Draft Minutes of the January 10, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 01/24/2024
ITEM NO: 2
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
JANUARY 10, 2024
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Vice Chair Steve Raspe, Commissioner Susan Burnett, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen,
Commissioner Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner Adam Mayer, and Commissioner Emily Thomas.
Absent: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1.Approval of Minutes – November 15, 2023
2.Approval of Minutes – November 29, 2023
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Thomas.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0, with Commissioner Mayer abstaining.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3.212 Thurston Street
APN 410-15-039
Property Owner/Applicant: Meleah Guillardo
Project Planner: Maria Chavarin
Requesting Approval for Demolition of an Existing Single-Family Residence and
Construction of a New Single-Family Residence with Reduced Setbacks on Property
Zoned R-1D. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2024
(CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15303(a): New Construction or Conversion of Small
Structures.
Maria Chavarin, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Meleah Guillardo, Property Owner/Applicant
- I am requesting approval to build a new home, as the current structure is very out of date
and an eyesore in the neighborhood. I also plan to repair the garage. I look forward to
being a good and accommodating neighbor.
Chris Spaulding, Architect
- This is a very small lot adjacent to the commercial zone. We designed the proposed home
with the anticipation that something large or unattractive might be built on t he adjacent
commercial property, and also to meet the applicant’s needs and to the extent possible
protect the neighbors’ privacy, light, and views. We made revisions to the second floor
windows with the exception of the master bedroom windows, but propose a hedge to
accommodate the rear neighbors’ privacy concerns. We seek reduced setbacks because
they would reduce the shadows onto the rear neighbors a little bit and allow space for the
applicant to have a small porch on the front, as requested by the Town’s consulting
architect. Even with the reduced setbacks the proposed house is still farther back than the
existing house, and it allows for a little larger back yard for the applicant.
Bill Hopps
- I reside on Olive Street behind the property. My biggest concern is the scale of the project,
being much larger than any other home, especially the homes behind it, and it would
impact our light visibility out of the back. The hedge the applicant suggests is great, but the
master bedroom windows were not changed in size and they have a good view of our back
entryway and bedroom and I’m not sure the hedge would sufficiently block it. The Town’s
consulting architect has said the size and scale of the propo sed home is out of character for
the neighborhood, and that seems to have been ignored.
Marta Iglesias
- My husband and I own 105 Olive Street, which shares the garage and a little bit of fence
with the subject site. I thank the applicant for taking some measures to respect our
privacy. My concern that has not been addressed is that the house next door to the
subject site is also a two-story house, but it is much lower and I can barely see it, but the
applicant’s proposed house is much taller. Can the applicant’s two -story home be lowered
by five feet to be like the house next to it? I’m happy privacy measures would be taken,
but I don't know that the proposed hedge would protect our privacy, because the proposed
house is very prominent.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2024
Carolyn Bechtel
- I live at 103 Olive Street and this is directly in my back yard over the fence. I will miss my
sky view and trees, but I appreciate progress and people building their homes in this Town.
I’m not clear on what is happening with the master bedroom windows, which would look
directly into my bedroom.
Lee Quintana
- If the garage is going to have a separate application, should a condition of approval be
added that the occupancy permit not be finalized until th e garage has also been repaired?
If the house is moved back, it would probably have more impact on the rear yard
neighbors, and if it is moved forward it would have more impact on the street, so the
question is not whether it should be moved back or forward but whether it should be
modified to be not so massive and imposing.
Moses Guillardo
- The applicant is my daughter. My bother and I have run a landscape construction company
for a long time. I hear the neighbors behind my daughter’s property and what they ask in
terms of the house height. I would bring in English Laurel between eight to nine feet tall,
and if necessary I would bring in 14 to 16 foot camphor trees to screen the back, and we’re
going to build a brand new fence, so there would be privacy, although the neighbors would
still see the mountains. We looked at fixing up the current house, but it is not fixable and is
a tear down. We would like to make a change and build something nice for Los Gatos.
Meleah Guillardo, Property Owner/Applicant
- While I respect my neighbors’ privacy concerns, I want to acknowledge that I have my own
privacy concerns. I won’t be looking into my neighbors’ yards all day, and I want to have
my own privacy protected as much as possible, which is why we are making these changes.
I do want to be a good neighbor, but I also want to better the neighborhood and
community.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Janoff to approve demolition of an existing
single-family residence and construction of a new single-family residence
with reduced setbacks on property zoned R-1D with an additional
condition requiring repair of the detached garage prior to certificate of
occupancy for the house. Seconded by Commissioner Hanssen.
The maker of the motion amended the motion to include privacy screening and the window
changes in Exhibit 11.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2024
The seconder of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-1 with Commissioner Burnett dissenting.
Appeal rights were recited.
OTHER BUSINESS
4. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to nominate Vice Chair Raspe as Chair
of the Planning Commission 2024 session. Seconded by Commissioner
Burnett.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Motion by Chair Raspe to nominate Commissioner Thomas as Vice Chair
of the Planning Commission 2024 session. Seconded by Commissioner
Janoff.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
REPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Jennifer Armer, Planning Manager
• The Town Council met on December 19, 2023:
o Denied an appeal of the proposed lot line adjustment at 17200 Los Robles Way
and upholding the Planning Commission’s decision.
o Discussed the Draft Housing Element. There will be additional discussion of the
Housing Element at the Council’s January 16, 2024 meeting. Town staff and the
consultant will prepare revisions in response to the State’s December 1, 2023
letter.
o A meeting of the Housing Element Advisory Board is scheduled for January 18,
2024.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2024
and correct copy of the minutes of the
January 10, 2024 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin
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