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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0813195157 City Hall, Palo Alto, California, August 13, 1951. The Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular session on this date at 7:30 P.M., with Mayor Mitchell presiding., Roll call as follows: Present: Bishop, Blois, Bowden, Bower, Cashel, Drysdale, Gaspar, Hill, Marshall, Miller, Mitchell, Montrouil, Simpson. Absent: Cathcart, Wickett. The minutes of the meeting of July 23, 1951, were. approved. Project 49-10, Amarillo Avenue et al A report was received from the City Manager relative to the..bids received on August 10, 1951, on Project 49-10, with the recommendation that the contract be awarded to the .lowest bidder, the L. C. Smith Company, in the amount of $249,767.94. Itwas pointed out that this bid is 2.19% in excess of the Engineer's estimate. Resolution No. 2148 of Intention to make changes and modifications in Project 49-10 by increasing the total amount of the assessment was read, and on motion of Gaspar and Blois, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. This resolution provides for a hearing to be held on August 27, 1951, at 7:30 P.M. Action on resolution ordering improvements and confirming assessment, and on resolution of award of contract, was deferred until after the hearing on Resolution No. 2148. (Councilman Cathcart came at this time, 7:40 p.m., and was present for the rest of the meeting.) A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending that proceedings be started for the modification of Project -49-10 to provide for the construction of storm sewers in Diss Road from Middlefield Road northeasterly to Ross Road and in easements to be acquired in the northeasterly prolongation of Diss.Road, easterly to a point in Adobe Creek. It was pointed out that it will be necessary to let a supplemental contract for this additional work. Resolution No. 2149 of preliminary determination and of intention to make changes and modifications, in accordance with the recommendation of Committee No. 1, was read, and on motion of Cathcart and Montrouil, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call, with date of hearing set for August 27, 1951, at 7:30 P.M. Project 46-4, Cowper Street et al This was the time for a hearing on amended assessment of Assessment No. 809-A, Project No. 46-4. The hearing was declared' open. There being no one present to speak on the matter, the hearing was closed. Resolution No. 2150 confirming amended assessment was p_nsented, and ' on motion: of Montrouil and Gaspar, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. 58 Project 51-1, Third Street et al A communication was received from the Freeman Paving Company, to which the contract for Project 51-1 was previously awarded, submitting the following'list of sub -contractors for the Council's approval`: Concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks; 0. J. Todd, 2520 Wyandotte, Mountain View Electrical,work: Progress Electric Company, Third Street, Palo Alto. On motion ofGaspar and Bowden, these sub -contractors on Project 51-1 were approved. Hearing on {;.ezoning Application This was the time for a. hearing on the application of Maurice Ledoyen for the rezonthg of Lot 7, Block 2, Evergreen Park, on the westerly corner of Ash Street and Leland Avenue, from R-1 to Reference was made to a previous report from the Planning Commission recommending that the application be denied for the reason that this would create spot zoning. A letter from Mr. Ledoyen and his attorney, Lorenz Costello, which accompanied the application, was read, advising that Mr. Ledoyen owns both Lots 6 and 7; that Lot 6 which is unimproved is already zoned as R-3, and it is desired that both lots have the same classification. The hearing was. declared open. There being no one who desired to speak on the matter, the hearing was closed. Councilman Montrouil, Chairman of Committee No. 1, asked that thematter:be referred to Committee No. 1 for study. 4 motion was made by Hill, seconded by Bowden, and carried, that in view of, the. fact, there was no objection to the rezoning by interested property owners, the request of Mr. Ledoyen . be granted and the property be rezoned as R-3. After discussion, a.proposed ordinance rezoning Lot 7, Block °2, Evergreen,Park, from R-1 to R-3 was accepted for first reading and referred to Committee No. 1 for a report at the next Council meeting on August 27th Bayshore Freeway A communication was received from the Chamber of Commerce requesting the Council to adopt a resolution urging the early completion of the Bayshore-Freeway between San Mateo and San Jose. On motion of Mrs. Bower and Bowden, Resolution No.. 2151 ' urging the drly completion 'of the Bayshore Freeway was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call, 'and it was directed that copies of the:resolution be sent to`Governor Earl Warren and to the State Highway Commission. Traffic. Survey A letter was received from, the Chamber of Commerce. recommending that a traffic survey. be made to determine the need for additional arterial streets and traffic patrol officers. "5,'?,'?"