Desk Item
PREPARED BY : JOEL PAULSON
Community Development Director
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ●A 40 8 -354 -68 32
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
STUDY SESSION REPORT
MEETING DATE: 6 /19/2018
ITEM NO: 18
DESK ITEM
D ATE : JUNE 19 , 2018
TO : MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION ON POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN’S
OBJECTIVE STANDARDS.
REMARKS:
In preparation for the objective standard discussion, the Mayor asked that staff clarify that the
purpose of the discussion is for the Town Council to provide general direction on potential new
or modified objective standards. The attachments have been provided as background
information. The Council is not expected to develop specific standards at the meeting.
The Mayor has asked that the following examples be provided to the full Council as a way to
generate ideas. It is not his intention t hat these suggestions be taken literally as there will be
additional involvement by the architectural, engineering, and other development professionals
during the process of updating the standards. In addition, if the Council is interested in possible
exceptions to objective standards, legal research is needed in light of the recent State laws.
Privacy .AA llAnewAsecondAstoryAwindowsAfacingAaAresidentialAbackAyardAorAneighbor’sAresidentialA
window that are less than 50 feet from the property line or less than 75 feet from the
residential window shall provide a permanent screen (e.g., landscaping or obscure glass) on the
applicants side of the property line or the window sill height must be 5 feet, 5 inches or higher.
An applicant may request an exception to this requirement, which would need to be considered
and approved by the Planning Commission.
Architectural Style : The architectural style of a residential building shall be the same
architectural style as any residential building with in three blocks . Attached multi -family units
of eight units or more shall be one of the following traditional architectural styles: Craftsman,
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SUBJECT: POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN’S OBJECTIVE STANDARDS
JUNE 1 9, 2018
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Mediterranean, or (other style to be identified). An applicant may request an exception to
these requirements, which would need to be considered and approved by the Planning
Commission.
Hillside View : A new building or addition cannot block more than 30 percent of a hillside view
fromAaAresident’sAwindows,AoutsideAsittingAareas,AaApublicAstreet,AorAsidewalk: An applicant may
request an exception to this requirement, which would need to be considered and approved by
the Planning Commission.
As the Town Council considers direction for objective standards, it would be helpful to know if
new or modified standards pertain to resi dential, commercial, or all development types.
Attachment s previously received with June 19, 2018 Staff Report :
1. Town of Los Gatos General Plan Objective Standards
2. Town of Los Gatos Zoning Code Objective Standards
3. Residential Design Guidelines Objective Standards
4. Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines Objective Standards
5. Architecture and Site Considerations
6. Subdivision Findings