10 Attachment 15 - Additional Materials from the AppellantFrom: Eric Hulser
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2023 10:40 AM
To: Jennifer Armer <JArmer@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Updated Appeal Slide Deck and Survey Results
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and Town Councilmembers,
(included via BCC)
My name is Eric Hulser and I am appealing the decision of the Planning Commission to approve the
proposed development at 15860 Winchester Boulevard.
Attached is an updated version of the slide deck which I will be presenting tomorrow night along with
the raw survey summary, updating what was submitted with the staff report last Thursday.
The survey has been closed and the only changes to the presentation reflect the survey results as of
today.
Respectfully,
Eric Hulser
Los Gatos, CA
ATTACHMENT 15
Zoning Uses
Office Zone
The following uses are permitted in O zone:
●Offices, administrative, professional, medical,
dental and optical laboratories associated with
a professional use, real estate, insurance,
stocks and bonds, and other similar offices
characterized by absence of retail sales.
●Retail sales by a pharmacy within a medical
building
Residential Multi-family Zone
The following uses are permitted in a R-M zone:
●Single-family dwelling
●Two-family dwelling
●Small family day care home
●Residential care facility, small family home
●Multiple Family Dwellings and Condominiums
Page 9
85% oppose a height variance
82% opposea lot variance
83% worry traffic is an issue
Page 22Survey Resul s Upda ed on Monday, Sep ember 18, 2023
38% live in the immediate area
29% would’ve joined an information session if offered by the Applicant
8% were invited to an information session by the Applicant
1% believe their input was considered
Page 23Survey Resul s Upda ed on Monday, Sep ember 18, 2023
33% aware of the story poles from 2022
38% thought project on hold or abandoned
24% aware of video exemption to poles
Page 24Survey Resul s Upda ed on Monday, Sep ember 18, 2023
14% saw the video prior to the survey
56% believe video misrepresents height
49% aware building exceeds the height limit
Page 25Survey Resul s Upda ed on Monday, Sep ember 18, 2023
“This building is way too big for the
current area. It is out of scale and not
be fitting the neighborhood. The other
size will just create more traffic and
parking issues as well as ruining the
view of the neighborhood.”
“I attended the Planning Commission
meeting that approved the variance
and felt the comments of myself and
fellow neighbors to the construction
site were totally ignored and our
concerns not addressed.”
“Comes right up to front doors
of University Oaks
Condos…they’ll see into our
bedrooms and we’ll see into
theirs.”
“The height variance is a big deal. This
community does so much to maintain the
character of the community…trees and etc. Why
would they bend on this. I am opposed to this
variance. The other thing that concerns me is
the traffic flow disruption, extra parking on
street, environmental impact for trees and
wildlife.”
“Such a dense structure is not supported by the
recently narrowed Winchester Blvd. This project has
inadequate driveway and parking space and will add
too much traffic, which is already extremely heavy
on Winchester Blvd during school hours, commute
hours and on weekends. The development poses
numerous traffic safety hazards for elementary school
children and the broader community.”
Page 27Survey Resul s Upda ed on Monday, Sep ember 18, 2023
“They make the height limit to keep Los
Gatos a town and not a city - it should
be followed.”
“This will also add a lot of traffic. As is,
we can’t get to town during summer as
Winchester traffic is horrible.”
“It sets a precedence that
affect the integrity of our
neighborhood for future
construction and it is way out
of place for the area.”
“The Eichlers in Via Sereno are ‘inside-out’
designs with lots of floor to ceiling glass in all
rooms including bedrooms and bathrooms. A
tall building will allow a view of those private
areas from windows and balconies. This is an
unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of those
houses.”
“Essentially disappears from the story post to be
a massive project that is under represented in
the video. Furthermore, none of it was
socialized with neighbors like myself. It’s evident
from the story poles that this massive building
will block the entire hillside and ridge line which
is currently visible from Winchester.”
