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City Nall, Palo Alto. California,
October 22, 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, Cashel, Cathcart, Drysdale,
Gaspar, Marshall, Miller, Mitchell, Montrouil,Wicket
Absent: Mrs. Bower, Hill, Simpson.
The minutes of the meeting of October 8, 1951, were
approved.
Next Regular Meetin$ November 13th
It was moved by Montrouil, seconded by Bowden, and
carried that the next regular meeting be held on Tuesday,
November 13, 1951,-: at 7:30 P.M., inasmuch as Monday, November 12th
will be observed as a legal holiday (Armistice Day.
Meeting on Off -Street Parkin$
The Mayor announced that a meeting has been arranged
of. Committee's No._1 and No. 4 and representatives of the
Chamber of Commerce to discuss the question of off-street
parking, on Monday, October 29, 1951, at 7:30 P.M. He advised
that the Planning Commission has been asked to be represented
at the meeting, and that other council members are invited.
Zonin& of Barrett & Hilp Property
The proposed ordinance changing the zoning of the
Barrett & Hilp property on Newell Road from R-1 to
Interim Planned Community District, was presented for second
reading. It was pointed out that when the ordinance was
accepted for first reading on October 8th, the matter was referred
to the Planning Officer: and the Council as a Committee of the
Whole. The Mayor advised that a meeting of the Committee of
the Whole.has not been held and that the Planning Officer has
not submitted a report.
The Mayor read a letter from the Palo Alto Chamber of
Commerce urging the City to acquire the entire area at the
corner of Newell,Road`and Embarcadero Road for the development
of an adequate long range Civic Center plan. He referred the
letter to the Committee,of the Whole to explore the possibility
of purchasing- the property.
In view -of the fact that the Planning Officer and the
.Committee of the Whole have not had time to complete their: study
and report,'`it was moved by Blois, seconded by Gaspar, and:
carried that action on second reading of the ordinance be
postponed.
Variance, Mrs. Fischl
A. -report was received from the Planning Commission
recommending approval of the application of Mrs. Alice P. Fischl
for a variance of the Zoning Ordinance on Lots 1, 2 and 3,
Block 25, College Terrace. It was explained that the variance
involves a ;reduction in the setback line from 16 feet to 10 feet
on the northeasterly side of Harvard Street for a distance of
125 feet from Stanford Avenue. The Commission felt that a
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hardship was indicated in this case due to the narrow frontage
of these lots which are legal building sites.
On motion of Montrouil and Blois, the application was
approved and the variance granted.
Use Permits -for Churches
A report was received from the Planning Commission
recommending approval -of —the application of the Church of Jesus-
Christ of Latter-=DaySaints for a use permit to modify and
increase the size of their church building at Addison and Guinda,
with the provision thatif the Planning Commission determines
that the use of part of, Lot 1 and part of Lot 2, Boyce Addition,
on Channing Avenue,,for off-street parking in conjunction with
the church is appropriate and does not meet with objection from
the adjacent property owners, then the applicant should be
required to develop the parking lot as a part of the permitted
church use. The Commission reported that its findings on the
use of the above described lot for parking purposes would be
transmitted after its next regular meeting on October 31st.
A :,lotion was made by Cathcart, seconded by Blois, that
the matter be re -referred to the Planning Commission.
Mr. William R. Ray, a member of the church board,
' addressed the Council, advising that the church offered to buy
a lot to be used for -off-street_ parking, but the lot available
on Channing Avenue is some distance from the church and he
doubted if it would be used very much.. He pointed out that
the church has been plannig the addition for a long time, and
urged the Council to grant the,, permit, with the understanding
that if the Planning Commission feels they should buy the lot
for parking purposes''they will do so.
The Assistant Planning Officer reported that it was
the intent of the Planning Commi.asion to approve the permit;
that if th.e neighbors did not object to the lot in question
being -.used for parking the Commission felt it desirable for the
church to develop the lot for parking purposes, but that the
permit be granted in any case.
The motion to refer the matter back to the Planning
Commission was withdrawn, and on motion of Montrouil and Cashel,
the use permit was granted by the Council.
A report:was also received from the Planning Commission
recommending approval of the application of the Society of Friends
for a use permit to construct:a.church building on Lots 1 and 2,
Lawrence Tract. The Commissiox; further recommended that the
alternate plan for the building be approved, with the original.
rather than the alternate parking_ lot plan, provision to be made
for at least 15 parking spaces; also that adequate planting for
screening 'be provided.
The Assistant Planning Officer explained the plans and
recommended apprcval of the permit:
A motion was made by Bowden, seconded by Gaspar, that
the permit be granted in accordance with the recommendation of
the Planning Commission, with the understanding that at least
15 -parking spaces be provided and that planting for screening be.
provided.
Councilman Cathcart objected to including a provision
for planting in the use permit, as this could not be enforced by
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legislation He moved that the motion be amended by deleting
the clause in regard to adequate planting for screening. The
amendment to the motion was carried, Bowden voting No-.
The motion as amended was then carried and the permit
granted.
