575 Los Trancos Road
Single Family House
Site and Design Review Permit
Emily Kallas, AICP , Planner
November 13, 2023 www.cityofpaloalto.org
2 Project Overview
• 5.38 acre vacant property
• Adjacent to Los Trancos Creek and Town of
Portola Valley
• Zoning: OS
• Proposed project includes 7,110 sf house and 895
sf ADU (8,005 sf total)
• Maximum allowed impervious coverage and FAR
is 9,374 (4% of Site Area)
Process Overview
Major Site & Design Review:
• The site and design review provides a process for review and approval of development in environmentally and
ecologically sensitive areas
• Reviewed by PTC and City Council
3 4
Project Timeline
• Initial Submittal – July 2021
• 1st PTC Hearing – August 2022
• 1st Council Hearing – January 2023
• 2nd PTC Hearing – August 2023
• 2nd Council Hearing – Today, November 2023
• The PTC recommendation neither supported nor opposed
the pool location
• PTC recommended changes to the Conditions of Approval have been incorporated into Conditions #7 and #8
5 Prior Council Comments
Comment Plan Change
Evaluate a project design that
provides for an approximate 50-foot
setback from the top of bank
Building wall setbacks vary from 49’
to 100’ (approx.) Some roof
overhangs encroach into the 50’
setback up to 3’.
Pool setback varies from 32’8” to
51’1”, an increase of 4’ from
previous plans
6 Prior Council Comments
7 Prior Council Comments
Comment Plan Change
Effective bird-safe glazing
treatment of all glass surfaces
achieving the American Bird
Conservancy Threat Factor rating
of 15.
Most non-egress windows are either:
Reduced in size, behind wood slat screens with
an ABC 25 rating, under a deep roof overhang,
or shaded by behind mature trees. The plans
have been analyzed to prevent “seeing
through” the building.
Although this is less than the requested threat
factor of 15, a rating of 25 reduces bird strikes
by 50%.
No City Code regulates or requires bird safe
glass.
Staff is developing bird safe glass requirements.
8 Prior Council Comments
Comment Plan Change
Eliminate fencing that could impede
wildlife movement along the creek.
Pool should be covered and fenced
in a way that ensures that small
animals, such as
amphibians and reptiles cannot
enter the swimming pool.
No fencing is proposed for the majority of
the property. A 55 ft long wall near the
entrance to the house will block vehicle
headlights towards the creek. Condition #5a
restrict any future fencing.
An automatic safety cover will be used on
the pool, and will meet the requirements of
the Swimming Pool Safety Act. The cover
makes it easier for any animals to escape
should they attempt to enter the pool.
9 Prior Council Comments
Comment Plan Change
Minimize nighttime lighting along
the riparian corridor and allow only
minimal lighting in all other
locations. Lighting should not
interfere with wildlife movement
through the landscape, and all
outdoor lighting should be limited to
Correlated Color Temperature of
2700 Kelvin or less, and extinguished
at 11:00 PM.
Interior lighting has been moved away from
windows, and will have shades.
Exterior lighting will comply with Council
comments, per Condition #10.
10 • An Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared and circulated in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). • After the circulation period, a Response to Comments was prepared, and minor updates were made to the IS/MND for consistency with the revised plans. • No additional significant impacts or mitigations were identified as a result of the plan changes.
Environmental Review
11 Recommendation
Recommend approval of the Final Mitigated Negative
Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan Recommend approval of the proposed Site and Design Review based on the objectives and Open Space Design Criteria, subject to conditions of approval.
Emily Kallas, AICP
Planner
[email protected]
650-617-3125