Page 28Survey Resul s Upda ed on Monday, Sep ember 18, 2023
9/18/23, 9:50 AM Winchester Development Survey v1 .0
This development will negatively impact traffic flow and safety near an elementary school. It will have a
great deal of ambulance traffic that is not safe to have in this location. And the structure does not
provide adequate space for medical and other emergency vehicles that inevitably need to regularly
visit a memory care/assisted living facility of any size and especially a massive one, such as this. It
needs to be relocated near the Good Samaritan Hospital and North 40 Development and away from
Daves Elementary School.
The building is too large for the neighborhood. The zoning sets the limit for a purpose and there is no
reason to exceed the limit
Following height variance is a must for the natural beauty of the town
It seems to me that the Town and the Developer are attempting to mislead the public in the overall
height of the project.
There is nothing unique regarding this property that would allow the findings to approve a variance.
People buy properties and rely on the zoning for building heights and setbacks and do not expect
variances to be granted without making specific findings.
It looks like a behemoth and it is dwarfing the properties surrounding
Common sense and understanding
I along with many others live close by, the height will block the view.
Massive building will impact our neighborhood
Town has worked hard to maintain 35 ft limit. Why is video showing young, active people if it's memory
care? LG knows developers try to trick us (N40). Town council needs to overrule the Planning Commish,
send Swenson back to the drawing board.
31/50
9/18/23, 9:50 AM Winchester Development Survey v1 .0
It looks too big
New building should match the surrounding buildings.
The height variance is a big deal.This community does so much to maintain the character of the
community ... trees and etc. Why would they bend on this. I am opposed to this variance. The other thing
is that concerns me is the traffic flow disruption, extra parking on street, environmental impact for trees
and wildlife.
they make the height limit to keep los gatos a town and not a city-it should be followed
The Eichlers in Via Sereno are "inside-out" designs with lots of floor to ceiling glass in all rooms
including bedrooms and bathrooms. A tall building will allow a view of those private areas from
windows and balconies. This is an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of those houses.
Traffic flow would be severely disrupted
Needs to belong to the nature of the neighorhood
More traffic with more area
No
Citizens don't like their representatives cutting secret backdoor deals to enrich their friends, at the cost
to the community as a whole. There is no valid reason that a person with integrity would approve such
an unfair deal.
32/50
9/18/23, 9:50 AM Winchester Development Survey v1 .0
The building is too large for the neighborhood which includes residential properties immediately
beside it
Disproportionate to neighborhood homes -UNSIGHTLY
I would want to know why the Town is interested in granting the requested variances to this developers
of this project? It seems suspect and misleading.
There is nothing unique regarding this property that would allow the findings to approve a lot coverage
variance. People buy properties and rely on the zoning for lot coverage and do not expect variances to
be granted without making specific findings.
It seems every developer goes for an outrageous height and lot coverage proposal as a negotiating
starting point rather than proposing something reasonable. They are playing a game.
Common sense and community awareness
Granting the variance will detract from the "small town" atmosphere of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno
It is bigger than anything else around
Everyone needs to follow the same rules
no
I think the lot coverage specs are there for a reason. For example, would the lack of permeable land 1)
cause more run off from storms and cause a negative impact like flooding on neighbors, and 2) remove
habitat for animals, insects and plants. The City of Miami Beach had to reduce the allowed percent of
coverage allowed about 10 years ago.
37/50
9/18/23, 9:50 AM Winchester Development Survey v1 .0
same reason as i put for height variance
Traffic flow would be severely disrupted
Residential areas across the street are impacted
More traffic and congestion in area
I was not allowed either
Citizens don't like it when their representatives cut shady backdoor deals to enrich their friends at the
cost of the community. No person with integrity would make such a deal. Allowing "no story poles" was
a ham-fisted attempt to hide this malfeasance from the community. Shame on you all.
No
Again, it us too big for Winchester. It will be horrible for the neighborhood and lower our investment
The size of the building is too large for the lot size. It is out of place in size not in keeping of the look of
our Los Gatos neighborhood on Winchester
Common sense. We have lived in Los Gatos for 14 years. Trying to shoehorn this building into an
undersized lot is going to bring nothing but problems. Our planning commission was given incorrect
information and intimidated the panel. They are unscrupulous and untruthful. Don't do business with
them. Please. We live here.Approving the variance is tacit president approval for other deceitful
opportunists to prey on Los Gatos.
