18 Desk Item - Los Gatos Boulevard Plan and Design StandardsCOUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 15, 1997
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT:
REMARKS:
MEETING DATE: 9/15/97
ITEM NO. j p-
DESK ITEM /
CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GENERAL PLAN COMMITTEE,
ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE, AND PLANNING COMMISSION, AND
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING •FHE LOS GATOS BOULEVARD
PLAN AND DESIGN STANDARDS. NEGATIVE DECLARATION ND-96-21. INITIATED
gY: TOWN OF LOS GATOS
The attached letters were received after the staff report regarding this matter was prepared for Council. Two letters
support the Los Gatos Boulevard Plan's proposed addition of bike lanes to the Los Gatos Boulevard study area
(Attachments 6 and 7). Attachment 8 files an objection to the Boulevard Plan without justification.
Attachments:
For Attachments lthrough 4, see report dated September 9, 1997
For Attachment 5 see Addendum dated September 11, 1997
6. Fax from Peter Foumier, received September 15, 1997
7. Fax from Michael J. Resudek, received September 15, 1997
8. Fax from Robert Rambo, received September 15, 1997
LEB:KS:sm
N:\DEV\CNCLRPTS\LGBLVD.DSK
PREPARED BY: LEE E. BOWMAN (_,6—
PLANNING DIRECTOR
Reviewed by: Attorney
Finance
Revised:9/15/97 4:17 pm
Reformatted: 10/23/95
09714/1997 17:49 408351°1451
PETER FOURNIER
PAGE 02
Peter Procter Fournier
107 IKenueay Court
Loa Gaios, CA 95032
TO: Los Gatos Town Councilmembers
FROM: Peter Fournier, member Trails and Bikeways Committee
RE: Bike Lanes
DATE: September 15, 1997
RECEIVED
SEP 15 1997
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
5v
By FAX
Although I am not able to attend today's meeting, I would like to voice my strong support
for the addition of bike lanes to Los Gatos Boulevard. I believe it is a matter of safety for
our children and all cyclists who use the route. It will improve safety for both cyclists and
motorists, and will not impact parking or entry/exit from local businesses.
A r
Peter Fournier
6
Phone/FAX (408)358-1461 0 Cellular (408)892-6401 0 e-mail: FournierP @ AOL.COM
•SEP, 15, 1997 8:34AM
)UKING FREIGHT
NO, 0098
2/2
15 September 1997
T
01 All members of the Los Gatos City Council
E` Los Gatos Boulevard Plan
a Fr V
SEP l 5 1997
row,U OF LOS GATt7S
PLANNING 0EPARTMTrN7
Vy
Please let it be known that we support a bicycle lane on Los Gatos
Boulevard between Blossom Hill Road and Lark Ave_
Thank you for your consideration.
P
11 ichael J. Resudek
2 ,9'Belblossom Drive
Lbs Gatos, CA 95032
4444061L—
ATTACHc ' Y...� i ;•
Rambo & Associates, Inc.
644 No. Santa Cruz Ave., #4 • Los Gatos, CA 95030
Phone 408/395-7777 • Fax 408/395-2187
DATE: September 15,1997
TO: Los Gatos Town Clerk
FROM: Robert Rambo
RE: LOS GATOS BLVD. PLAN
SEP 1 5 1997
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING C'EP.4 aTATEIVT
By
I would like to file an objection to the Los Gatos Blvd. Plan on the agenda at
tonight's Town Council Meeting.
Robert Rambo
l #:LE179 VSE 9Qti l (-L9LZS6E90tr Str:SL : L6-SL-6
'00SSV 9 091,11da:) INES g•
Town Council Minutes September 15, 1997
Los Gatos, California
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Winchester and Lark property:
Jack Aiello, 135 Newell Court, asked Council to have staff stop using the empty lot as a
corporation yard storage lot for gravel, portable toilets, construction equipment and trucks. He
asked that peripheral shrubbery be planted.
Max Perlman, 183 Newell Ave., submitted photos showing the problems at the corner and
asked that the lot be cleaned up and kept as residential/recreational space. Mayor Benjamin
requested a report back from staff concerning the maintenance of this corner lot.
