Item 2 - Addendum with Attachment
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER ARMER, AICP
Senior Planner
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
MEETING DATE: 1/21/2021
ITEM: 2
ADDENDUM
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REPORT
REPORT
DATE: January 20, 2021
TO: General Plan Update Advisory Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Review and Discussion of the Revised Initial Draft of the Land Use Element and
the Revised Initial Draft of the Community Design Element.
REMARKS:
On January 12, 2021, the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) discussed the Land Use and
Community Design Elements. Attachment 21 is a summary of their comments.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachments previously received with the November 5, 2020 Staff Report:
1. June 11, 2020 Community Workshop and Online Survey Summary
2. Initial Draft of Land Use Element
3. Initial Draft of Community Design Element
4. Public Comment received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 30, 2020
Attachments previously received with November 5, 2020 Addendum:
5. Committee Member Comments
6. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, October 30, 2020 and 11:00 a.m.,
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Attachment previously received with the November 5, 2020 Desk Item:
7. Committee Member Comments
Attachments previously received with the November 19, 2020 Staff Report:
8. November 17, 2020 Town Council Staff Report with Attachments 1-7
9. Committee Member Comments
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: Revised Initial Drafts of the Land Use and Community Design Elements
January 20, 2021
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ATTACHMENTS (continued):
Attachments previously received with the November 19, 2020 Desk Item Report:
10. Committee Member Comments
11. Public Comment
Attachments previously received with the January 7, 2021 Staff Report:
12. Revised Initial Draft of Land Use Element
13. Comment Response Summary Table – Land Use
14. Revised Initial Draft of Community Design Element
15. Comment Response Summary Table – Community Design
16. Updated Potential Housing Production Table
Attachments previously received with the January 7, 2021 Addendum Report:
17. Committee Member Comments
18. Public Comment
Attachments previously received with the January 21, 2021 Staff Report:
19. Maps of the Area Described in a Public Comment
20. Committee Member Comments
Attachments received with this Addendum Report:
21. Historic Preservation Committee Comments
ATTACHMENT 21
Comments from the Historic Preservation Committee
At the January 12, 2021 special meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee, members
discussed the Revised Initial Drafts of the Land Use and Community Design Elements and
provided the following comments:
Revised Initial Draft Land Use Element
Key Terms
Intensity
There is a typo in the definition of intensity, where a period should replace a comma. (page 3-3)
Multi-family Residential
The definition should be revised to clarify that Accessory Dwelling Units are not included. (page 3-4)
3.8 Preserving Our History
LU-16 Provide for the protection of Los Gatos’ cultural heritage through the protection and
maintenance of historic resources.
LU-16.1 Historic Districts and Landmarks
Revise the first sentence to state that both maps and the Historic Resources Inventory list will be
maintained on the website. Everything after the first sentience in this Policy is a general description
and should be moved to the introductory description of historic districts at the top of page 3-33.
(page 3-35)
3.14 Implementation Programs
The language in Implementation Program F is appropriate. An Implementation Program should also
be added, reiterating comments provided by the HPC on the Initial Draft of the Environment and
Sustainability Element, to state the following: “Consider conducting an updated Historic Resource
Inventory (HRI) survey, reviewing Historic District and neighborhood boundaries, and
reconsidering the construction date for presumptive historic resources,” under Goals LU-13 and
LU-16. (page 3-42)
General comments were made that there are many small neighborhoods that may have some level
of historic significance, where individual properties may not have historic significance. When
properties are found by the HPC not to have historic significance, the HPC may have comments
regarding certain historic elements that could be considered in the review of the new design by the
decision makers. A process to forward those comments could be considered.
Revised Initial Draft Community Design Element
4.2 Community Form
CD-2 Encourage all development in Town to be designed holistically, complementing the existing
urban fabric, and incorporating sustainable design principles.
CD-2.24 Outdoor Dining
This Policy may appear to conflict with the current program for semi-permanent parklets in the
public right-of-way. (page 4-14)
CD-3 Preserve significant historic and architectural features within the Town. Encourage all
development in Town to be designed holistically, complementing the existing urban fabric, and
incorporating sustainable design principles.
CD-3.1 Avoid Demolition of Historic Buildings
The policy should be revised to replace “substantial evidence” with “required findings.” (page 4-24)
CD-3.2 Reuse of Existing Buildings
Consider moving this Policy under Goal CD-4 to support and encourage thoughtful rehabilitation or
reuse of historic structures. (page 4-24)
CD-3.3 Historic Structure Preservation
Include noncontributors in the list of buildings that the Town will use special care in reviewing.
(page 4-24)
CD-3.4 Historic Preservation Programs
Revise the Policy to state the following: Continue the Town’s careful and proactive historic
preservation programs “recognizing the changing needs of the community.” (page 4-24)
CD-3.7 Potential Impacts to Historic Landmarks and Features
Replace the term “consider” with the term “identify” and consider combining this Policy with
Policy CD-3.8 Historic Site Impact Mitigation. (page 4-25)
CD-3.9 Historic Structure Use or Donation
Consider moving this Policy under Goal CD-4 Support and encourage thoughtful rehabilitation or
reuse of historic structures. (page 4-25)
CD-4 Support and encourage thoughtful rehabilitation or reuse of historic structures.
CD-4.2 Historic Structure Renovations
Revise the Policy to state the following: Require “exterior” renovations or remodels of historic
structures to be architecturally “compatible” with the original structure. (page 4-25)
CD-4.4 Financial Benefit Information
Revise the Policy to remove the phrase “and the vibrant historic downtown” because vibrancy is not
a financial benefit. (page 4-25)
CD-8 Preserve the character of Downtown Los Gatos and the quality of life for its citizens through
high-quality building design.
CD-8.6 Historic Architectural “Downtown” Core
Include “Downtown” in the title and revise the Policy language to state the following: Reinforce the
historic architectural “downtown” core of Los Gatos by “encouraging compatible” architecture
Downtown. (page 4-33)