38/50
9/18/23, 9:50 AM Winchester Development Survey v1 .0
population needs and deserves a more up-to-date, and clean environment to spend the remainder of
their lives.
Please make any additional comments on the restrictions that the Town Council should consider for this
development.
10 out of 78 answered
same as before.
The building should take into consideration that there are residential properties in the immediate
vicinity and should follow the zoning requirements that other buildings and developments are required
to follow. No special privileges should be granted
Town Council should not grant the variances and direct the applicant to change the design for the
proposed building so it meets the zoning requirements.
Overbuilding Los Gatos
I work in this health care setting. Currently I have seen them being built in larger numbers than what
the population currently will require going forward
They need to consider the environmental impact.
TOO MUCH TRAFFIC FOR THE AREA!
41/50
9/18/23, 9:50 AM Winchester Development Survey v1 .0
Design restrictions adhering to "the look and feel of Los Gatos". NOT the type of design instituted for
The North Forty.
This building is way too big for the current area. It is out of scale and not be fitting the neighborhood.
The other size will just create more traffic and parking issues as well as ruining the view of the
neighborhood.
The nature of this business is not conducive to the residential peace safety of our neighborhood.
Please make any additional comments on why you are opposed to this development.
17 out of 78 answered
We don't need another senior living center in this small town. We need housing for our new generation.
To bring money into this town
The builder has shown disregard for the community, dishonesty in their dealings with this project
there have been numerous shady practices from erecting story poles incorrectly then going and asking
for exceptions, letting the poles go derelict, posting incorrect dates on their signage, posting incorrect
statistics on their signage, threatening the council with builders remedy, cracking callous jokes at our
expense by claiming the proximity to our homes shouldn't be a problem due to the fact the elderly
wouldn't be able to see in anyway. There has been no attempt to work with us as a community to come
to an amenable solution and their attitude towards the town at large has been deplorable. There is no
cause to grant these variances, we should not grant them.
There is no precedent for such a massive structure anywhere in the vicinity, and as such, it is does not
meet the requirement for a variance. To grant a variance is most definitely the inappropriate granting of
special privileges to a developer!!!
42/50
9/18/23, 9:50 AM Winchester Development Survey v1 .0
It is set much too close to a busy street with not enough ground level driveway and parking for
residents, visitors and the numerous medical and emergency vehicles that such a facility would
inevitably require.
There is already quite a bit of traffic on Winchester, especially on summer weekends and when school is
in session. I can't imagine what this would do to the neighborhood residents.
Too big and too tall buildings are disproportionate and unsightly for the neighborhood and town
Instruction will make a huge mess in the area. Traffic will be degraded. It looks ugly.
I live off Winchester just two blocks up the street from the proposed development. Over the course of
30 years I have seen more and more nondescript office complexes pop up along Winchester and replace
smaller, perhaps run-down houses. These new buildings make it feel more like an office park rather
than a residential community; the corporate, charmless aesthetic contributes to an overwhelming
feeling that Los Gatos and Monte Sereno are interchangeable with any other generic Bay Area suburb. If
the area is inevitably to be developed then I would urge the town to make it much smaller in height and
lot size-i.e. human scale-and make meaningful steps to reduce car traffic and speed and increase
walkability and bikeability (especially since this development is geared towards elderly people with
limited mobility). The last thing we need is more traffic on Winchester, which increasingly feels like an
artery road for Highway 17 rather than a residential street. I am not opposed to development, but I am
tired of seeing generic, multi-story buildings pop up rather than community-focused spaces that would
actually be appealing destinations for the neighborhood residents. This one reason why young people,
including myself, are moving away or considering it.
The neighborhood character is negative
Once I learn that my representatives are lying to me, a citizen, I will do anything I can to shut them
down -everything they touch is now poison. Is that clear enough?
The question should not be "why deny the variance," it should be "why should it be approved?" And
approving the variance will pave the way for other projects that want the same.
43/50
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