Highland Oaks Way Assisted Living residence:
Mark Miller, 122 Highland Oaks Way, expressed his concern over a situation which has
developed in his neighborhood concerning an assisted living residential care facility. Mayor
Benjamin asked staff to report back and schedule a meeting with the Mayor and the neighbors.
HEARINGS
UNION AVENUE 258/O'SHEA'S PUB AND GRILL/APPEAL (17.09)
Mayor Benjamin stated that this was the time and place duly noted for public hearing to
consider appeal of a Planning Commission decision revoking Conditional Use Permit U-93-
14 for O'Shea's Pub & Grill. The Planning Commission has determined that the establishment
has operated in violation of the Conditional Use Permit. The Council can approve or deny the
appeal and revoke or modify the Conditional Use Permit. Property is located at 258 Union
Avenue. Property owner is Andrew J. and Harriet M. Unzen Trustee. Appellant is Stan
Schwartz/O'Shea's Pub & Grill.
The following people addressed this issue:
Maureen Heberling, 291 Hershner Court, asked that any future use permits limit the hours of
operation to 10 P.M. and to not allow alcohol at this location again.
Gaye Pare, 255 Howes Court, thanked Council for its help in upholding the integrity of the
conditional use permit.
No one else in the audience addressed this item.
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Hutchins, that Council close the public hearing.
Carried unanimously.
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Lubeck, that Council deny the appeal and uphold
the Planning Commission's decision to revoke Conditional Use Permit U-93-14. Carried by
a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. Attaway voted no, believing that the hearing should be extended to give
the appellant ample opportunity to come before Council to express his views.
LOS GATOS BLVD. PLAN & DESIGN STANDARDS/HEARING (18.47)
Mayor Benjamin stated that this was the time and place duly noted for public hearing to
consider the recommendations of the General Plan Committee, Architectural Standards
Committee, and Planning Commission, and consider adopting resolution approving the Los
Gatos Boulevard Plan and Design Standards. Negative Declaration ND-96-1. Initiated by the
Town of Los Gatos.
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Town Council Minutes September 15, 1997
Los Gatos, California
HEARINGS CONTINUED
LOS GATOS BLVD. PLAN & DESIGN STANDARDS CONT. (18.47)
The following people from the audience spoke to this issue:
Sheldon Smith, 14225 Lora Drive, Chair of the Trails and Bike Ways Committee, supports the
bicycle lanes in the plan.
John Thomsen, 134 Alpine Ave., uses the current bike lanes and is in favor of including bike
lanes in the boulevard plan for people who use this form of transportation.
Robert Swanson, 16005 Los Gatos Blvd., supports the plan, for its beautification, attraction
and excessibility to business. He cautioned changing the traffic flow for various reasons:
Parallel streets will suffer impacts; Safety issues are a concern with bike lanes; and funding
of the public improvements will need commitment from businesses and residents.
Jeanne Torre, 306 Willow Hill Court, pro bikes. Using her bike for alternative transportation
she favors the bike lanes in the plan.
Robert Gellman, 203 Westchester Drive, does not support reducing the lanes nor causing
children to feel that they would be safe riding on that street with marked bike lanes.
Robert Shultz, 112 Greenfield Place, pro bike lanes, noting the number of riders seeking access
to the Los Gatos Creek Trail at Lark.
John Font, 77 Alpine, pro bike lane, member of the Trails and Bikeways Commission, spoke
of the number of commuters going to work on bikes and noted that businesses were
encouraging this mode of travel.
Larry Paulding, 297 Carlton Way, resident does not agree with the present plan. Does not
want lanes narrowed due to impact on residential neighborhoods, and the safety issues of
narrower traffic lanes.
Ervie Smith Brewick, 16025 Cerro Vista Drive, has no problem with adult bikers on the
boulevard as it is presently laid out, but does not want the area to look attractive to young
bikers with bike lanes designated for them. She feels that the lanes present safety issues.
Lucille Weidman, 215 Carlester Drive, feels that the marked bike lanes and the narrower traffic
lanes will cause an unsafe condition.
Barry Rodenberg, 15600 Los Gatos Blvd., Anderson Chevrolet representative, spoke of the need
for space to park vehicles, feels that the bike lanes in the street parking area will be unsafe.
