08-23-06 Minutes - GPCTOWN OF LOS GATOS
110 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030 (408) 354-6872
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SUMMARY MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE GENERAL PLAN COMMITTEE
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS, AUGUST 23, 2006 HELD IN THE TOWN COU NCIL
CHAMBERS, CIVIC CENTER, 110 EAST MAIN STREET, LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA.
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Th e m ee ti ng wa s c al le d t o o rd er at 5:30 pm by Chair Jane Ogle.
ATTENDANCE
Members present: Jane Ogle, Joe Pirzynski, Barbara Spector, John Bourgeois, Tom O’Donnell,
Phil Micciche,, Marcia Jensen & Margaret Smith
Members absent: Barry Waitte
Staff present: Bud Lortz, Community Development Director; Randy Tsuda, Assistant Community
Development Director; and Sandy Baily, Associate Planner.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS: NONE
ITEM 1 RESIDENTIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
•General Plan Policy on Replacement Homes
Bud Lortz discussed the various General Plan policies and strategies which dealt with
replacement homes.
Bourgeois noted neighborhoods in transition are where the decision on this matter is difficult.
O’Donnell stated that the Committee must start with the assumption of why you must preserve
and then evaluate the overriding considerations to not preserve.
Smith questioned what it is that the Town wants to preserve (i.e., economic value, prosperity).
O’Donnell felt that it was the charm of Los Gatos being preserved.
Spector referred to page 11 of the Draft Guidelines regarding replacement structures, and felt that
this was a good place to start. She agreed with O’Donnell’s comments.
Lortz discussed Villa Avenue. The context of the neighborhood had not changed with the new
residences.
O’Donnell, trying to follow Council direction to preserve, expressed concern that large homes are
replacing smaller houses. He suggested that the wording be maintained but add “however, or unless”
to balance the policies and strategies.
General Plan Committee
Regular Meeting of August 23, 2006
Page 2 of 4
Smith expressed the need to balance the economics of a house.
Micciche stated that the Planning Commission has never required an applicant to build a similar size
home.
Pirzynski stated that it’s not a bad thing to have conflicting policies. It makes the deciding body
think more ab out t he mat ter. T here is a need t o reali ze wha t the “inten t” is. We hav e degr ading
neighborhoods, neighborhoods with varying house sizes and uncharacteristic architectural features.
We need to be stategic in determining how to apply the policies.
O’Donnell stated that we need to be consistent in implementing our policies. We need to keep the
neighborhoods down in size to retain the Los Gatos charm.
Spector commented with the extreme house sizes, it’s obvious what to do. It’s the intermediate size
houses where it becomes an issue.
Lortz stated we will look at rewriting the policy to include the “however/unless” scenario.
•Cellars
Lortz explained that there may be an issue when someone wants to build to the maximum FAR with
a cellar. There is also an issue regarding intensity - the number of bedrooms which may equate to
additional vehicles for the site.
Spector th in ks th at th e c el la r p ol ic y is st il l a go od po li cy.
Micciche said when the policy was written, consideration was not given to someone wanting to build
a second story and a cellar. He suggested that cellars totally below grade should be exempt from the
FAR. Cellars that are partially above grade should be partially counted toward the FAR.
Pirzynski stated the issue is still mass and scale. The intent is that we don’t want demolitions. We
want similar looking houses to maintain the context of a neighborhood. Therefore, cellars are a good
opportunity to obtain additional square footage and maintain the neighborhood.
O’Donnell expressed that some streets are not adequately designed. With cellars the intensity can
be increased and, therefore, more vehicles on the street.
Smith questioned if cellars incorporated bedrooms since cellars do not seem to function as a good
living environment. Various committee members responded that numerous cellars are designed
with bedrooms.
General Plan Committee
Regular Meeting of August 23, 2006
Page 3 of 4
The Committee felt that the intensity issue was too difficult to deal with and stated that this issue
should not be pursued.
Lortz summarized that full cellars should be acceptable if the house is not elevated. This is a way
to create more floor area without increasing the bulk and mass of the house.
•Appropriateness of a Second Story
Lortz summarized the issue.
Micciche commented that flat, full two story houses are not a good design. He prefers partial second
stories.
Smith believes that it is a matter of design.
Pirzynski stated the need to exclude the mistakes made in a neighborhood when reviewing
neighborhood context.
O’Donnell feels we still need to look at neighborhood compatibility for a second story even if there
ar e l ot co ns tr ai nt s t ha t r es tr ic t a si ng le st or y.
Lortz stated that the guidelines will be revised to address this issue and will reflect the Committee’s
comments.
•Consistency of Front Setbacks
The Committee unanimously agreed that diversity is good if there is already a diversity in the
neighborhood.
•Circular Driveways
The Committee felt that it was a design issue. Driveways should not be used as a parking area and
a mini mum p ercent age of la ndsca ping wo uld b e aesth etica lly pleas ing.
•Fences
Lortz state d that fences that c ome th rough the Architecture & Site review process can be addressed.
Any other fence, six feet or less in height, does not require a building permit and are not regulated.
Jensen commented that if a fence ordinance is developed, there should be different criteria for
different areas (example: hillsides, Los Gatos Blvd, historic districts).
Lortz reported that the concept of a fence ordinance will be brought back to the Committee at a later
date.
General Plan Committee
Regular Meeting of August 23, 2006
Page 4 of 4
•Structural Upgrades to Attics
Lortz discussed the background of this issue.
The Committee felt that the upgrades were acceptable. The matter was continued to discuss further.
ITEM 2 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. by Jane Ogle. The next meeting of the General Plan
Committee is tentatively scheduled for September 13, 2006.
Pr ep ar ed By:
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Sandy Baily, Associate Planner
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