08-17-21 Minutes - DRC
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
COMMITTEE REPORT
MINUTES OF THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
AUGUST 17, 2021
The Development Review Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular
Teleconference Meeting on August 17, 2021, 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: Joel Paulson, CDD Planning; Roy Alba, CDD Building; Mike Weisz, PPW Engineering;
Corvell Sparks, PPW Engineering; Kenny Ip, SCCFD.
Absent: None.
Staff: Ryan Safty, CDD Planning; Sean Mullin, CDD Planning; Robert Shultz, Town Attorney.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 10:01 AM
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Lee Quintana
The use of comparison tables for FAR should be revised. It’s a useful tool, but its
usefulness diminishes in areas with variability of lot size and dimensions. It’s harder to make
comparisons because FAR’s not strictly based on size, but based on formulas that take size into
consideration. Additionally, I am concerned with the lack of staff reports for DRC. There is no
staff analysis provided to the public and there is no access to public comments received
provided to the public. Having this information made available will allow for more
transparency.
CONSENT ITEMS
1. Approval of Minutes – July 27, 2021.
MOTION: Motion by Mike Weisz to approve the consent calendar. Seconded by
Robert Gray.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 4-0.
PAGE 2 OF 4
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES OF AUGUST 17, 2021
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 16495 Ferris Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-21-015
Requesting Approval for Construction of an Addition to a Single-family Residence to
Exceed the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Standards on Property Zoned R-1:8. APN 532-07-043.
PROPERTY OWNER: Joe Brady
APPLICANT: Wayne Lin
PROJECT PLANNER: Ryan Safty
The project planner, Ryan Safty, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Wayne Lin, Architect
This addition is being added towards the rear of the house which has no effect to the
front of the home. The neighbors on both sides have stated they are okay with the changes
being made as it is not changing pitch or the materials. There are larger homes and FARs in the
surrounding neighborhood.
Lee Quintana, Community Member
The neighborhood analysis looks at the neighboring exceptions rather than the overall
pattern. The wrong questions are being asked. We should be asking whether the FAR matches
the pattern of the neighborhood FARs.
Applicant has no additional comments.
Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Kenny Ip to approve with the required findings and
recommended conditions of approval. Seconded by Robert Gray.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 4-0.
Appeal rights were recited.
PAGE 3 OF 4
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES OF AUGUST 17, 2021
3. 44 Bayview Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-21-005
Requesting Approval for Technical Demolition of a Pre-1941 Single-family Residence
and Construction of a New Single-family Residence to Exceed Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
Standards on Property Zoned R-1D. APN 510-44-020.
PROPERTY OWNER: David and Ladan Ralston
APPLICANT: Jay Plett, Architect
PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin
The project planner, Sean Mullin, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Jay Plett, Architect
The project was designed in consideration of the design guidelines and the
neighborhood. We received unanimous approval from the HPC as well. We believe this is a
good project and fits the neighborhood well. We hope it is approved.
Lee Quintana, Community Member
I would change the recommendation and remand the application to staff for further
consideration and work, including consultation with the Town’s Consulting Architect . I don’t
find the HPC sufficient evidence or facts in the record to support the findings of the HPC, nor is
there an analytical tie between the facts and the findings. The project may be consistent with
the zone, but it is not consistent with the Residential Design Guidelines. There are several
major concerns with the project. The garage placement, roof complexity, house configuration,
and the exceedance of FAR. The comparison table provides a very different picture compared
to what is being shown in this project due to variation in lot sizes. The lot sizes on either side of
Bayview are different. Consideration of only the FAR exceedances and not the others, presents
a very different picture that look at all of the lots together. The predominant pattern in the
immediate neighborhood is to comply with the FAR. This project has a cellar, which is
supposed to be in-lieu of a second story and is not consistent with Town policy. The
predominant pattern is for garages detached at the back of the property, not attached and at
the front.
Jay Plett, Architect
The project was thoroughly vetted by staff and HPC and was approved by HPC. The HPC
said that the request to exceed the FAR standards, the design, theme, sense of scale, exterior
materials, and details are consistent with the adopted residential development standards. I
believe the HPC made their decision unanimously. We believe it is a good design and they
approved it as such.
Closed Public Comment.
PAGE 4 OF 4
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES OF AUGUST 17, 2021
MOTION: Motion by Corvell Sparks to approve with the required findings and
recommended conditions of approval. Seconded by Robert Gray.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously 4-0.
Appeal rights were recited.
OTHER BUSINESS
- None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned 10:26 AM
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
August 17, 2021 meeting as approved by the
Development Review Committee.
Prepared by:
________________________________________
/s/Joel Paulson, Community Development Director