09-22-20 Minutes - DRC
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
COMMITTEE REPORT
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
The Development Review Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular
Teleconference Meeting on September 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
State of California Executive Order N-29-20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID-19
pandemic and was conducted via Zoom. All committee members and staff partic ipated from
remote locations and all voting was conducted via roll call vote. In accordance with Executive
Order N-29-20, the public could only view the meeting online and not in the Council Chamber.
ROLL CALL
Present: Sally Zarnowitz, CDD Planning; Robert Gray, CDD Building; Mike Weisz, PPW
Engineering; Corvell Sparks, PPW Engineering; and Tracy Staiger, SCCFD.
Absent: None
Staff: Jennifer Armer, CDD Planning; Ryan Safty, CDD Planning; Sean Mullin, CDD Planning; Erin
Walters, CDD Planning, Robert Schultz, TAO; WooJae Kim, PPW Engineering; and Kenny Ip,
SCCFD.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 10:00 AM
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
-None.
CONSENT ITEMS
1. Approval of Minutes – September 15, 2020
MOTION: Motion by Robert Gray to approve the consent calendar. Seconded by
Tracy Staiger.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 15 Loma Alta Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-19-023
Requesting approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence and
construction of a new single-family residence with reduced setbacks on a
nonconforming property zoned R-1:8. APN 532-29-073.
PROPERTY OWNER: BAB Investment Group LLC
APPLICANT: Babak Homayouni
PROJECT PLANNER: Jennifer Armer
Continued from September 8, 2020
The project planner presented the staff report.
Opened public comment.
Babak Homayouni
He is the applicant speaking on behalf of the request. They are available to answer
questions.
James Lyon
He is a neighbor. He believes that the project does not comply with the Residential
Design Guidelines.
Rick Rutter
He is a neighbor. He commented in support of James Lyon’s concerns, and expressed
significant design concerns. He is concerned that the project does not fit with the homes
around it.
Kelly Luoma
She is a neighbor. She commented in support of James Lyon and Rick Rutter, and has
concerns about the design, scope, and scale of the project in relationship to adjacent houses.
Will Luoma
He is a neighbor. He requested a response to the neighbors’ comments.
Babak Homayouni (applicant for 15 Loma Alta)
He is the owner making closing comments on behalf of the request. They have reached
out to James Lyon. Regarding the concerns about the design, the house size is not the largest in
the neighborhood. The setbacks have been addressed. They have tried to explain the
architectural style and to work with the neighbors.
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Closed public comment.
Committee members discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Robert Gray to approve the application with the required
findings and considerations and the recommended conditions of
approval. Seconded by Tracy Staiger
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. 33 Tait Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-20-022
Requesting approval for construction of a new front porch with reduced setbacks on a
pre-1941 residence on a nonconforming property zoned R-1:D. APN 510-44-005.
PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: Christopher Potter and Lisa Mammel
APPLICANT: Chris Spaulding, Architect
PLANNER: Sean Mullin
The project planner presented the staff report.
Opened public comment.
Chris Spaulding
He is the applicant speaking on behalf of the request.
Lisa Mammel
She is the property owner speaking on behalf of the request.
Closed public comment.
MOTION: Motion by Tracy Staiger to approve the application with the required
findings and considerations and the recommended conditions of
approval. Seconded by Robert Gray.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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4. 79 Reservoir Road and 81 Reservoir Road
Subdivision Application M-20-004
Requesting approval for a lot line adjustment between two lots (79 Reservoir and 81
Reservoir Road) on properties zoned R:1-20. APNs 529-33-019 and 529-33-039.
PROPERTY OWNERS: Donald Prolo, Dennis L. McEnvoy and Kim Worsencroft
APPLICANT: Terence J. Szewczyk, TS Civil Engineering
PROJECT PLANNER: Erin Walters
The project planner presented the staff report.
Opened public comment.
Terence Szewczyk
He is the applicant speaking on behalf of the request.
Closed public comment.
MOTION: Motion by Tracy Staiger to approve the application with the required
findings and considerations and the recommended conditions of
approval. Seconded by Corvell Sparks.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
5. 400 Surmont Drive
Subdivision Application M-19-003
Requesting approval for subdivision of one lot into two lots with one remainder parcel on
property zoned HR-2 1/2. APN 527-20-003.
PROPERTY OWNER: Sandra K. Anderson
APPLICANT: Terence Szewczyk
PROJECT PLANNER: Ryan Safty
The planner presented the staff report.
Opened public comment.
Terence Szewczyk
He is the applicant speaking on behalf of the request. He noted that several concerns
have been raised by the surrounding neighbors, and that he has submitted response letters to
the questions. However, a continuance would allow further consideration and response.
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Edward Laveroni
He is a neighbor to the west. He is concerned that approving this subdivision would
result in the future subdivision of neighboring hillside lots. He is also concerned with the
resulting drainage and fire potential associated with the future construction work.
Eva Fleischer
She is a neighbor to the east, on Westhill Drive. She submitted written comments and
received a detailed response from the applicant. She is concerned about the wildlife,
watershed, and fire potential related to the future construction. She does not think two new
homes are appropriate for the HR-2½ zone.
Paul Consentino
He is an adjacent neighbor to the north. He has drainage concerns associated with the
future construction. He is also concerned that the future driveway will encroach onto his
property and be located too close to the storm drain and the existing drainage feature.
Terence Szewczyk
He is the applicant for the project making closing comments in response to public
comments. The project would meet the Town’s standard C-3 requirements for drainage. The
future development proposal would have excellent fire access and a full fire turn-around area.
The HR-2½ zone, per the Town’s slope density calculation, would allow five homes on this lot.
The biologist reviewed impacts to potential wildlife and determined there was no impact. The
future driveway would not encroach onto the adjacent property, and a new retaining wall
would be built along the existing drainage feature.
Closed public comment.
Committee members asked questions of staff and discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Mike Weisz to continue this application to October 6, 2020 to
allow the applicant to review and respond to the concerns of the
neighbors. Seconded by Robert Gray.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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OTHER BUSINESS
-None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned 10:57 a.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
September 22, 2020 meeting as approved by the
Development Review Committee.
Prepared by:
_____________________________________
/s/Sally Zarnowitz, AIA, LEED AP, Planning Manager