08-04-2022 - 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
AUGUST 4, 2022
The Housing Element Advisory Board of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
August 4, 2022, 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; Council Member Maria Ristow;
Council Member Marico Sayoc; Board Member Randi Chen; Board Member Todd Jarvis; Board
Member Joseph Mannina; Board Member Adam Mayer; Board Member Steven Piasecki; and
Board Member Ryan Rosenberg.
Absent: Board Member Emily Thomas and Board Member Rob Moore.
Staff present: Erin Walters; Jennifer Armer; Joel Paulson; and Gabrielle Whelan.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – July 7, 2022
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Board Member Mannina.
VOTE: Motion passed 10-0 with Board Member Emily Thomas and Board
Member Rob Moore absent during this vote.
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DISCUSSION ITEMS
2. Continue Review and Discussion of Goals, Policies, and Programs
Presentation by Erin Walters.
Housing Element Advisory Board (HEAB) member’s comments and questions:
- When is the final deadline for the Housing Element?
- Add a new Implementation Program which studies the development of a new floor area
ratio standard for multi-family development when developed as detached single-family
condominium units.
- Update Implementation Program P – Include studying the feasibility of requiring BMPs
for senior assisted living, senior independent living, and senior communities.
- Caution was expressed in regards to applying BMPs to commercial senior assisted living
services.
- Plan and encourage housing to accommodate accessibility for all by incorporating
accessibly and livability on the first floor.
- Add a Policy and Implementation Program to support affordable housing on land owned
by religious institutions. See Yorba Linda Policy 3.5 and Folsom example.
- Add an Implementation Program related to a yearly meeting between staff and housing
developers to discuss constraints and opportunities to affordable and market rate
housing projects. (Policy HE-2.9)
- New residential developments might result in the loss of existing businesses.
- 2040 General Plan Land Use Policy LU-3.1 – Covers promoting and supporting a balance
of residential, commercial, office, open space, institutional, and industrial businesses
within the Town.
- Mixed-use allows for both housing and preserving commercial uses.
- More housing will create more customers and demand for more businesses.
- Town Council will review Housing Element Goals during the full draft Housing Element
review.
- Remove Policy HE-1.5.
- Move Policy HE-6.5 to be under Goal HE-1 and add reference to Senate Bill (SB) 9.
- Modify Policy HE-6.5 under Goal HE-6 to promote and conduct education and outreach
for single-family housing opportunities including ADUs and SB 9.
- Add Implementation Program for educational programs for single-family housing
opportunities including ADUs and SB 9.
- Add plural to “property owner” on Policy HE-2.10.
- Move Policy HE-3.5 to be the first policy under Goal HE-3 and shift other policies down.
- Modify Policy HE 3.4, add “and alternative funding” to facilitate affordable housing.
- Support for existing points within the BMP program for people who work in Town.
- Commercial linkage fees are typically tied to new commercial square footage rather
than new uses.
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- Modify Policy HE-3.3 to add “educate and encourage” before “support” lot
consolidation, and add the term” lot assemblage,” and add a reference to locations in
mixed-use and commercial areas.
- Modify Policy HE-4.4 to replace the term City with Town.
- Ensure people from all income levels and housing types have access to the benefits of
Green Building practices.
- Leave Polices under Goal HE-5 as drafted.
- Modify Implementation Program V to reduce total length.
- Update language in Implementation Program O for consistency with modifications to
Policy HE-3.3.
- Add reference to Policy HE-1.7 Universal Design in “Implements Which Policies” column
for Implementation Program AC.
- Complete language for Implementation Program AT.
- Complemented Staff’s work on the Goals, Polices, and Programs.
- Complemented Staff’s work on the Site Inventory Tiers.
- Will staff have a booth at the Farmer’s Market for the Housing Element? Encourages
HEAB members to participate.
- The Chair requested an update on the status of the 2040 General Plan.
- The Town Attorney provided a brief update on the 2040 General Plan Referendum and
timeline.
- Staff indicated that if the 2040 General Plan Land Use Element and Community Design
Elements become suspended due to the Referendum, then the Housing Element update
will be able consider specific amendments to the 2020 General Plan Land Use Element
in order to meet the Town’s 6th cycle RHNA requirements.
- The next HEAB meeting will be held on August 18, 2022, and the HEAB will review and
provide comments for the Initial Draft Housing Element.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Opened Public Comment.
Clay Goodman
- Approached by petitioner in front of Lundardi’s regarding the 2040 General Plan
Referendum. Asked the HEAB if there are reasons why the Board would not want this to
go to a vote for the community.
Jennifer Armer, Planning Manager
- Staff will provide an update on the status of 2040 General Plan at the end of the
meeting.
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney
- This topic is not agenized for this meeting. This meeting is to discuss the Housing
Element. The Housing Element would not be a good candidate for the ballot as it is
required by HCD.
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Lee Quintana
- Questions about the adopted 2040 General Plan and changes that Town Council made
including changes to densities, height, middle housing, consolidation of lots, impact to
densities in historic districts, and changes to mixed-use designations. Would like clarity
if the changes to the General Plan will affect the zoning code and have unintended
consequences in densities in the historic districts. Recommended reviewing the Hood
River Municipal Code regarding policies, and objective standards regarding missing
middle housing.
Closed Public Comment.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
August 4, 2022, meeting.
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development