`L;' Brie• 4,6'4 59 • • a -71 -The City Manager reported that such a study has,.a:.ready been completed; that the Traffic Committee and Planning Officer have been working on the problem for the last six months. Rates of Peninsula Transit Lines . A notice was received of hearing to be held by the Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday, August 15,:1951, at 10:00 A.M. in the Palo Alto Police Court on the application of the Peninsula Transit Lines for authority to increase raves. The City Attorney was requested to represent the City at the hearing. Parking Regulations on Waverley Street A report was received from Committee No. 2 recommending the adoptionof.,an ordinance providing for the extension of, th^ parking metered area from Lytton Avenue northwesterly on Waverley Street, to include five 2 -hour meters on the nor`ch- easterly side and five 2 -hour meters on the southwesterly side (the first 36 feet on the southwesterly side to be marked red). -On motion of Bowden and Montrouil, a proposed ordinance establishing -a No. Parking Zone and a Parking Meter Zone on Waverley Street northwesterly from Lytton Avenue, in accordance with the recommendation of Committee No. 2, was accepted for first reading. Gas Tax Agreement The City Manager presented a Memorandum of Agreement for expenditure of the gas tax allocation for major city streets for the 1952 fiscal year. Resolution No. 2152 approving the agreement and authorizing' its execution by the Mayor and City Clerk was read, and on motion of'=Gaspar and Bowden, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Acceptance of Bridges The City Manager reported that the contract of the Lew Jones Construction Company of San'Jose for the construction of two bridges over Matadero Creek at Third Street and at Lambert Avenue was completed August 8, 1951, a month ahead of the contract schedule. On.motion o.f:Bowden and Drysdale, the bridges were accepted -by the Council. Fire Insurance for. Hospital The City Manager reported that the current reappraisal value of the Palo -Alto Hospital building and contents is i,k68,050..00 and the present total fire insurance coverage is $971,256.00. In order to have the required coverage of 90%, the insurance should be increased to $1,321,245.00. The City Manager advised that he had authorized the -Palo Alto Hospital Governing Board to provide the additional fire insurance coverage as of July 24, 1951. Resubdivisions-• A report was received from the Planning Commission recommending that the application of Russell Tapscott for 0 CC resubdivision of Lot 10 and a portion of Lot 8, Boyce Addition, be denied. The Commission reported that it was the feeling of a majority of the members that wherever possible street frontage should be required for all lots. Committee No. 1 concurred with the planning Commission in recommending that, the application be denied. Mr. Lorenz Costello addressed the Council in support of_Mr.. Tapscott's petition. 0n_motion of Montrouil and Hill, the recommendation of the Planning Commission and Committee No. 1 was approved and the application denied, by the following vote on roll call: Ayes: Bishop, Blois, Bowden, Bower, Drysdale, Gaspar, -Hill, Marshall, Mitchell, Montrouil, Simpson. Noes: Cashel, Cathcart, Miller. A report was received from the Planning Commission recommending that the following resubdivisions of lots be approved:, a. Resubdivision of portion of Lot 1, Block 3, Subdivision No. 5 of the Seale Tract, by Howard Ruth, Sr. b. Resubdivision of Lot 33, Boyce and Ashby Tracts, by Louis Jefferys . c. Resubdivision of portion of Lot 30, Wooster Subdivision, by Marion C. Ribble. Committee No. 1 concurred with the Planning Commission in recommending approval of these resubdivisions. On motion of Montrouil and Blois, the recommendation was adopted and the resubdivisions approved. Resubdivisior Block 9, College Terrace A report was received from the Planning Commission advising -that, in:view of a letter from Mr. Francis J. Gavin, Jr., 1575 Stanford Avenue, indicating his willingness to purchase Lots 4, 5 and 6, Block9, College Terrace, for a single dwelling use, the Planning Commission