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Published on 08/31/1998 All articles from this issue

Design issues on LAH council agenda

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By Carol Tiegs

Special to the Town Crier

Policies and ordinances regarding chimney height, carports and garages and the La Paloma corridor were on the Los Altos Hills Town Council agenda Sept. 2.

Responding to Councilwoman Toni Casey's concern that the town's planning commission arbitrarily required building applicants to low chimney heights, the council considered a draft ordinance revision bringing chimney heights in line with the Uniform Building Code.

The council rejected that revision. It passed a motion reaffirming the planning commission's authority to request reduction of chimney heights only in cases where the chimneys were considered intrusive or to obstruct views.

As Planning Director Curtis Williams described the issue of carports and garages, town building ordinances now required inclusion of four parking places but do not specify that these must be enclosed. "People typically find later that they want garages, and then they need variances," Williams said. "The planning commission wondered whether applicants shouldn't just be required to include four garages in their building project."

The council approved an ordinance modification maintaining the requirement for four parking places, at least two of which must be garages. Williams said public hearings on the ordinance amendment will be conducted before the planning commission and then the town council in late 1998 or early 1999.

Responding to confusion over design criteria to be applied to new construction in an area known as the La Paloma corridor, the council formalized what Williams called "the design practices for the last 10 years." Those include a maximum height of 23 feet, measured from the existing grade or pad, whichever is lower. New development would generally be limited to a single story, excluding basements and attics not counted as floor area.

The council also formalized the corridor boundaries to include lots on La Paloma Road from Todd Lane to Fremont Road.

A public hearing on the modified code sections and design guidelines could be held at an October council meeting, Williams said.