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Published on 02/02/1998 All articles from this issue

Varian exec joins LAH Planning Commission

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By Carol Tiegs / Town Crier Staff Writer

Richard Aurelio, executive vice president of Varian Associates in Palo Alto, was elected to the Los Altos Hills Planning Commission at the Feb. 4 meeting of the Los Altos Hills Town Council. He will fill the unexpired term of former commission member Mary Stutz, who died in December. The term ends on June 30.

Aurelio was elected from a field of seven candidates, including Katharine Alexander, Harry Emerzian, Sandra Humphries, Michael Schoendorf, Gloria Shiff and Bob Stutz. Robert Laskin and Rob McCarthy had withdrawn their applications due to scheduling conflicts.

In his application, Aurelio said he wanted "to protect the character of the hills, with sensible growth and development." Of particular interest to him was "balancing individual property rights and the character of the community."

As part of his application to council, Aurelio suggested the town explore the possibility of establishing an open space trust. Owners of large tracts of land could have the opportunity to donate a portion of their property to a land trust, he said. Residents could obtain tax benefits while contributing to the preservation of open space in Los Altos Hills.

In other action on Feb. 4, council directed staff to return in one month with an analysis of four possible solutions to confusion surrounding map conditions in the Matadero Creek subdivision. The map conditions affect the method of calculating development area on subdivision sites. Currently it impacts design of homes planned for the remaining two undeveloped lots in the subdivision.

Council also granted a variance and approved a request for a site development permit for two new residences in the 13000 block of Moon Lane.

Variance and permit are subject to the applicants, Los Altos Hills residents Evan Wythe and Janet Vitu, working with staff to make a number of specified design changes. Those include making the exterior treatment more compatible with existing Moon Lane homes.

The decision came on appeal of a planning commission decision to deny a site development permit. Architect Glenn Cahoon unveiled new plans on Feb. 4, which addressed the commission's concerns. Moon Lane neighbors who addressed council on Feb. 4 remained unanimously opposed to granting a permit, however. Their concerns included neighborhood compatibility, and the amount of grading involved in construction.

"The houses are a complete anomaly," said Moon Lane resident Tim Chown. "They are the largest houses on the smallest, most challenged lots."