recommended that the application of Mrs. Mary J. Mueller and Mrs. Mary Thomas Miller for a variance of the Zoning Ordinance involving a change of setback line and variation of lot areas be denied. The Council was informed that since the last Council meeting Mrs. Miller has completed the purchase of the property in question and has submitted a new plan for the resubdivision of the three lots on which she intends to build three houses. She has withdrawn her request for variance and change of setback line. At the request of the Mayor, the Planning Commission reconsidered the matter and has recommended that Mrs. Miller's application for the resubdivision of the lots be denied. Committee No. 1 recommended approval of the resubdivision' in accordance with the new plan submitted by Mrs. Miller, subject to the approval ,of the Engineering Department. Letters were read from Dr._Russel V. Lee and from ',Prof. Jeffery Smith urging the Council to give favorable considera- tion to Mrs. Miller's application. ti a W .k,.W-, 1 r^ r bn"rt i 61 The City Attorney advised that the reason given by the Planning Commission in its first report for recommending denial of the application was not proper from a legal standpoint. The Chairman of`Committee No. 1 reported that the only problem before the committee was to decide which was the better plan for the location of the three houses,- Wbuild one house on each of the exieang three 25 -foot lots as'permitted under the present ordinance, or to place the houses in accordance with the new resubdivision.plan submitted by Mrs. Miller. It was moved by Montrouil, seconded by Drysdale, that the recommendation of Committee No. 1 for the approval of the new plan be adopted. Leon Carley, attorney representing property owners who objected to the application, addressed the Council on the matter. The motion to adopt the recommendation of Committee No. 1 and approve the resubdivision was then carried. Change of Street Name A report was received from the Planning Commission recommending that a petition from property owners on ;duns Court requesting that the name of this street be changed -to "Kings Lane" be granted, and that the Council adopt an ordinance changing the name of the street. Committee No. 1 recommended adoption of the ordinance changing the name of Pluns Court to Kings Lane, subject to verification of'the approval of the new name by the Post Office. A letter was received from Florence M. Saunders, 0. J. Saunders,. Jr., and Dorothy W. Whitaker, advising that the street was named' as a memorial to one of the pioneer families of the City and asking that the name of Pluns Court be retained. A letter was also received from Guy C. Miller, and a. petition with 23 names asking that this street name be not changed. Councilman Cashel expressed objection to the change. On motion of Hill and Montrouil, a proposed ordinance changing the name of Pluns Court to Kings Lane was accepted for first reading. (The Council took,afive-minute recess at this time and reconvened at $:45 P.M.) Design Control Plans A -report was received from the Planning Commission recommending approval.of plans submitted by E. J. Leep for architectural design control approval for the construction of a dwelling on the southwest one-half of Lots 9, 10 and 11, Block 12, Stanford City. Committee No. 1 concurred in this recommendation. On motion of Montrouil and Drysdale, the recommendation was adopted and the plans approved. A report was also received from the Planning Commission recommending approval of plans submitted by Byron C. Carlton for design control approval for the construction of apartment houses on Lots 2 and 3 and parts of Lots 1 and 4, Block 4, Stanford City. Committee No. 1 concurred in -this recommendation. On motion of Cathcart and Montrouil, the recommendation was adopted and the plans approved. w 62 Use Permit (St. Aloysius Church) A report was received from the Planning Commission recommending approval of the application of St. Aloysius Church for a use permit to construct i::; parochial grammar school, convent, church and rectory an the 10 -acre plot of land extending from Middlefield Road to Cowper Street, approximately 200 feet south of Loma Verde Avenue, being Lots 46 and 47, C. M. Wooster Company's Subdivision, the parking ratio for 'this development to be one (1) parking space to every five (5).seats. Committee No. 1 reported that it concurred with the Planning Commission in recommending that this use permit be granted.' On motion of Bowden and Cashel, the recommendation was adopted and the permit approved, with the understanding that the parking ratio of one space to every five seats shall apply to