05-06-21 Minutes - GPAC
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MAY 6, 2021
The General Plan Update Advisory Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Special
Meeting on May 6, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., via teleconference.
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.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Melanie Hanssen, Vice Chair Kathryn Janoff, Council Member Mary Badame,
Council Member Maria Ristow, Committee Member Susan Moore Brown, Committee Member
Todd Jarvis, Committee Member Joseph Mannina, Committee Member Steven Piasecki,
Committee Member Ryan Rosenberg, Committee Member Emily Thomas, Committee Member
Lee Quintana, and Committee Member Carol Elias Zolla.
Absent: None.
Staff present: Jennifer Armer, Joel Paulson, Laurel Prevetti, Matt Morley, Sally Zarnowitz, and
Rob Schultz.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Giulianna Pendleton
- Thanked the General Plan Update Advisory Committee (GPAC) for their hard work.
Kathleen Willey
- Commented that animal agriculture results in diseases for humans. The Town should
promote plant-based diets in the General Plan 2040.
Mythri
- Commented that plant-based diet should be included in the General Plan for water
conservation.
Lisa Wade
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- Commented that the written public comments submitted included suggested changes in
support of plant-based diets in Healthy Community and Sustainability Elements of the
General Plan.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
2. Approval of Minutes – April 1, 2021
3. Approval of Minutes – April 15, 2021
Committee Member Quintana pulled Item 1 for discussion.
MOTION: Motion by Committee Member Rosenburg to approve Consent Items 2
and 3. Seconded by Committee Member Quintana.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Approval of Minutes – March 18, 2021
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
Committee discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to approve Consent Item 1 with
modification to clarify that comments on page 2 of the minutes
attributed to Committee Member Quintana were in regards to the
Hillside Section. Seconded by Committee Member Piasecki.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
4. Review and Discussion of the Draft 2040 General Plan.
Jennifer Armer, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Committee asked questions of staff, discussed the matter, and provided the following
comments and direction:
- Add “including plant-based eating” in one of the policies in the healthy community
section.
- In Policy ENV-9.7 “Employer Incentive Programs” add “as well as offering plant-
based menu options.”
Opened Public Comment.
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Giulianna Pendleton
- Commented that she appreciates the inclusion of bird safe design and dark sky
initiatives, and protection of the environment in the vision and guiding principles.
Some remaining concerns about over-lighting and development in riparian corridors,
specifically recommend removing Policy CD-2.1.
Jeff Suzuki
- Expressed his gratitude for all the work that has been done to prepare this draft
General Plan. Commented on the importance of helping readers understand the
why behind the what, as described in his written comments, especially the need to
acknowledge why housing policies are important and the long history of housing
segregation. The General Plan should include in the RSEJ Element what was done to
the indigenous populations of the area.
Amy
- Thanked the GPAC for all the time and dedication. Commented that it is critical in
the introduction that we acknowledge that it is the lack of affordable housing that
leads to a lack of diversity, and a lack of diversity can lead to a lack of acceptance
and inclusivity. In addition, Policy RSEJ-1.4 should not just encourage access to
affordable housing, but also encourage development of affordable housing.
Dashiell Leeds
- Commented on behalf of the Sierra Club in support of plant-based diets, recognition
of indigenous peoples, bird safe design, dark sky initiative, and protection of the
natural environment. Supports removal of Policy CD-2.1 to reduce artificial lighting
at night. Policy ENV-9.1 could have a stronger target, either by a higher GHG
reduction target or expanding to apply Town-wide.
Don Capobres
- Thanked the GPAC for the hard work done on this process. In addition to written
comments provided, commented that this is a good base for what can be done for
Phase II of the North 40 project.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee discussed the matter and provided the following comments and direction:
MOTION: Motion by Committee Member Piasecki to add a new Guiding Principle
titled “Connectivity” to state the importance of connecting all facets of
the community that build a strong sense of community through building
design, walkability, and safe streets, with final wording to be prepared by
staff and the consultant. Seconded by Planning Commissioner Thomas.
VOTE: Motion passed 11-1. With Committee Member Zola voting no.
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MOTION: Motion by Committee Member Piasecki to draft an alternative vision
statement written as an aspirational statement, as presented in written
comments, to start with “Los Gatos aspires to be…” with a change of
tense. Seconded by Committee Member Quintana.
VOTE: Motion failed 3-7-2. With Committee Members Moore Brown, Piasecki,
and Quintana voting yes, and Planning Commissioner Thomas and
Committee Member Mannina abstaining.
Committee continued discussing the matter and provided the following comments and
direction:
- Implement written comments from Committee Members where they help with
clarity of the language and are consistent with previous GPAC discussions, as long as
it does not cause renumbering of goals, policies, or implementation measures.
- Consider relocating the acknowledgements page to the end of the document and
add the glossary and acronyms to the table of comments.
- Check General Plan map for where designations are or should be changed, including
for consistency with zoning.
- Confirm that policies referenced in Implementation Measure tables are all updated
and correct.
- Replace Chapter 7 lead photo with a photo of Novitiate Park or the Los Gatos Cre ek
Trail.
- On page 4-24, replace the photo of Blossom Hill Road with another photo (not from
Google Street View).
- Replace the photo that starts Chapter 5, possibly a phot o of Main Street near the
High School with the green bike lanes.
- In Policy ENV-9.1, modify to “at least 40 percent.”
- In Policy ENV-1.1, consider removing “to prevent” and use the word “for” instead.
- Clarify the intent of Policies ENV-1.1 and 1.4 (are we discussing hillside development
or flat lands development).
- Consider future removal of Policy ENV-1.1.
- Modify Policy MOB-2.1 to be broader for more users.
- Correct spelling error on page 2-4, Policy RSEJ 2.6 (ani-bias should be anti-bias)
- Modify Policy RSEJ-1.4 to state, “encourage the development of and access to
affordable housing…”
MOTION: Motion by Committee Member Jarvis to forward the Draft General Plan
to the Planning Commission and Town Council for review and approval,
including updated language in Attachment 2 and comments as discussed.
Seconded by Committee Member Piasecki.
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VOTE: Motion passed 11-0-1. With Council Member Badame abstaining, and
Committee Member Quintana stating that she does not endorse the
current draft language of the General Plan.
This is the final meeting of the GPAC.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:58 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
May 6, 2021 meeting.
/s/Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development