HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-21 City Council (12)TO:
FROM:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING
AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
DATE:
SUBJECT:
SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 CMR:~_:~
REVIEW OF A SINGLE-STORY HEIGHT COMBINING DISTRICT
(S) OVERLAY ZONE FOR PAUL AVENUE WITHIN THE BARRON
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
BACKGROUND
At its September 13, 1999 meeting, the Council heard from several residents during Oral
Communications requesting that the City Council impose a temporary moratorium on
development until Council is able to review a request for a Single-Story Height Combining
District (S) Overlay Zone for Paul Avenue within the Barron Park neighborhood. Those who
spoke at the meeting indicated their desire to prevent the construction of a proposed two-
story residence on Paul Avenue, which is predominantly single story in nature. City Council
directed the City Manager to agendize this item at a future meeting for discussion. This
report summarizes the process and timeline for the enactment of Single-Story Height
Combining District (S) Overlay Zones.
DISCUSSION
The process for completing and enacting the S overlay is a two-part process.
Part One. Initiation or application to create an S overlay is in the form of a letter,
accompanied by a petition and proposed map with specific boundaries from neighbors or the
neighborhood requesting an S overlay. The application is evaluated on a preliminary basis
to determine conformance with the S Overlay Zone guidelines (Attachment C) and Palo Alto
Municipal Code requirements in Chapter 18.13 (Attachment D). Upon determination that
the submitted application satisfies these requirements, the request is forwarded to Council
with an accompanying staff report outlining the findings of the analysis. Council reviews
the application and provides direction to staff regarding initiation of the S overlay.
Completion of Part One takes approximately one month.
CMR:368:99 Page 1 of 3
Part Two. After Council endorsement of the initiation of the S overlay, staff contacts the
applicants to request supplemental information to process the application. This could include
additional mapping, photographs of the area and sign-off of a standardized form letter from
each individual homeowner in support of the S overlay. Upon receipt of the above materials,
staff verifies all signatures, addresses and boundaries and further evaluates whether the
application satisfies the S overlay zone guidelines and PAMC. In addition, staff provides a
courtesy notification of surrounding properties of the pending application identifying the
public hearing dates and times.
For purposes of support of an application and the boundaries desired, staff generally
determines support of an S overlay as being more than 70 percent of the property owners
within the area identified. Upon completion of the review of the application, staff conducts
a site visit and schedules a neighborhood meeting to allow staff to further explain the
complete process to all residents involved. The neighborhood meeting includes an
explanation of the guidelines, tentative schedule of the public hearing process, an overview
of the implementation and enforcement of the S overlay and the identification of typical
conditions of approval that may be required by City Council. The application is then
scheduled for consideration by the Planning Commission, which provides a recommendation
to City Council. The time frame for the completion of Part Two of this process is 4 to 6
months and is dependent upon scheduling availability by the Planning Commission and City
Council. Completion of Parts One and Two takes approximately 6 to 7months.
A letter and petition was received from residents on Paul Avenue at the September 13, 1999
Council meeting (see Attachment A). Staffhas not completed its analysis of the materials
submitted and therefore this request will require future Council consideration. However, for
informational purposes, staffhas mapped the addresses identified on the petition (Attachment
B). The builder who proposes to construct the two-story residence on Paul Avenue met on
September 15, 1999 with staffand Origins Designs Network, architects for the City, under
the Voluntary Design Review (VDA) program. However, at the time of the writing of this
report the findings and conclusions of that evaluation are not available.
Staff intends, unless Council directs otherwise, to complete its review of the possible creation
of an S Overlay Zone for Paul Avenue and to report back to the Council on the application
within 5 to 6 months.
RESOURCE IMPACT
This application like any other development or planning entitlement application would not
result in any increase or impact upon staff resources if completed within the normal time
frame outlined above.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
No policy implications exist.