the church only. Planned Community, Stern & Price A report was received from the Planning Commission recommending that the Stern,& Price shopping area on Alma Street, 360 feet northerly of Diss Road, as shown on the plot plan and perspective filed 1July 18, 1951, be zoned "P -C", Planned Community District, upon the following conditions: a. That a 10 -foot screened planting boundary strip be provided on the two side property lines. b. That 20 -foot setback lines be provided on Alma and Ramona Street frontages of the property. c. That all C-2 uses be allowed and, in addition, a service station at which no repair work will be conducted. d. That a building height limit of two stories shall be maintained,. not to exceed 35 feet, except that normal_or necessary architectural features may be extended tenot more than 45 feet. e.. That the total parking'r,nd driveway area shall be not less than 342,000 square f-. That'all landscaped area be maintained in good condition. g• That the maximum land area to be covered by buildings shall not exceed 112,850 square feet. Committee -No. 1 reported that it concurred in the recommendation of the Planning Commission for zoning the Stern & Price shopping area as P -C upon the conditions outlined. _ A motion was made by Montrouil, seconded by Blois, that the recommendation :of the Planning Commission and Committee No. I be adopted. Councilmen Miller and Bishop questioned the advisability of establishing this shopping area in view of the fact that it is only 2/10 of a mile from a business area on El Camino Real. Mr. A. J. Stern of, Stern & Price informed the Council that the County Planning Commission and planning consultants for the City had approved the proposed site as the proper location for a shopping area. ,). 63 There was considerable discussion on Paragraphs` a and f in the list of conditions. On motion of Cathcart and'Hill, Paragraph f relative to maintenance of landscaping was deleted and Paragraph g renumbered as f. Councilman Bowden, voted No on this motion. A motion was made;by Cathcart, seconded by Hill, that Paragraph a be amended by substituting the words "open area" for' "screened planting boundary". The vote on roll call was as follows: Ayes: Bishop, Cashel, Cathcart, Hill, Mitchell. Noes: Blois, Bowden, Bower, Drysdale, Gaspar, Marshall, Miller, Montrouil, Simpson. The motion was declared lost. The motion to.adopt the recommendation of the Planning Commission and Committee No. 1 for the zoning of this P -C district, as amended by deleting Paragraph f from the conditions, was then carried on roll call by the following vote: Ayes: Blois, Bowden, Bower, Cashel, Cathcart, Drysdale, Gaspar, Hill, Marshall, Mitchell, Montrouil,Simpson Noes: Bishop, Miller. At the request of Councilman Bowden, the City Manager was requested to get information from other communities as:to any experience they have had with legislation or requirements. for planting and landscaping in commercial areas. i • Arterial Streets A report was received from the planning Commission recommending that the,following streets be established as arterials: Charleston Road and Diss Road; California Avenue from El Camino Real to Alma Street; Newell Road from North California Avenue to. San Francisquito Creek; and Louis Road from Embarcadero Road to San Antonio Road. The Council was informed that Committee No. 2 had requested the Planning Commission to consider the establishment of these streets as arterials, in view of recommendations of the Planning Officer and the Traffic Committee which hac`been making a study of the matter and had compiled data on -traffic flow and accidents. A letter was received from Dr. Henry M. Gunn, Superintendent of Schools, asking that the proposal to make Diss Road an_arterial be reconsidered. He stated that it was his ° understanding in an informal meeting with the Planning Commission that Diss Road would not be considered as an arterial and for this reason -the new schools were. located on this street. The question of Dias Road was referred back to the Planning Commission for further study. In regard to Newell Road, Councilman Bowden, Chairman of Committee No. 2, advised that the committee had deferred action on request of interested residents that four-way stop signs be installed at Channing and Newell until further study had been given to this question_by the City's Traffic Committee and the School Traffic Committee. A motion was made by Bowden, seconded by Montrouil,, that an emergency ordinance be adopted establishing Ch.arles.ton Road, California Avenue from El Camino Real to Alma Street, CC G Newell Road from North California Avenue to San Francisquito Creek, and Louis -Road from Embarcadero Road to San Antonio Road as arterial streets. The following addressed the Council objecting to the proposal to make Newell Road an arterial: Frank Roberts, 1059 Newell Road; Homer Martin, 280 Walter Hays Drive; Mortimer Smith, 1525 Walnut Drive; Mrs. Ralph Beecher, 941 Newell, Road; Harry Miller, 1087 Newell.Road; R. S. Freese, 167 Lois Lane W.