ~ ~ece~tly-a~pr6~e~'Council p~li~'~ the' o~ig{nal zoning"'of' ~'~'it~'~a~ ~nsidered to be consistent with the General Plan. However, Staff recommended that the Commis-~ sion reaffirm its recommendation that the site was consistent with the intent of the 1974 General Plan, and that the property was classified as a transitional zone ..... between the slope conservation area to the west and the medium density residential '~velop~e'~'~o ~e east. Mr. Crowther, representing the Arguello Homeowners Association in place of Mr. Weir, stated that they were asking the Commission to change the present zoning of this site to R-I-40,000 in order to "protect the site as well as to leave no doubt in anyone's mind as to how it was zoned." He stated that he felt that R-I-20,000 PC was a "rip off" for this site, contending that a developer could get a greater yield from the "PC" designation. Mr. Crowther pointed out that the slope in some parts of the site were 35%, and that one-third of the site had a slope of over 10%, Consequently, he concluded, according to City ordi- nances, property over 10% slope must be zoned R-i-40,000. Mr. Crowther further pointed out that the ultimate density of the site would be greater than the Arguello area if one subtracted those areas of the site which could be built on, such as areas where power lines and creeks ran across. Mr. Crowther stated that they felt 1-acre zoning for this site was a better transitional zone, that it was reasonable and consistent with the slope conservation zone and the zone to the south. He argued that the greater number of homes in an area, the greater the roof area would be, and consequently, the greater the flood problems would be. Considerable discussion ensued on these comments. Note was made that the average slope of the Fremont High School site was less than 10%. Chairman Marshall pointed out that the R-I-20,000 zone proposed was a compromise be- between the desires of the Arguello Homeowners Association who wished to see this site rezoned to R-I-40,000 and the Fremont High School District who wished to see the site rezoned to R-l-15,000; further, that the "PC" concept had been the idea of the Commission as a means of controlling development of the site. Commissioner Belanger added that she felt the "PC" designation made sense with respect to the topography of the site in order that the City might insure proper placement of the homesites. She contended that R-i-20,000 PC was a transitional zone between the one-acre zone and R-1-12,500 zone of the prop- erties adjacent to this site. Note was made that many of the concerns expressed by citizens regarding "PC" were perhaps based on the misconception that "PC" allowed greater density. The Secretary pointed out that "PC" would not alter the zoning designation nor increase the density of a particular area. He ex- plained that, as far as "PC" developments currently in the City were concerned, there had not been any clustered developments. He stated that clustering would only be relative to where there would be a serious slope area. To Mr. Crowther's argument that power lines and creeks would increase the density of the site, Commissioner Belanger pointed out that there were power lines and creeks run- ning all over the City, and that the problems involved'there were dealt with Cit ' under the y s Subdivision Ordinance, nD_t~the Zoning Ordinance; consequently, ................. ~s~_types..of condit~?n~.would not increase the density. -2- : SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARI~ B. JOHN WEIR~ FREMONT HIGH SCHOOL SITE - Cont'd Commissioner Lustig moved, seconded by Commissioner Woodward, that the public hearing on the request by Mr. Weir to rezone the Fremont High School site to R-i-40,000 be closed. The motion was carried unanimously, and the-pubiiO'h~ar~ _ ing was closed at 8:30 p.m. Commissioner Belanger moved, sec'On'd~'a"by C~mmissioner Woodward, that the Plan- ning Commission reaffirm its previou~ position 'that the Fremont High School site is not intended to be in the slope conservation zone in that the average slope of the property is less than 10%. The motion was carried unanimously. Commissioner Belanger moved, seconded by Commissioner Lustig, that the Planning C~mmission indicate to the City Council that it has reviewed the most recent request by Mr. Weir to rezone the Fremont High School site to R-I-40,000, and that they reaffirm their previous recommendation to the City Council to rezone this site to R-i-20,000 PC. The motion was carried unanimously. C. ~RLENE DUFFIN, Wildwood Heights Homeowners Association, Letter Requesting Con-- sideration of General Plan Designation for Extension of Canyon View Drive to Connect with Pierce Road; Continued from ~y 19~ 1975 The Secretary explained that at the ~y 19, 1975 public hearing, many residents of the Wildwood Heights/area had spoken~gainst Canyon View Drive being extended to Pierce Road; further, that this matter had Be~n'refe'~d ~' th~ C'Smmi~t~e-" of-the-Whole meeting of June 16, 1975 to review possible alternatives to elimi- nate this street as a collector street. The Secretary stated that Staff felt the problems associated with development of this area constituted a need for an emergency access r~ad, and that they felt the use of a collector street was not appropriate for this area. He indicated that, because the topography was