12-16-2021 - Minutes - HEAB
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HOUSING ELEMENT ADVISORY
BOARD REPORT
MINUTES OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT ADVISORY BOARD
DECEMBER 16, 2021
The Housing Element Advisory Board of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
December 16, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., via teleconference.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
Government Code Section 54953, as Amended by Assembly Bill 361, in response to the state
of emergency relating to COVID-19 and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by
suspending or waiving specified provisions in the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code §
54950 et seq.). Consistent with AB 361 and Town of Los Gatos Resolution 2021-044 this
meeting was not physically open to the public and the Advisory Board Members were
teleconferencing from remote locations. Members of the public were able to participate in
the meeting by joining the Zoom webinar (log in information provided below).
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Melanie Hanssen; Vice Chair Kathryn Janoff; Commissioner Emily Thomas; Board
Adam Mayer; Board Member Todd Jarvis; Board Member Joseph Mannina; Board Member
Steven Piasecki; Board Member Ryan Rosenberg; Board Member Lee Quintana; Board Member
Randi Chen; and Board Member Rob Moore.
Absent: Council Member Mary Badame and Council Member Maria Ristow.
Staff present: Erin Walters; Jocelyn Shoopman; Jennifer Armer; and Joel Paulson.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – October 21, 2021
MOTION: Motion by Board Member Piasecki to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Board Member Rosenberg.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
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2. Discuss the Housing Element Process and Milestones
Presentation by Erin Walters.
Housing Element Advisory Board (HEAB) member’s comments and questions:
- Should the HEAB be using the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) number when
considering where housing should be located in Town or are there other numbers that
should be considered;
- Will the HEAB consider alternatives to the RHNA numbers;
- There is no further review by the General Plan Committee of the Draft 2040 General
Plan and any changes that may occur will be completed through the Planning
Commission and Town Council’s review;
- Should the HEAB be focused solely on the Town’s RHNA plus a buffer as deemed
appropriate by the California Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD);
- Can the remaining vacant land in the North Forty Specific Plan be considered by the
HEAB during this Housing Element cycle; and
- Should the HEAB be considering the 2020 General Plan or 2040 Draft General Plan when
making recommendations to the Planning Commission and Town Council.
3. Review and Discuss Portions of the Draft Housing Element Appendices
Presentation by Richard James from EMC Planning Group Inc.
HEAB member’s comments and questions:
- A wide range of housing, not only low-income housing is needed in Town, such as
smaller home types like townhomes and duplexes;
- Smaller units would attract seniors and those who do not desire large single-family
homes;
- Smaller homes which offer less bedrooms are needed and could create more
affordability;
- Senate Bill 9 and accessory dwelling units (ADU) are not going to create enough units to
fulfill the Town’s RHNA and many of the required units will be accomplished through the
proposed Community Place Districts within the Draft 2040 General Plan;
- Can the Town’s Below Market Rate Program (BMP) be applied to large job creators to
help meet the Town’s housing goals;
- Would it make sense for a local developer to attend a HEAB meeting and provide input;
- What are the Town’s existing incentive programs for creating new, affordable units;
- Will the remaining units that were not built in the last housing element cycle be added
to the current RHNA amount; and
- Should the Draft 2040 General Plan consider incentives such as increased floor area
ratio or height for mixed-use projects which propose affordable units.
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VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Lee Fagot
What is the logic and process behind the RHNA allocation being increased by three times
the number from the last Housing Element cycle and communicating this information to the
community may help to alleviate some of their concerns.
Don Capobres
Happy to be involved in the process and provide feedback and help from a developer’s
perspective to the HEAB.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
December 16, 2021 meeting.
/s/Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development