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Published on 02/16/1998 All articles from this issue

LAH officials forge ahead on home design issues

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By Carol Tiegs / Town Crier Staff Writer

Amid pleas to challenge assumptions, create harmony and honor all residents' values, the Los Altos Hills Town Council and Planning Commission held a second joint study session Feb. 10 to continue work on a 13-item list of policy issues. Approximately 25 residents turned out for the meeting, which was publicized by the Los Altos Hills Civic Association.

The outcome of council-commission deliberations was some additional work for the town's planning staff. The staff was directed to return to the council with recommendations on single-story height limitations, guidelines for development area and options for an ordinance change on counting carports as floor area.

The issue of single-story heights comes up in ridgeline developments, planning director Curtis Williams said. At issue was where on the house line to apply the single story requirement, how high a single story should be, and where to start counting.

Council and commission grappled with how to address issues raised by "challenged lots" - steeper, sometimes smaller, or oddly configured lots - early in the design process. Mayor Toni Casey cautioned against leaving applicants in a "Catch-22," where meeting design criteria meant stepping over the grading guidelines.

Planning Commissioner Guy Jinkerson said the current rain-related problems in Daly City and San Bruno illustrated the reason for grading concerns. He also raised the issue of fire department requirements for driveways and turnarounds that "eat up a lot of development area" in a home design. Recommendations from the planning staff will consider whether an ordinance change is necessary to address the problem.

Williams told council members and planning commissioners that town code does not currently require enclosed garages, and carports are not counted as floor area on home designs.

As a result, he said, people build without a garage to maximize floor area and then later request a variance to enclose their carport. One solution is to require two-car garages in new homes.

Architect William Maston said the Portola Valley Ranch project "is pulling back on carports" because they are "less sightly." Realtors say carports detract from property value, he said.

During public comment, resident Bob Molinari called for council "to get a sense of the representative opinion of the town."

"Council shouldn't knee-jerk reflect the opinion of people who come to speak," said Councilwoman Elayne Dauber. "I expressed my philosophy before I was elected. If people don't like it, they can vote me out."

"I don't support or oppose development," said Casey, challenged by resident Tim Chown to state her position. "My job is to support the opinion of the town to the best of my ability. I want to do what the town wants to do. I think most of the council wants to, too."

Valerie Chown said longtime residents must be valued as much as new ones. "Different people have different values." she said. "We value the environment we live in."