not 'shown on the General Plan Ma~, Staff felt the specific route of that collector was not intended to ~'in ~e precise loc~'~i'~h0wh On ~h'~'~e~f~l~ Plan. Not'~ was made tha~'factors which should be considered in d~v~lopi~g a viable circulation plan for this area would be (1) the general compatibility with the slope conservation zone and future development of the area, and (2) the provision for emergency~.access to homesites presently existing on Canyon View Drive. Staff felt that with regards to the first point, consi- derable further review would be warranted prior to any formalization of circu- lation plans for the area. Relative to the second point, Staff felt an emer- gency access be provided for the homesites on Canyon View Drive as an immediate concern. As an interim solution until a detailed study could be completed, Staff recommended the following: (1) remove the General Plan designation for a future collector street connected between Canyon View Drive and Pierce Road; (2) designate on 6~""~ral'~an Map an "emergency vehicle/fire access" connection between Canyon View Drive, Saratoga Hills Road and Pike Road. Staff pointed out that these recommended Map changes could be implemented by chang- ing the original black and white map, and by preparing a supplemental sheet which c~uld be attached to each colored General Plan Map and text. Discussion followed on these recommendations. The ~mmission indicated agree- ment that Canyon View Drive not be designated as a ~ollector street, but ex- pressed a concern that a means of ~e~gency access be provided for the area. Questions were raised as to this emergency access, and the Secretary explained that the intent was that this emergency access be a traversible emergency access to allow vehicles to go through. Note was made that crash barrier fences could'- be placed at the entrances to these emergency access routes. Commissioner Lustig moved, seconded by Commissioner ~rtin, that the public hearing on the request to change the General Plan Map designation to eliminate the extension of Canyon View Drive be closed. The motion was carried unanimously, and the public hearing was closed at 8:58 p.m. Commissioner Belanger moved, seconded by Commissfbner Martin, that the Planning Commission felt the circulation to serve this area is necessary, and further study. is intended; howevel, designation of Canyon View Drive~as a h~r~lor street is rescinded although some extensions of Canyon View Drive t~ serve"l~d'~'lB'~k~d areas may be necessary in the future. The motion was carried unanimously. -3- SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING JULY 21~ 1975 D. JOHN WEIR, RUSSELL CROWTHER, ARGUELLO HOMEO~ERS ASSOCIATION, Letter Requesting Consideration of Slope Conservation Zone Designation; Continued from May 19, 1975 The Secretary pointed out that at the special public hearing of ~y 19, 1975, this 'matter and letter had been referred to the proposed Hillside Conservation District Ordinance fil&, and at the request of Mr. Crowther, to the file 6n the General Plan Review. He reported that although discussions ensued at the June 16~h'-~ Committee-of-the-I~ole meeting on changing slope conservation den- sity designations, it was felt that most of the specifics contained in Messrs. Weir and Crowther's letter were relevant to the proposed Hillside Conservation District's ~rdinance. Mr. Crowther stated that they were requesting the Planning Commission designate a 2.5 acre minimum in the slope conservation zone, and they felt this consituted a General Plan amendment. Discussion followed on this. It was noted that the present ordinance governing slope conservation Was interpreted to be consistent with the General Plan as per the City Council policy on zoning consistency. Consequently, the Planning Cormmission did not feel action was required at this time in changing the General Plan. The Commission did feel, however, that this letter and matter should be__ addressed at the time public hearings were held on the Hillside Conservation District Ordinance. Chairman Marshall determined that the consensus of the Planning Commission was that no action was required at this time on the request made by Messrs. Weir and Crowther. E. JOHN LYNGSO, RGquest to Reconsider Designation of Property Located on Saratoga- Sunnyvale Road from R-1-12~500; Continued from May 19~ 1975 Chairman Marshall reopened the public hearing on this matter-at 9:05 p.m. The Secretary noted that this matter had been brought up at the special public hearing of May 19, 1975 as a request from the floor, and that it had been re- ferred to the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of June 16, 1975 to discuss possi- ble alternate uses of this site located on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Manor Drive. He pointed out that the Planning Commission had already transmitted a recommendation to the City Council for a change of zoning of this parcel from "EV(R-I-12,500)" to "R-1-12,500;" but that Mr. Heid, representative of Mr. Lyngso, had contended that a single-family residential designation would only allow 5 residential lots. Note was made that Mr. Heid had offered alternative schemes, including a 7-lot R-l-10,000 zone plan, a "PD" concept which combined offices or the present use and townhouses or an apartment complex, and a "PD" residential plan possibly combined with a recreational use. The Secretary stated that due to problems resulting from proximity of this site to Saratoga- Sunnyvale Road, the Southern Pacific railroad tracks, and the commercial uses to the north, it might not be viable to develop this site under an R-1-12,500 zoning, and that they felt alternate sSl~'tions may be possible. In light of this, Staff recommended the Planning Commission take the following action: (1) reaffirm the previous recommendation to the City Council ~'a~'~'i~-site be rezoned from "CV(R-i-12,500)" ~o "R-1-12,500;" and (2) amend the General Plan to designate "PD" in lieu of the current medium density residential indication. Staff f~lt that this ~lternate solution would maintain consistency with the General Plan, allow an opportunity to enter into possible alternate solutions for the site, and reaffirm the Commission's desire to eliminate the rockery use of the site. Mr. Heid was present and indicated acceptance of this recommended action. Commissioner Belanger expressed concern that the "PD" designation called for a PD mixed area, and she felt this was contradictory to the Commission's recent recommendation to the City Council to rezone this site to R-1-12,500. The Secretary explained that a "PD mixed" zone would allow a residential use, and it would also serve to keep options open. He pointed out that a "PD" ordinance had not yet been prepared or adopted, and that Staff did not know what ! specifics it could contain; consequently, it ~f~"'P~"'~esignation~l'd'~iV~ 'Commission the option to designate that site more affirmatively at a later date. SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARIN' JULY 21, 1975 E. JOHN LYNGSO - Cont'd After discussion of these cormnents, Commissioner Lustig moved, seconded by Commissioner Zambetti, that the public hearing on the request to reconsider the General Plan designation of the site located on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Manor Drive.be closed. The motion was carried unanimously, and the public hearing was closed at 9:30 p.m. Commissioner Belanger moved, seconded by Commissioner Callon, that the Plapping Commission recommend to the City Council that'the General Plan designate'L:' the site locat~'i~-~ the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and ~nor Drive-~s 'Y ._ "PD residential." The motion was carried; Commissioner Martin voted no. RECESS: 9:30 - 9:45 p~m. III. "~ADDITIONAL REQUESTS A. WILLIAM DORSEY, Letter Requesting Change of General Plan Designation of Property Located on Big Basin Way and Fifth Street Chairman Marshall opened the public hearing on this matter at 9:50 p.m. Mr. Dorsey, per his letter dated July 17, 1975, requested that the 2-acre site located on Big Basin Way and Fifth Street be rezoned from "C-V" to "R-1-4~000X,"- in that the site was surrounded on 3 sides by recently-constructed multiple resi~ dential building~,.and that the_.~j~_p_r~ty_w. as_locat.ed_at_the_wes_tern_ex~ tremity of the existing C-V zone along Big Basin Way. Mr. Dorsey pointed out that the present use of the property contained structures which were detrimental to the community, and expressed a willingness to~ improve that ~nd..~f_Bi~ ....... j BaSin Way by developing ~pproximately 20 cottage-t"~ uni[~ thereon. 'D~cussi~n followe~'on the 'speCificS of the proposed project. Note was made that there were development restrictions on this site ~hich should be considered, such as the slope of the property, traffic congestion and the Saratoga Creek running along the backside of the property. Chairman Marshall pointed out that during General Plan discussions, the Planning Commission had recommended to the City Council that "C-V" zone stop at Fifth Street on Big Basin Way, but that the City Council had chosen to carry the commercial designation be- yond Fifth Street to the end of Mr. Dorsey's property. He indicated a desire to determine the feelings of the merchants and other taxpayers in this area before making a determination as to changing the General Plan. After a brief dialogue on Chairman Marshall.~s statement,' the Commission iiidlei~ed a desire to notice the downtown merchants and property owners of-this request to change the General Plan. Chairman MarShai'i closed the ~ub'lic hearing on this matter, ~d~r~t~'-B'~-t~ notlde same, and~'i~h'is matter for public hearing. IV. REVIB~'O~'ST~i~ECDY~NDE'D'GENERAL PLAN A~NDM~TS FOR CONSISTENCY ~TH ZONING ~P Staff recommended the following items be considered for redesignation on the General PlaneTMap to achieve consistency between the General Plan and Zoning Map: A. ZONE 17~ SOUSA LANE Staff explained that the General Plan designation of the 8-lots located on Sousa Lane and Quito Road was commercial. Staff reported that there were houses on all but one of these 8 lots, that the current zoning of these properties was R-i-IO,000, and that the site was bound on the north, east and west by other R-I-iO,000 zoned properties and on the south by commercially zoned property. After brief discussion,~h'~i~"~f~s'hall-moved, seconded by Commissioner Lustig, that the Planning Commi~'{on recommend to the City Council that the error made in the ~tting of the General Plan Map line be corrected by moving the commer- cial designation to the edge of the property abutting Sousa Lane and that the General Plan conformwith the existing zoning. The motion was carried unanimously. -5- SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING: JL~Y 21, 1975 B. ZONE 24~ SARATOGA AVENUE AND PARK PLACE Staff explained that this site was occupied by 4 small single-family'residences and one garage servicing these units, that it was currently zoned R-M-3,000, and its General Plan designation was medium density residential. Staff recom- mended, based on this site's proximity to the Village, that the General Plan classification be changed to "PD." It was noted that the site was bound on the north by propertT~s zohed CN and R-M-3,000, to the west by property zoned C-N, and to the east and south by 'R-l-10,000 zoned property. The Planning Commission felt that the adjacent property~.