Allen Tannenbaum, 16530 Bonnie Lane, bike rider, would like the community to reevaluate its'
attitude toward bikers.
John Moore, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd., Moore Buick Pontiac GMC, against the bike lanes as they
are designed in the plan: they are narrow; cross business driveways; are between parked cars
and traffic; have caused traffic lanes to narrow; and parking to be restricted.
Mark Brodsky, 17306 Grosvenor Crt., Monte Sereno, is pro bikes and for narrower traffic
lanes which will slow down the traffic and make room for the bikers.
Judy Rodgers, 16511 Camellia Terrace, need sufficient parking on the boulevard to alleviate
the employee parking in the residential neighborhoods.
Don Peck, 15405 Los Gatos Boulevard, asked for undergrounding of utilities on the boulevard,
and that an assessment district be implemented on the boulevard to pay for this service.
Parking is a problem for the businesses. Mark short term parking spaces for rapid turnover
business.
Larry Rugani, 14691 Golf Links Drive, in favor of safe bicycle lanes. Is not in favor of unsafe
bike lanes.
Speaker, Anderson Chevrolet representative, is amazed that it has come from a beautification
plan to bicycle route considerations. Beautification and pedestrian friendly areas were the
original thoughts, not bikes! Safety issues first.
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Town Council Minutes September 15, 1997
Los Gatos, California
HEARINGS CONTINUED
LOS GATOS BLVD. PLAN & DESIGN STANDARDS CONT. (18.47)
Speakers continued:
Jim McHugh, 16150 Kennedy Road, the overall plans for the boulevard have been endorsed
by the businesses but the narrowing of the traffic lanes present many concerns. The impact on
business, the safety concerns for bicyclists and the safety issues for drivers. He read a letter
from Dr. William Rix, 17480 High Street, who could not attend, but who spoke against the
proposed bike lanes. He felt that the existing bike route was sufficient and that the Los Gatos
Creek Trail, parallel to the boulevard, was a good alternative.
No one else from the audience addressed this issue.
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Hutchins, that Council close the public hearing.
Carried unanimously.
Council Comments:
Steven Blanton speaking from past personal experience, did not want to see bikes encouraged
on the boulevard. He is in favor of the gateway node concept and would like the street
furniture situated near these elements. Street islands are questionable if it impedes the flow
of traffic. Undergrounding is desirable.
Joanne Benjamin asked that the following items be incorporated in the plan: 1) A landscaping
plan be included for developers to review and take into consideration when they design their
projects; 2) That traffic flow be considered so it will not be forced onto alternative residential
arteries; 3) That utility undergrounding become a part of the plan; 4) That bikes be allowed
on wider sidewalks; 5) That the fronts of buildings be seen and be accessible from the street
side; 6) That the right hand turn lanes on Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill not be
eliminated since it will lead to residential impacts as drivers turn off on side streets to avoid
the congested traffic; 7) She would like alternatives to bike lanes discussed and have
information regarding solutions found in other communities.
Randy Attaway was concerned about the narrowing of the traffic lanes and safety issues. Safety
and parallel route congestion were important items for him. He does not think trucks can
make turns without obstructing traffic if the right hand turn lanes are removed. He would like
to see a report generated in this country that shows that bike lanes can work.
Linda Lubeck believes the engineer's solution to the right hand turns on Los Gatos Boulevard
and Blossom Hill should be considered. She is willing to sacrifice bike lanes for other elements
of the plan. She realizes competing interests do not work for everyone.
Jan Hutchins suggested that the plan return to the General Plan Committee with the comments
made by Council. He thought more work was needed before Council adopted.
Council Consensus to return this item to the General Plan Committee for reconsideration of
some of the elements, and to work with the Council's comments and suggestions. All council
members were pleased with the majority of the plan and thanked the committee members for
their good work.
SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES/HEARING/RESO 1997-106 (19.09)
Mayor Benjamin stated that this was the time and place duly noted for public hearing to
consider request to use supplemental law enforcement services funds (SLESF) granted to the
Town to provide continued funding for one police officer to remain assigned to the Santa Clara
County Specialized Enforcement Team; and adopt resolution authorizing the use of
supplemental local law enforcement funds (SLESF) to continue funding one full time police
officer assigned to the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team (SCCSET).
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