Item 2 - Addendum with Exhibit 12.232 Danville Drive
PREPARED BY: Savannah Van Akin
Assistant Planner
Reviewed by: Planning Manager and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6872
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/23/2023
ITEM NO: 2
ADDENDUM
DATE: August 22, 2023
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Requesting Approval for Demolition of an Existing Single-Family Residence
and Construction of a New Single-Family Residence Requiring a Grading
Permit on Property Zoned R-1:8. Located at 232 Danville Drive. APN 523-43-
035. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality
Act, Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures.
Property Owner: Cung Pham and Bien Vo. Applicant: D&Z Design Associates,
Inc. Project Planner: Savannah Van Akin.
REMARKS:
Exhibit 12 includes public comment received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, August 18, 2023, and
11:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received with the August 18, 2023, Staff Report:
1. Location Map
2. Required Findings and Considerations
3. Recommended Conditions of Approval
4. Project Description and Letter of Justification
5. Consulting Architect’s First Report, dated September 9, 2022
6. Applicant’s response to the Consulting Architect’s First Report, received April 5, 2023
7. Consulting Architect’s Second Report, dated May 5, 2023
8. Applicant’s response to the Consulting Architect’s Second Report, received May 15, 2023
9. Applicant’s neighborhood outreach efforts
10. Public Comments received prior to 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 18, 2023
11. Development Plans, received July 25, 2023
Received with this Addendum Report:
12. Public Comment received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, August 18, 2023, and 11:00 a.m.,
Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
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August 21, 2023
Roger Eline
Los Gatos, Ca 95032
Los Gatos Planning Commission
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, Ca 95030
Hello Savannah,
This email is a follow up to the previous email and attachment I sent with respect to the 2-story
house construction proposed for 232 Danville Dr., Los Gatos, Ca. 95032.
I had sent a previous email and attachment to the Los Gatos Planning Commission, dated June
30, '23 on the subject. Since then, I met with Michael Davis, the architect, to discuss changes
to mitigate some of the concerns I had. Overall, the building changes that Michael discussed
with me have done a good job relieving my concerns. There's still one issue wrt. the rear
property screening trees that I address below. These changes included the 2nd story bathroom
freestanding bathtub window using opaque glass, the heightening of the master bedroom
window ceil, the reduction of the open space ceiling height/roofline above the great room, and
the addition of additional screening trees (4ea. podocarpus gracilior) along the rear of the
property.
Issue remaining:
The 4ea. podocarpus gracilior are specified as 24" box size, set back 4' from rear property
line. The typical height of a 24" box podocarpus gracilior is 7-9 feet, so let’s say 8' height trees
are planted. In reviewing the site landscape plan and based on my calculations, an 8' tree will
provide NO visual screening of the Danville property 2nd story window from looking directly into
the Master bedroom of the rear neighbor and into my property's downstair bedroom window
plus a good portion of my backyard, side yard, and pool/spa area. A 14' height tree is required
to provide the necessary visual screening. It will take 4-5 years for an 8' podocarpus gracilior to
grow to ~14', which is too long.
The solution:
Specify 36" box size podocarpus gracilior (~ 11' - 12' height) setback 4 ft from rear property line
instead of the specified 24" box.
To reach 14ft would take ~ 2 yrs, which is acceptable.
I discussed this with Michael Davis, so he is aware of my concern and request to increase
the podocarpus gracilior height.
Bests regards,
Roger Eline
Los Gatos, Ca. 95032
EXHIBIT 12
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