CMR:368:99 Page 2 of 3
TIMELINE
As identified in the discussion section above, the initiation and processing and completion
of the Single Story Height Combining S Overlay Zone requires approximately 6 to 7 months
to complete.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The application would be required to undergo California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
review during the processing of the application.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Paul Avenue Letter and Petition Received!Dated September 13, 1999
Attachment B: Map identifying the Properties listed on the Petition
Attachment C: Single Story Height Combining District (S) Overlay Zone Guidelines
AttachmentD: PAMC, Chapter 18.13, Single Story Height Combining District (S)
Regulations
PREPARED BY:Eric Riel, Chief Planning Official
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: _
G. EDWARD GAWF, Dir~tor
Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Manager
CMR:368:99 Page 3 of 3
Attachment A
TO: The Honorable Palo Alto City Council
From: Tl~e majority of residents on Paul Avenue, Tracts 413 and 595
Subject: Request from property owners for application of the single-stoD" heiNat combining district (S)
overlay zone to the present R-1 zoning.
Dear Members of the City Council of Palo Alto.
The majority of residents on Paul Avenue, a one-block st’reet in Baron Park, enjo.v living in a n~ral
atmosphere area with modest homes. The privacy, the sense of peacefi.flness and the beaut)- of the long
established StLrrotmdings is a desired quality of living in fl’tis residential area. To sit outside in fl~e filtered
sunlight of trees reaching to the sky on a beautiful Palo Alto evening eases the tensions of the fast-paced
stun) of Silicon Valley. Many of the neighbors have lived on the block for 10 years or more. some longer
flaan 40 )’ears. Several new, young families have moved in recently.
Currently, a developer is in the process of buying propem,." on the block. The developer has a histoD" of
building very large, imposing houses. Due to this tl~eat to the atmosphere of the block, some of the
residents have looked into appropriate legal means to retain the current desired atmosphere. Unfortunately,
there are not many’options available to satisfy tl~s need. The majorit? of the residents have come together
with the enclosed petition, believing it is the best means for accomplishing our objective of a pleasant
environment in which to live.
Attached. you x~ill find a potition requesting that the City Council of Palo Alto grant a single-stoD hei~,’at
combining district (S) overlay zone. We request that the zoning for our proponies be changed from R-1 to
R-I(S).
We understand that the single-ston." height combining district (S) zoning overlay limits the height of
structures to 17 feet with one habitable floor and h~creases the allowable lot coverage to 40% with a
possible additional 5% for covered patios and overhangs. Othep, vise the present R-1 zoning is not changed.
It is also our understm~ding that the City. of Palo Alto will hfitiate tiffs zone change ~\ ithout charge to flze
residents if there is "’ovenvhelming snpport’" for this overla.v as shmvn by the si~mture of propert)" owners.
\Ve feel that our request is consistent \vith the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
Preser~’ation of the existin~ scale and character of single family nei,,l~borhoods is a fundamental Imlicv of
the Citv’s Comprehensive Plan
ONE STORY OVERLAY SIGNATURE FOPaM
To: City of Palo Alto Zoning Administrator/Plannin~ Commission/City Council
From: HomeOwners’ in Tracts 413 and 595 of Baron Park and adjacent properties, the neighborhood commonly know
as Paul Avenue
Subject: Request from property owners for application of the Single-Story Height Combining District (S) Overlay Zone
to the present R-1 Zoning
We request that the Zon|ng for our property be .changed from R-I to R-1 (S)
We understand that the "Single-Stbry Height Combining District (S)"zoning overlay limits the height Ofsmicml’es to 17 feet with one
habitable floor and increases the allowable lot coverage to 40% with a possible additional 5% tbr covered patios and overhangs
Otherwise the present R-1 zoning is not changed
It is also our understanding that the City of Palo Alto will initiate this zone change witho,t charge to ,s it" there is "overwhelming
support" for this overlay as shown by the signatures of property owners.
Print Name of property owne~ (s)
Print Name of property owner (s)
Print Name of property ownaer (s)
Print ~’am~ of property
P~int~a~e o~’proper~y
Print Name or" pro~y ~’ner (s)
’ A~dress ~ ’gighhture~
Address
...,,//...
