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County of Santa Clara
Department of Planning and Development
’tanning Office

CtHihiy (io\cnimei 11 CcMKT. Rasi Wing, 7th i-loor
70 west I ii-(lcliiig Sircei

Sat 1 .losa. (taliioriiia 951 i (> 1 705

l+OSi 'JfKI-r>770 FAX (4-08) 288-9 I 98
www.s(('|ilannii igorg

August 7, 200b
Memorandum to File

^nued Public hearing to consider Viewshed Study and&Plan recommendations''
fiA^n-nn-nn-n3rP-Q6GP-062.SANTA CLARA COUNTY

including (a) General Plan text amendment to the Growth
slopes, and ridgehne developiment

rec’ard.ng policies for design review, grading, steep
5.50, Design Review 3-0
iss°ues- (b) Zoning Ordinance text amendments to Chapters
and (c) zone
■'-d" Combining Zoning Districts, and 1.30 Definitions;

-dl. Design Review Combining Zoning

lists of affected parcels available

Peb^^^^

Wl

www.sccplannino.org.

At the .August

3, 2006 Planning Commission hearing, the Commission voted to:

Forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to.
a.

b.

Adopt the proposed General Plan Amendment (GPA), as am.ended^to

exclude the alternative ridgeline development policies on Page K-IS and
the implementation recommendarion; and.

Review or
Change wording of R-GD 33 ". . . imposed through Design
.
.
.
imposed
other discretionary approval may include, . . . to read,
through Design Review or other discretionary approval

2.

include, . . .

Forward a favorable recommendabon to the Board of Supervisors to adopt

zoning ordinance text amendments:
a.

b.

Item 7, Addendum, Revision to proposed floor area definition, adding

"Where the vertical distance between any floor and the ceiling above
exceeds 15 feet, floor area shall be counted twice,"; and.

Add a sentence to subsection G.) Page 5, to determine how staff will
determine whether or not a site is visible: all available means of

evaluating the visibility or invisibility of a site will be utilized, including

site
but not limited to Geographic Information System (GIS) asanalysis,
well
as
visits, story poles, if necessary to assist in visualization,
photography or other means of visual simulation.
3.

Forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to adopt

zoning district to
zoning map amendments to apply the "-dl" Design Review^ combining
areas, only.

candidate parcels identified w'ithin the "Primary Viewshed'
4.

Forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to support the

concept that as of the effective date of any new regulation, any proiect for which single

Board of Supervisors: Donald R (lage. Blanca Alvarado. Peie Mcl lu«h. .lames T Beall , .ir. . l.iz Kniss

Counix' Exccunvc: Pv\cr Kuiras. Jr,

(P(/

building site approval and/or grading approval has been granted be allowed to develop
the approved location, but the building would be subject to new zoning regulations

in

that become effective prior to building permit issuance.

Additionally, the Commission discussed the recommendation that the County evaluate
the viewshed-related Zoning Ordinance text amendments. Zoning Map amendments,
and Design Guidelines within 18-24 months following adoption and implementation, to
consider any changes that may be appropriate to enhance effectiveness, provide
necessary flexibility, or improve clarity, however, no formal motion was made in

support of staff recommendation.

If you have questions regarding this matter, feel free to contact me at

(408)299-5747.

Sincerely,

Gary Rurlholm

Interim Secretary, Planning Commission
GR: mn