Tiburon Glen Draft Environmental Impact Report - October 9 meeting Parente Precise Development Plan – October 23 meeting

PLANNING COMMISSION

September 25, 2002

Regular Meeting

Town Council Chambers

1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, California 94920

Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

ROLL CALL

Present: Chairman Smith, Commissioners Collins, Greenberg, Snow and Stein

Absent: None

Staff Present: Senior Planner Watrous

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

There were none.

COMMISSION AND STAFF BRIEFING

Senior Planner Watrous stated that the public hearing for the draft EIR for the Tiburon Glen project will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2002. He indicated that the Town has not heard from the applicants for the Parente Precise Development Plan regarding any potential modifications to the project.

CONSENT CALENDAR

1. Minutes of August 28, 2002  There were no corrections.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

46 VIA LOS ALTOS; REQUEST TO AMEND THE RING MOUNTAIN PRECISE PLAN TO MODIFY A BUILDING ENVELOPE FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE; Scott and Susan Kisting, owners; I.L. Schwartz Associates, Inc., applicant; Assessor Parcel No. 034-012-53

Chairman Smith opened the public hearing.

Senior Planner Watrous presented the Staff report. He recommended approval of the project with a five foot setback from the rear property line.

Irving Schwartz, applicant and civil engineer, submitted a plan of the proposed project with the approval signatures of all the surrounding property owners. He stated that he and the property owners had not discussed the possibility of requesting the establishment of a secondary envelope instead of an expansion to the primary building envelope, but he indicated that the owners had no intention of expanding their house. He stated that a secondary envelope and a five foot setback from the rear property line would be acceptable.

Commissioner Collins asked what was proposed to be constructed at the edge of the pool area. Mr. Schwartz replied that a six foot tall fence would be built along the property lines for swimming pool safety protection.

Commissioner Greenberg stated that she thought that fences were not allowed outside the building envelopes in the Ring Mountain Precise Plan. Senior Planner Watrous clarified that fences are discouraged, but not prohibited, outside the building envelope in the CC&R’s adopted by reference for the Ring Mountain Precise Plan.

Chair Smith closed the public hearing.

Commissioner Greenberg stated that although she generally does not support amendments to building envelopes, this application was the most benign request she has ever seen. She stated that the swimming pool area is practically invisible, and noted that a fence would be constructed in the rear yard anyway. She was inclined to approve the application as a new secondary building envelope and a five foot setback from the rear property line.

The other Planning Commissioners concurred with Commissioner Greenberg.

M/S Greenberg/Snow (5-0) to adopt the resolution recommending approval of this application to the Town Council, as amended to establish a new secondary building envelope instead of an expansion to the primary building envelope, with a five foot setback from the rear property line.

ANNUAL GENERAL PLAN STATUS REPORT FOR 2001-2002

Senior Planner Watrous explained the State requirement for an annual status report on each municipality’s general plan. He noted that the Town had just released its report on the recent public participation process for the general plan update, and that copies had been distributed to the Planning Commission. He recommended that the Planning Commission forward the annual report to the Town Council and the appropriate State agencies.

Commissioner Stein indicated that during the previous workshops, there had been discussion about holding another meeting regarding the Downtown Element, with additional input and coordination with the Chamber of Commerce. He encouraged further public participation in the process, stating that more discussion on this issue was needed.

Commissioner Snow indicated that all of the previous workshops had been held during the summer. He encouraged scheduling another workshop for general purposes that could be attended by residents who were out of town during the summer.

Commissioner Stein urged Staff to download the current general plan onto the Town’s website as soon as possible. He stated that making this document more accessible would improve the public participation process.

Chair Smith asked questions regarding the State’s deadline for the updated Housing Element and possible extensions to that deadline. Senior Planner Watrous explained that there were usually no significant problems with missing the State deadlines, as long as the Town was making good faith efforts to complete the Housing Element. He added that one of the reasons for the annual status report was to give the State information on the progress each municipality is making toward updating its Housing Element.

ADJOURNMENT

Having no further business, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.

 ______________________________

PAUL SMITH, CHAIR

Tiburon Planning Commission

ATTEST:

 _________________________________

DANIEL M. WATROUS, SECRETARY