Date sig~d
Date signed
Date signed:
Date signed~
bate signed: ’
"7, / 1% /
Address
Address , Signature .~ate si~zned
Address ."- date
Address ~ S~nature .....Date signed
]]- Signature Date signed" .....
,Print Name of property o~er (s)
Print Name ofprope~y owner (s)
.1 oU
Frint Name ofprope~y o~er (s)
P"Nnt Nard 0r prop~hy o~er (s)
Print Name obpropdny owner (s)
Pfi~ ~me ofpro~y o~er (s)
Address Si~Date signed
Address Signature ware si=ned
Date s~znedSignature~ "_ "
7-
Signature
Address Signature Datd sighted
ONE STORY OVERLAY SIGNATURE FORM
To: City of Palo Alto Zoning Administrator/Planning Commission/C,ty Council
From: HomeOwners’ in Tracts 413 and 595 of Baron Park and adjacent properties, the ne!ghborhood commordy knbwn
as Paul Avenue
Subject: Request from property owners for application of the Single-Story Height Combining Disnict (,S) Overlay Zone
to the present R-I Zoning
We request that the Zoning for our property be changed from R-I to R-1 (S)
We understand that the "Single-Story Height Combining District (.S)" zoning o~er|ay limits the height of struclurrs Io 17 feet with one
habitable floor and increases the allowable lot coverage to 40% with a possible additional 5% for covered patios and overhangs
Otherwise the present R-1 zoning is not changed
It is also our understanding that the City of" Pale Alto will initiate this zone change without charge to us it" there is "’overwhelming
l~rint Name of property owner (s)
o "property owner
Print Name
support" for this overlay as shown by the signatures of property owners
Address
.....
Address
Print Name oFproperty owl~i~- -- " " " ..................
a~gnamre
Signature
Address si~,h?}ure " "
Print Name ............................. -of property ov,’ner (s) . Address Signature ...........
t’n ~i-"~’~’o-~;~’~’ Y~¥t’T’ a~’~ i% .........,k,~a&T; ..........Si~-~x.~.--~_) .........
D~tte si~.gped ,
Duate signedate g~gne~:
q-io-~ ~i
Date signed:
Date signed:
Date signed.
Print Name of"property owner (s)Address
7-o/4 ,,v3-<, 7_./.J.
Pnnt Name of property owner ~’s) .....Address"’i"
Print Name ofprope~y owner Address
5 i3 nam r~r",
¯ S~gnature
Sitjnaturc
Signature
Print Name of property owner (s)Address Date signed:
Print Name of’property owner (s)"- ),ddre;]-"Signature signed.
.Mnt Name of property owner (s)Aad/es~ ........Date s~gned.
, tint Name of properb, owner (s)-~ddT~ss ~ !g.nat6r~)ate signed:
.I)’)’.n3 ~, ~e.orpro.~orty owner (s) -
~),ue slgn’e’d~ -
Print Name, of property owner (s)Address :~l.gnatt re r)ate signed:
Print Nam~ o.f’p, r.op~..rly ownor (s)Address ...............Sig]miur~ .....Date signed.
Print Name ofpro~errv owner (s~A~.~" .......,.---. .....
Juanita Gonzales
750 Paul Ave
Palo Alto CA 94306
September 12, 1999
Honorable City Council:
I moved to Patti Avenue ten years ago because it was wooded, quiet and seemed a little like
being in the country. It is a good place to raise children.
Two-story houses fill the spaces where previously the sun, moon and stars looked down: They
take away the privacy of our yards and even our bathrooms, destroying the ambiance of our
homes.
Two years ago I was solicited by a nearby neighbor on La Donna to allow a zoning variance for
one larger lot to be broken into two sub-standard lots. He said it was for the "needs of his
family" to build a secorid house at the rear. All of us neighbors allowed the variance. As soon
as he obtained the variance, he sold the tw~ lots to a developer who build two oversize V, vo-sto~"
houses in what was previously a totally one-story neighborhood block.
Only one large overbuilt house is on Paul Ave so far, with another being built presently. We’can
stop this over-development now simply be eliminating tWO-Story houses in our block. The house
at 784 Paul is scheduled to be swiped and reNaced with a two-story monstrosity within the next
few weeks.