%J. Baum, 140 Lois Lane; Capt. A. B. Mayfield, 10 Jordan Place;` and,Stanley Barrett, 1073 Newell Road. Several of the speakers. were in favorof four-way stop:signs at the intersection of 'Charming and Newel].. Councilman Miller objected to considering the matter as an emergency ordinance. The motion to adopt the emergency ordinance was withdrawn and the ordinance establishing these arterials was accepted for first reading. Utility Easement A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending approval and execution of -grant -of easement for utility purposes from Barrett_& Hilp in Block 320, Crescent Park Woods, and abandoning former easement. On motion of Montrouil and Hill, a resolution accepting ' this easement and abandoning former easement was adopted by unanimous -vote on roll call. Offer on Tax -deeded Lot A report was received from Committee No. 5 recommending that:the offer of Herbert J. Dinsmore to purchase Lot 3, Block 12,; -Stanford City, for -the sum of $300.00 be rejected, as the committee felt that the price offered is too low. On motion.of Cathcart and Montrouil, the recommendation was adopted and the offer rejected. Rezoning_ Applications (Barrett & Hilp) (Greer) The applications for rezoning of the Barrett & Hilp property on Newell Road near Embarcadero Road, and the rezoning of the Greer property, the report previously received from the Planning Commission on this,matter, and the consideration of a shopping district for that area,.continued from the last Council meeting, were referred to Committees No. 1 and No. 5 and the Planning Officer for study and report. At this time the:Mayor submitted a letter signed by temporary officers of an organization now being formed of the residents of the area bounded by Newell Road, Channing Avenue, Heather Lane and.Ernbarcadero Road, requesting the Council to defer formal action on any matters affecting the area until they have had -an opportunity to -consider -the zoning problem and present their views to the Council. The Mayor advised that they request permission to confer with the Planning Officer on the matter and he referred this request to the City Manager. issuance and Sale of Improvement Bonds Ordinance No. 1357, providing for the issuance of City of Palo -Alt;`? Improvement Bonds of 1950, Series C, in the amount of $600,000.00, and providing for bids for the sale of said bonds to be received by the -Council on=August 27, 1951, was read, and on motion of Montrouil and Blois, -was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. 65 port of Controller The monthly report of the Controller was received and placed on file. Petition on Garbage Contract A petition with`about 595 signatures requesting that the present garbage contract be cancelled and that the City make a study and enter into.any contracts necessary to provide for an. efficient garbage disposal service was received and referred to the City Manager. Petition on Swimming Pool Rates ='A letter was received from Mrs. J. V. McCrary, 2899 South Court, submitting a petition with 95 signatures, objecting to 'the increase made this year in admission prices at the swimming pooa,_and asking that consideration be given to reducing the prices. This was referred to the City Manager and Committee No. 3. Aceeptance of Deed A deed from Barrett & Hilp Development Company covering the six acres purchased by -the City at the corner of Newell Road and Embarcadero Road was presented. On motion of Gaspar and Blois, Resolution No. 2153 accepting this deed was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Palo Alto Hospital. Dr. Herbert T. Browne, representing the Staff of the Palo Alto Hospital, addressed'the Council regarding the need for enlargement of the Hospital and expansion of its facilities to meet the -needs of the growing community. He referred to previous requests of the Hospital Staff for additional facilities, -and advised that the Staff feels that more cooperation is needed between the City, Council, Stanford University which operates the Hospital, and the Hospital Staff. He asked that the Council make a study of the problem. It was pointed out that the Palo Alto -Stanford Committee has. the hospital, problem on its agenda. On motion of Gaspar and Montrouil, the Council adjourned. APPROVED: ATTEST: