08.24.2026-ASCC Meeting Agenda Packet

TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY Architectural & Site Control Commission Meeting Monday, August 24, 2026 7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting HISTORIC SCHOOLHOUSE 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 A G E N D A Remote Public Comments: Meeting participants are encouraged to submit public comments in writing in advance of the meeting. Please send an email to scawrse@portolavalley.net and cc the Town Clerk at pvtownclerk@portolavalley.net by 12:00 PM on the day of the meeting. All comments received by that time will be distributed to Commissioners prior to the meeting. All comments received are included in the public record. Time permitting, your correspondence will be uploaded to the website. Additionally, technology permitting, the public body will take questions using the Raise Hand button for those who attend the meeting online or by phone. Phone callers may provide comments by pressing *9 on their phone to "raise your hand" and *6 to mute/unmute themselves. The meeting Chair will call on people to speak by the phone number calling in. Remote participation is provided as a supplemental way to provide publi c comment, but this method does not always work. The public is encouraged to attend in person to ensure full participation. Assistance for People with Disabilities: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Town Clerk at (650) 851-1700 or by email at towncenter@portolavalley.net. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the Town to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION VIA ZOOM To access the meeting by computer: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89424958620?pwd=2PblMYUqWhWIDpLaBrTyZzvyNSp9Df.1 Webinar ID: 894 2495 8620 Passcode: 720427 To access the meeting by phone: 1-669-444-9171 Mute/Unmute – Press *6 / Raise Hand – Press *9/Unmute – Press *6 / Raise Hand – Press *9 Danna Breen, Chair Gina Dixon, Vice Chair Carter Warr, Commissioner Lance Vaughan, Commissioner Sonia Dhillon, Commissioner 1 1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL Chair Breen, Commissioners Warr, Dixon, Vaughan, and Dhillon SB 707 CONSIDERATIONS: Announcements/Consideration of remote attendance by Councilmembers, pursuant to SB 707, Government Code 54953.8.3 (just cause circumstances). 2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Persons wishing to address the Architectural and Site Control Commission on any subject not on the agenda may do so now. Please note, however, that the Architectural and Site Control Commission is not able to undertake extended discussion or action tonight on items not on the agenda. 3. APPLICATIONS FOR REVIEW a. Continued Hearing for Architectural Review for a Fence Permit at 10 Tagus Ct; Applicant: Andy Mabardy; Property Owner: Andy Mabardy; APN: 079-101-470; File #: PLN_FNCE0002- 2023. b. Continued Hearing for an Architectural Review and Site Development Permit for major modifications to previously approved permits PLN_ARCH0021-2022 and BLDR0053-2023 for a second story, additional soil movement, and additional significant tree removal at 501 Wayside Road; Applicant: Frank Garcia of CJW Architecture; Property Owner: Michael Jung; APN: 076-182-120; File #: PLN_ARCH0003-2026 and BLDR0031-2026. 4. REGULAR AGENDA a. None Scheduled 5. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS a. None Scheduled 6. COMMISSION, STAFF, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS 7. MINUTES a. Adopt Draft Minutes of August 10, 2026 ASCC Meeting 8. ADJOURNMENT AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION Any writing or documents provided to a majority of the Town Council or Commissions regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at Town Hall located 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA during normal business hours. Copies of all agenda reports and supporting data are available for viewing and inspection at Town Hall and at the Portola Valley Library located adjacent to Town Hall. PUBLIC HEARINGS Public Hearings provide the general public and interested parties an opportunity to provide testimony on these items. If you challenge any proposed action(s) in court, you may be limited to raising only issues you or someone else raised at the Public. Hearing(s) described in this agenda, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the Public Hearing(s). 2 ____________________________________________________________ TO: Members of t he Architectural and Site Control Commission FROM: Robert Riv era , Senior Planner Sarah Cawrse, Planning & Building Director DATE: August 24, 2026 SUBJECT: Continued Hearing for Architectural Review for a F ence Permit at 10 Tagus Court; Applicant: Andy Mabardy; Property Owner: Andy Mabardy; APN: 079-101-470; File #: PLN_FNCE0002-2023 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the ASCC approve the Architectural Review for a new fence at 10 Tagus Court subject to the attached Conditions of Approval (Attachment 1). PROJECT DESCRIPTION Site Information The 1.25-acre (54,450 square feet) subject property is accessed off Tagus Court. Single family residential units surround the property on all sides. The property is located within the Town’s R-E / Residential Estate Zoning District, which requires a minimum one-acre lot size. The average slope of the property is 23.4%, mostly due to the downward slope present in the rear yard. Project Description The project consists of the installation, replacement, and removal of fencing at a single-family residential property located at 10 Tagus Court. The proposal includes a new 6-foot-high wood post and wire fence. Some existing 5- foot-high fencing will be removed, while other existing fencing and the driveway gate will remain. The work includes minor excavation for fence footings and is designed to maintain drainage and avoid impacts to existing trees. The proposed materials include wood fencing with galvanized hardware, consistent with the residential character of the site. The proposed fence would clearly define the southern property line between 10 Tagus Court and 18 Tagus Court. Existing vegetative screening present between the two properties would limit the proposed fence from being visible from Tagus Court and provide privacy. There is a small portion of the proposed fence that will be visible from a portion of the rear yard of 18 Tagus Court as no MEMORANDUM TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY 3 existing vegetation exists on that portion of the property line. The A pplicant has modified the proposal to set the fence back 5 feet from the property line, to help address the visibility concerns. The proposed fence meets the requirements of the fence ordinance for fences in the one-acre zoning districts. Background The proposed fence was previously reviewed by the Architectural and Site Control Commission (ASCC) in 2023, where concerns were raised by a neighboring property owner. At the August 14, 2023 hearing, the ASCC directed the A pplicant and the neighboring property owner to work collaboratively to reach a mutually acceptable solution and the ASCC continued the hearing to a date uncertain. Since that time, the Applicant has made efforts to coordinate with the neighbor, including proposing design revisions and alternative fence locations; however, the parties have not reached a consensus. The Applicant then requested to return to the ASCC for another hearing. The proposed fence was heard at the April 13, 2026 ASCC meeting. Like the previous hearing, the ASCC directed the Applicant and the neighboring property owner to work collaboratively to reach a mutually acceptable solution and continued the hearing to a date uncertain. Following the ASCC hearing, counsel for the Applicant reached out to counsel for the property owner of 18 Tagus (Mark Ruiz), who indicated that he was working on a proposal with his clients. The proposal from 18 Tagus was received by the Applicant (10 Tagus) on April 28, 2026, and the proposal i ncluded a fence setback of 15-feet from the property line in a straight alignment (rather than following the property line) resulting in a greater than 15-foot setback at the rear of the property. The Applicant and 18 Tagus then exchanged counterproposals through their respective counsel on May 1, 2026 (Applicant), May 21,2026 (18 Tagus), and May 29, 2026 (Applicant). On July 1, 2026, 18 Tagus communicated to the Applicant that the proposal of May 29 was “not acceptable,” and offered no counterproposal. 18 Tagus then concluded his representation. As a result of negotiations between the Applicant and 18 Tagus through May 21, 2026, the Applicant revised the original proposal to increase the fence setback from 3 feet to 5 feet. The existing fencing at 10 Tagus Court was approved by the Town as submitted on April 26, 2006 by staff. Both the existing and proposed fences are subject to the same fence ordinance (Ord.2005-360). There has also been a lot line adjustment between 10 Tagus Court and 18 Tagus Court (southern property line) that was reviewed by the ASCC and Planning Commission and approved at t he March 3rd, 2010, Planning Commission Meeting. The southernly property line of 10 Tagus Court has a significant slope; the Applicant's team has indicated that the project area does not exceed the 20% slope limit for fences in 1-acre districts included in the Municipal Code. The proposed fence meets the design standards for fences in the Portola Valley Municipal Code. Section 18.43.010 of the PVMC outlines the purpose of the fence regulations and the principles that guide fence applications. These principles are included below in bold: 1. Fences should be designed with consideration for the open space tradition of Portola Valley. 4 The proposed fence would clearly define the southern property line between 10 Tagus and 18 Tagus Court. Existing vegetative screening present between the two properties would limit the proposed fence from being visible from Tagus Court. 2. Fences should be used sparingly in order to preserve a sense of the shared scenic resources of the community. The proposed fence would be a minor expansion of an existing fenced enclosure. Existing fencing currently surrounds the entire home on the property. 3. Fences should be designed with respect for the movement of wildlife and the protection of views. The rear yard of 10 Tagus is a relatively steep slope into an undeveloped forested gulley. While the proposed fence will limit access to the rear yard from Tagus Court, access to the rear is still possible from the north of the property. 4. Fence designs and materials should blend with the natural environment and maintain the natural and rural ambiance of the Town. The proposed materials are a natural material (wood peeler posts, weathered naturally) that blend well with the natural environment. The proposed fence design maintains the natural and ru ral ambiance of the Town. The ASCC shall consider these principles in reviewing the fence permit application. The ASCC may impose additional conditions so that the principals are followed. Pursuant to PVMC 18.43.080, the ASCC’s decision may be appealed within 15 days of the decision by the applicant or owner of adjacent property to the Planning Commission. PUBLIC COMMENTS Consistent with PVMC Section 18.43.080, the Town sent a notice on August 13, 2026, to the adjacent property owner regarding the Fence permit and ASCC Meeting. To date, public comments received are related to the aesthetic and privacy concerns based on the design and proposed location of the fence. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The project is categorically exempt per Section 15303(e) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the ASCC approve the Architectural Review for a new fence at 10 Tagus Court subject to the attached Conditions o