Amended Use Permit, Medical Building,
A report was submitted by the Planning Commission
recommending approval. Of the application of H.J. Cornish and
G. E. Carey for an amended use permit involving a reduction in
the sized the medical building now under construction on a
portion of Lot 4,: Block 4+1, University Park, corner of Middlefield
Road and sorest Avenue.
The Assistant Planning Officer explained that the
developer desires to change the plan by reducing the building
from a two-story to a one-story building and increasing the
ground coverage somewhat. He pointed out that the number of
parking_spaces will be increased by two and could be increased
further if necessary.
On motion of Montrouil and Bowden, the amended use permit
was granted.
Use Permit, Driveway for School
A report was received from the Planning Commission
recommending approval of the application of the Palo Alto U.lified
School District for a use permit for a 20 -foot strip of land
adjoining the -Sterling Gardens School site, running from Louis
Road to Stockton Place, for the purpose of ingress and egress
to the school site.
The Commission suggested that the driveway be not used
for continued access to the school for the reason that it has
been the policy of the Commission not to have the access road
from a school enter on an arterial, and that it be indicated
that the road should have a gate across it, the gate to be opened
to allow vehicles to go through, but not for all-time access for
school children. The. City Attorney pointed out that the use
of the roadway is a private matter andthe City can not pass
legislation governing use of private property. The Planning
Officer advised that it was not the intention of the Planning
Commission to make this a condition of the use permit.
On motion of Marshall and Montrouil, the permit was
granted.
Resubdivision in Block 201
A report was received from the Planning Commission
recommending approval of the application of Earl M. Berendsen
and Earl Ellison for resubdivision of portion of Block 201,
South Court,- in accordance withthe recommendation of the City
Engineer as set forth in Bulletin 51-104+.
On motion of Montrouil and Drysdale, the recommendation
was adopted and the resubdivisior, approved.
Resubdivisinn in Block 70
The Planning Commission recommended that the application.
of Robert M. Fraser for resubdivisior of Lot 1, Block 70,
University Park, known as 509 Hale Street, be rejected; based upon
lack of data concerning existing structures and the prominent
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growth of trees on the"property.
On motion. of Cathcart and Drysdale, the recommendation
was adopted and the application rejected.
Closing of El Capitan Road
A report was received from the Planning Commission
recommending that El Capitan Road, be closed between Bryant and
Waver3ey Streets, ix accordance with Engineering Bulletin
No. 51-100. The.Commission advised that a recommendation on the
section of El Capstan Road between Alma and Ramona Streets will
be forthcoming•as, soon as some of the property owners have had an
opportunity to ascertain what effect the closing of this street
will have on their individual parcels.
Action was deferred, and the City Attorney was requested
to prepare a resolution for the next meeting providing for the
closing of the street.
Regulations on New Parking Lot
Ordinance Nc. 1364, establishing parking meters on the
parking lot at Bryant Street and Forest Avenue, with parking
limit of four hours, the rate to be one cent for 12 minutes or
five cents per hour, was presented for second reading. On motion.
of Bowden and Montrouil, the ordinance was adopted as an emergency;
ordinance by unanimous vote on roll call.
Project 48-9, California Avenue Alleys
Resolution No. 2178, directing making of amended assess-
ment of Assessment No. 52, Project 48-9, was read, and on motion
of Blois acid Gaspar, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. _^
Improvement Bonds of 1951
Ordinance No. 1365., providing for issuance of City of
Palo Alto; Improvement Bonds of 1951 in the amount of $1,100,000.00
and for the sale of Series A of said bonds in the amount of
$80,000.00, was presented.
On motion of Bowden and Drysdale, and by unanimous vote
on roll call, the ordinance was adopted, bids for the sale of
Series A to be opened at the hour of 4:00 P.M., November 13, 1951.
Lease of Matadero Flood Basin
The City Manager submitted a new lease with Lawrence
Lemos, W. T. Wilson, :and MiltonLemos, covering approximately
301 acres of the Matadero Flood Basin, for a period of five years
commencing January 1, 1952. He explained that the rental has
been increased to $6.00 per acre per year, and that the lease has
been prepared on the basis previously approved by Committee No. 5.
On motion of Wickett and Bowden, the lease was approved
and the Mayor and City Clerk were authorized to sign the lease
on behalf of the City.
Gas Rates
The City Manager called attention to the increase in the
wholesale gas rate recently made by, the Pacific Gas & Electric
Company, and to the policy of the City previously adopted to
follow the rates established by the P.G. & E.
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On motion of Blois and Drysdale, and by unanimous vote
on roll call, the schedule of gas rates submitted by the City
Manage. was adopted, to become effective October 26, :i951.
Bids on Parking Meters
The City Manager made a report on the bids ^eceived
on October 22, 1951, at 9;-00 A.M. on 84+ parking Teter:;. to be
installed on the new parking lot at Bryant Street and Forest
Avenge.
On motion of Bowden and Drysdale, all bids were
rejected, and the City Manager was authorized to re -advertise
for new bids. He was directed by the Council to give no
publicity to the: bids received on this date.
The City Manager was authorized to install.some:of
the present two-hour meters on the new lot temporarily pending
delivery cf four-hour meters.
'On motion of Montrouil and Marshall, the Council
adjourned.
APPROVED:
Mayor