I ask you to approve the one-story overlay and keep Paul Avenue the beautiful place that it is.
Thank you.
Juanita Gonzales
Mary Johnson
711 Paul Ave
Palo Alto CA 94306
Honorable City Council:
I have lived on Paul Avenue most of my life.
I ask you to approve the one-story overlay so that Paul Avenue continues
to be an attractive place to live.
The two-story-house being built across from me blocks out the sky. The
house is not right for the country-type of atmosphere of Paul Avenue.
Thank you.
September 12, 1999
Honorable City Council:
Gene Simpson
750 Paul Ave
Palo Alto CA 94306
Paul Avenue is a close "knit neighborhood. We mostly know each other well enough to borrow foods or tools
without a second thought.
We close our street offfor block parties. We help each other in floods and earthquakes. We watch each other’s
property and help out with new babies.
We organized together to successfully petition the City of Palo Alto to refrain from putting the new concrete
curb-drains along Paul Ave during the recent sewer up~ading. We all walk in the street on pleasant evenings.
We often let our children bicycle and play there while we stand in the street with the ends blocked by traffic
cones. Pau! Ave is more like a park than a street.
Paul Avenue is an easily re.cognized neighborhood. It includes all of Paul Ave, a one-block long street that ends
at La Donna & E1 Centro, across the street from the recently approved La Jennifer one story overlay.
A drive down Paul Ave, if you can find it, will show you how nice a neighborhood can be. This park-like aura
and innocuous tree shrouded homes are exactly what attract exploitation.
Preservation of the existing scale and character of single family neighborhoods is a fundamental policy of the
City’s Comprehensive Plan. Allowing us to obtain the one-story overlay will preserve the existing scale &
character of Paul Ave.
Of the 28 homes on Paul Ave:
The majority of the Property Owners have si~ed our petition, although several we could not yet
contact.
Four property owners have said "no" to signing this petition and one of these four, the house at 751
Pau!, is strongly opposed to the petition.
> Three of the property owners have not said yes or no or not decided yet.
Please approve a temporary sixty-day moratorium on two-story houses on Paul Avenue to gi£,e the homeo~-ners
time to complete this zoning change. Also, please approve a zoning change to R-1 (S).
Respectfully,
Gene Simpson
ATTACHMENT B
The
Palo Alto
Paul Avenue Properties
Requesting
Single-Story Height
Combining Overlay Zone
This map is a product
of the
City of Palo Alto GIS
o’ Ioo’ 200°
Attachment C
Sin~!e-Storv HeiGht Combining Distric~
Overlay Zone Guidelines
The follow~Dg guidelines are intended to guide City staff
and decisionmakers in the consideration of zone change
requests for application of the Single-Sto~/ Height
Combining District (S) overlay zone. For neighborhoods in
which there are no single-story deed restrictions, or where
such restrictions exist yet have not been strictly adhered
to, applications are to be evaluated through more rigorous
use of these guidelines. However, for those neighborhoods
that contain and have been developed consistent with a
single-story deed restriction, these guidelines are to be
treated with a greater degree of flexibility.
1. Leve! and Format of Owner Suooort
An application for an (S) overlay zone map amendment
should meet with "overwhelming" support by owners of
affected properties. These owners must demonstrate,
by p°roviding documentation that includes a written
list of signatures, an understanding that they are co-
applicants in a zone map amendment reddest.
Aoorooriate Boundaries
An application for an (S) overlay zone map amendment
should be accompanied by a map indicating the address
location of those owners who are co-app!icants for the
rezoning re.quest. Boundaries which may correspond
with certain natura! or man-made features (i.e.
roadways, waterways, tract boundaries, etc.) should
define an identifiable neighborhood or development.
These boundaries wi!l be recommended to the Planning
Commission and ’-City Council by the City’s Zoning
Administrator.
3.Prevailing SinGle-Story Character
An area proposed for an (S) overlay zone map amendment
should be of a prevailing single-story character where
the vast majority of existing homes are single-story,
thus limiting the number of structures rendered
.noncomplying by the (S) overlay. Neighborhoods
currently subject to single-story deed restrictions
should be currently deve!oped in a manner consistent
with those deed restrictions. Furthermore, it is
desirable that homes be similar in age, design and
1112/93
Page !
character, ensuring ~hat residents of an area proposed
for rezoning possess like desires for¯n_ighborhood =
preservation and face common home remodeling
co~s’~raints.
Moderate Lot Sizes
In order to maintain equitable property deve!opment
rights "within an (S) overlay area compared to other
sites within the R-i zone district, an area proposed
~o. an (S) overlay zone map amendment should be
characterized by moderate !or sizes with a generally
consistent lo~ting pattern. A moderate lot size is to
be defined as 7,000-8,000 square feet.
1/12/93
Page
18.12.090 PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
Attachment D
wall shall together not exceed one-half the maxi-
mum existing width of such building.
(2) Interior side yard. In cases where the
existing setback is less than 2.5 meters (eight feet)
but at least 1.5 meters (five feet), an existing
encroachment may be extended not more than one
hundred percent of the len~da of the existing en-
croachment, but not to exceed 6.1 additional
meters (twenty additional feet).
(3) Street side yard. In cases where the
existing side yard setback is less than 4.9 meters
(sixteen feet) but at least 3.0 meters (ten feet), an
existing encroachment may be extended for not
more than one hundred percent of the length of
the encroaching wall to be extended, but not to
exceed 6.1 meters (twenty feet).
(b) Subsection (a) of this section notwith-
standing, an addition shall not be permitted to
encroach into a special setback, as established by
the setback map pursuant to Chapter 20.08 of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code (Ord. 3905 §12, 1989:
Ord. 3683 §§9, 10, 15, 1986: Ord. 3536 {}33,
1984: Ord. 3345 §3, 1982)
18.12.090 Reserved.1
CHAPTER 18.13
SINGLE.STORY HEIGHT COMBINING
DISTRICT (S) REGULATIONS
18.13.010 Specific purposes.
The single-story height combining district is
intended to modify the site development
regulations of the R-1 single-family residence
district, to preserve and maintain single-family
living areas of predominantly single-story
character. (Ord. 4101 {}1 (part), 1992)
1Editor’s Note: Former Section 18..12.090,
Exceptions to site development regulations for home
improvements and minor additions, previously
codified herein and containing portions of Ordinance
No. 3905 was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance
No. 4081.
18.13.020 Applicability of regulations.
The sin~e-story height combining district may
be combined with the R-1 single-family residence-
district (and the R-1 special residential building
site combining district, if applicable) in accord
with Chapter 18.08 and Chapter 18.98. Where
so combined, the regulations established by this
chapter shall apply in lieu of the comparable
provisions established by Chapter 18.12 (R-I).
(Ord. 4101 §1 (part), 1992)
18.13.030 Zoning map designation.
Areas within the single-story height combining
district sha!l be designated on the zoning map by
the symbol "S" within parentheses, following the
R-1 or applicable special residential building site
combining district (R-1 (650), R-1 (743), R-1
(929), or R-1 (1858)) designation with which it is
combined. (Ord. 4101 §1 (part), 1992)
18.13.040 Site development regula-
tions.
For sites within the single-story height
combining district, the following site development
regulations shall apply in lieu of the otherwise
applicable site development regulations of Chapter
18.12 (R-I):
(a) Height. The maximum height shall be
5.1817 meters (seventeen feet), as measured to
the peak of the roof.
(b) Habitable floor limitations. Them shall be
a limit of one habitable floor. Habitable floors
include lofts, mezzanines and similar areas but
exclude basements.
(c) Site coverage is regulated as follows:
(1) The maximum building site coverage
shall be forty percent of the site area.
(2) Covered patios and overhangs other-
wise in compliance with all applicable laws may
cover five percent of the site area in addition to the
maximum site coverage of forty percent pre-
scribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection (c).
(Ord. 4101 §1 (part), 1992)
1834 Rev. Ord. Supp. 6/93