03/04/2009

MONTE SERENO SITE AND ARCHITECTURE COMMISSION
MARCH 4, 2009
MINUTES

 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER

At 7:00 p.m. the meeting was called to order.

ROLL CALL

Present: Commissioners Allen, Barth, Mastropolo and Sturm
Absent: None

ORDERS OF THE DAY
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

None

APPROVE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 4, 2009 MEETING

Commissioner Barth moved to approve the minutes of January 7, 2009.   The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mastropolo and the motion passed with a 4-0 vote.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
• 16145 Greenwood Road    SS-09-04 Millerbis
The applicant requests a Site Development Permit for the addition of a second story deck at the rear of the house.

Associate Planner McGranahan provided information on the application.

Mrs. Millerbis, applicant, provided details on the project and spoke in favor of the application.

At 7:04 p.m., the Public Hearing was opened.

Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Hearing was closed at 7:04 p.m.

Commissioner Barth made the findings and moved to approve the application.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Strum and the motion passed with a 4-0 vote.

• 17994 Daves Avenue     SS-09-06 Daves Ave LLC

Associate Planner McGranahan reported that the applicant had requested that the application be continued to allow time for revisions. The application was continued.

• 17990 Daves Avenue     SS-09-05 Daves Ave LLC
The applicant requests a Site Development Permit to demolish an existing secondary dwelling unit and construct a new secondary dwelling unit of 690 sq. ft.   The applicant proposes to remove 3 trees.   

Associate Planner McGranahan provided information on the application.

Ken Linsteadt, project architect, provided details on the project.

At 7:11 p.m., the Public Hearing was opened.  Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public Hearing was closed.

Commissioner Barth expressed concern regarding the removal of the large oak tree and the height of the chimney.

Commissioner Allen stated that she could make the findings, although she did have some concern with the reason the guest house is proposed to be relocated.

Commissioner Mastropolo spoke with regard to the minimum height that would still allow the chimney to be functional.

Discussion commenced with regard to the concerns voiced by the Commissioners.

Following discussion, commissioner Sturm made the findings and moved to approve the application subject to the following conditions:

• The applicant shall submit a Landscape Plan, subject to City approval, prior to issuance of Building Permit.
• The Landscape Plan shall indicate the replacement planting of four 36” box oak trees and the preservation of the large 20” oak.
• The approved Landscape Plan shall be planted prior to issuance of final approval of the Building Permit.
• The applicant shall revise the height of the chimney so it does not exceed the minimum height required by the Monte Sereno building code standard.
• 
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mastropolo and the motion passed with a 4-0 vote.

• 15580 Equestrian Way    SS-09-08 Navarra
The applicant requests a recommendation for approval for a Site Development Permit for an existing green house of 218 sq. ft. The applicant also requests a Variance for the side yard setback for the green house structure and a Use Permit to allow more than one accessory structure.  The requested Variance and Use Permit requires approval by the City Council at a later date. 

Associate Planner McGranahan provided information on the project.

Terry Szewczyk, project engineer, and Robert Hughes, project contractor, provided details of the project and answered questions from the Commissioners.

At 7:39 p.m. the Public Hearing was opened.  Since there was no one wishing to speak, the Public hearing was closed.

Commissioner Allen stated that she was opposed to the variance and that variances should be granted for extreme hardships only.

Commissioner Barth concurred with Commissioner Allen’s statement.

Commissioner Mastropolo stated that he could support the Use Permit request, but has concerns with the variance application.

Commissioner Sturm stated that she could support both the Use Permit and the Variance applications.

Discussion commenced.

Commissioner Mastropolo moved that the Site and Architecture Commission make the findings to support the Site Development Permit and recommend to the City Council approval of the Site Development Permit and the Use Permit subject to the following condition:

o The green house structure shall meet the minimum setbacks 
   for the zoning district in which it is located.
 
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Barth and the motion passed with a3-1 vote.  Commissioner Sturm voted No.

Commissioner Barth recused himself from considering the application due to a potential conflict of interest.  Commissioner Barth left the room.

• 18234 Daves Avenue      SS-09-02 Jackson/Yaplee
The applicant requests a Site Development Permit to demolish an existing residence and secondary dwelling unit and construct a new two story residence of 6,010 ft. The applicant proposes to remove 1 tree.  This item was continued from the February 4, 2009 Site and Architecture Commission meeting.

Mrs. Yaplee, applicant and the project architect provided details on the proposed project.

At 8:20 p.m., the Public hearing was opened.

Mr. and Mrs. Pimentel, residents, expressed concern with access to the site.  They spoke in opposition to the use of the east driveway for fear of damage and safety concerns.

Mr. Buxton, resident, also expressed safety concerns with the narrow driveway.

Ben Guilardi echoed the safety concerns and the potential damage to the driveway.

Mr. Silva, resident, spoke in support of the proposed project.

Mrs. Baumstein, resident, expressed concern with privacy impacts and safety.

Lynn Noble spoke in favor of the project and suggested that green construction materials be used.  She stated that she thought the proposal minimally impacted the site.

Since there was no one else wishing to speak, the Public Hearing was closed at 8:37 p.m.

Commissioner Sturm stated that she would like to see revisions to the proposed driveway and also expressed concern with the proposal fitting in with the character of the existing neighborhood.

Commissioner Allen stated that she also is concerned with the proposal fitting in with the character of the existing neighborhood

Commissioner Mastropolo stated that he was not prepared to make a decision because of the driveway issues.  He stated that he would like the neighbors and applicant to work together to reach an acceptable agreement.  He also stated he would like to see new proposals.

Commissioner Allen moved to continue the application to allow time for the applicant to address the concerns raised.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sturm and the motion passed with a 3-0 vote.

Commissioner Sturm recused herself from consideration of the next item due to the close proximity of her home to the subject property.  Commissioner Sturm left the Chambers.

• 15301 Robin Anne Lane     SS-08-53 Mehrany
The applicant requests a Site Development Permit to construct a new two story house of 5,623 sq. ft. and a basement of 760 sq. ft.  This item was continued from the February 4, 2009 Site and Architecture Commission meeting.

Mrs. Mehrany, applicant, presented the proposal.

Chris Spaulding, project architect, provided detail on the project.

At 9:06 p.m. the Public Hearing was opened.

Jo Ann Trembath, resident, expressed concern with safety impacts from the construction traffic as well as road impacts.

Benjamin Guilardi, resident, expressed concern with the new residence impacting views.  He also stated that he feels the slope calculation is incorrect and that the proposed residence is too large and does not fit the character of the existing neighborhood.

Luis Allende, resident, expressed concern with the poison oak on the property.

Jose Costa, resident, spoke regarding his concern for the two-story element of the residence and potential privacy impacts.

Jim Trembath, resident, expressed concern with the two-story proposal.

Since there was no one else wishing to speak, the Public Hearing was closed at 9:24 p.m.

Discussion commenced.

At 9:35 p.m. the Public Hearing was reopened.

Benjamin Guilardi, resident, expressed his disagreement with the slope calculations.

At 9:37 p.m. the Public hearing was closed

Commissioner Allen expressed concern with the height of the proposed residence and privacy impacts.

Commissioner Mastropolo stated that he feels a second story home is consistent with the make up of the neighborhood and pointed out that there are two-story homes within the neighborhood.  He stated that he was comfortable with the application as presented.

Commissioner Barth stated that he does not feel that the house is too large, but would like to see the height of the house reduced.

Following discussion, Commissioner Barth moved to continue the application to allow time for the applicant to address the concerns of the neighbors.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Allen and the motion passed with a 3-0 vote.

ADJOURNMENT 
 
At 9:45 p.m., the meeting was adjourned to a 7:00 p.m. April 1, 2009
to be held in the City Council Chambers located at 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, Monte Sereno, and California.
      ____________________________________
      Brian Loventhal, City Manager/City Planner
ATTEST:
____________________________
Andrea M. Chelemengos, City Clerk