~n~"'~hld be aware of this proposed General Plan change, and Staff was directed to publicly notice this General Plan Review matter in the Saratoga News, and agendize same for -. futurepublic hearing..- C. ZONE 25, SARATOGA-LOS GATOS ROAD AND OAK PLACE Staff explained that this site currently housed t~e Gateway Real Estate/ Saratoga ~lorist Building, that it measured approximately .22-acre, and was zoned C-C; further that the site was bound on the north, east and south by properties zoned R-l-10,000, and on the we'st by a C-C zoning district. It was noted that General Plan designated this site to be zoned medium density residential, 'and Staff's recommendation was to amend the General Plan to "PD"(mixed use). The Planning Commission also felt that the adjacent property owners should be aware of this proposed General Plan change, and Staff was directed to publicly notice this General Plan Review matter in the Saratoga News, and agendize same for pu~liC~hearing'. V. STAFF REVIB~ OF AREAS REQUIRING SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR FUTL~E REZONING TO CON- SISTENCY WITH THE ADOPTED 1974 GENERAL PLAN Staff pointed out that the following items were areas where the General Plan and Zoning Map were inconsistent, and the recommendation was made that these items be agendized for change of zoning public hearings: (Staff gave brief descriptions of these zones.-) A. ZONE 8~ SARATOGA AVENUE: ChanSe of Zoning from "C-C(R-M-3~000)" to "P-A" Staff pointed out that this site comprised 3.3 acres, was currently oc~_up~e__d_._ _by a_ real_ ~.~!~_.~?~e~. abutted real estate land uses,i'~d'~a~ currently zoned ~ C-C(R-M-3 000) Note was made that Staff recommended this be rezoned to P~. B. ZONE 14 and ZONE 15, ALLENDALE AVENUE: Change of Zoning from "R-i-40,000" to C. R-1-20~000 and R-1-12~500 Respectively Staff pointed out that both zones were located on Allendale Avenue and were both zoned R-I-40,000.- Staff recommended that in order to provide buffer zones between surrounding areas, these sites should be rezoned to R-I-20,000 and R~1-12,500 respectively. Staff pointed out that there would be no difference in terms of lot yield with these two rezonings. Considerable discussion followed on these proposed rezonings. Many Commissioners felt that the present zoning would be the better zones, and that they did not want to see greater density in the Allendale Avenue because of potential traffic congestion and driveway placement. D. ZONE 16~ ALLENDALE AVENUE: ChanSe of Zonin8 from "R-i-~0~000" to R-i-10~000" Staff pointed out that this zone comprised 7 lots with access on Allendale Avenue, that the current zoning was R-i-40,000, and that the adjacent zones were R-l-10,000. Staff recommended this zone be changed to R-l-10,000. The Commission discussed this proposed re~oning also, and mention was made that all of the Allendale Avenue rezonings shbuld be publicly noticed and public testimony taken. -6- ~ 0= SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING: 21. 1975 E. ZONE 18~ SARATOGA AVENUE: Changeof Zoning from "R-l-10,000" to "M" Staff pointed out that Zone 18 comprised 2 parcels owned respectively by San Jose Water Works and Paul Masson Winery, and that the zone was designated as R-l-10,000. Staff recommended this' be rezoned to "M." [. ZONE 19~ COX AVENUE: Change of Zoning from "R-I-IO~000" to "C-N" Staff pointed out that this zone comprised 2 parcels, one with a pre-school on it and the other a right of way. Note was made that the current zoning was R-l-10,000 along with the property to the north and east, and that the General Plan designated this as C-N, as was the remainder of the ~hopping center abut- ting the zone. G. ZONE 20~ SARATOGA AVENUE AND COX AVENUE: Change of Zoning from "A" to "P-A" Staff pointed out that this zone consisted of 4 parcels zoned "A'?' Note was made that. the General Plan designated!the zone to be "PA," and it was pointed out' that the Saratoga Medical Village was zoned PA and was adjacent to this site. H. ZO~ 22~ PROSPECT ROAD: Change of Zoning from "R-I-10~000" to "C-N" Staff explained that this property was on the City's city limits, and was cur- rently being used as a dirt parking lot. Note was made that the property on either side of the site was zoned C-N, and that Staff recommended this be re- zoned to C-N also. Staff was directed to agendize public hearings for these proposed rezonings, and to appropriately public notice same. VI. ADJOURN~ZNT Commissioner Belanger moved, seconded by COmmissioner Lustig, that the Special Public Hearing of July 21, 1975 be adjourned. The motion was carried unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~ty Van Duyn, Secr~y s kw -7-