Item 2 - Draft Minutes of the May 8, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/22/2024
ITEM NO: 2
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 8, 2024
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Steve Raspe, Vice Chair Emily Thomas, Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett,
Commissioner Susan Burnett, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Kathryn Janoff,
and Commissioner Adam Mayer
Absent: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
None.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. Draft Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget
Forward a recommendation of approval to the Town Council for the Draft Proposed
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2024/25 – 2028/29.
Nicolle Burnham, Parks and Public Works Director, presented the staff report.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to forward a recommendation of
approval to the Town Council for the Draft Proposed Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) Budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2024/25 –
2028/29. Seconded by Commissioner Janoff.
PAGE 2 OF 4
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 8, 2024
VOTE: Motion passed 6-1 with Commissioner Burnett dissenting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 230 La Terra Court
Architecture and Site Application S-24-006
APN 527-12-006
Applicant: David Fox
Property Owner: Greenridge Terrace Development, LLC
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Requesting approval for construction of a Neighborhood Identification Sign on property
zoned HR- 2½:PD. Not subject to CEQA pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3).
Sean Mullin, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
David Fox, Applicant
- In answer to the Commission’s query regarding neighborhood signs, the subdivision next
door, the Highlands of Los Gatos, has a neighborhood sign at the entry on Shady Lane. Part
of the reason for this neighborhood sign request is to differentiate this new subdivision
from the Highlands of Los Gatos and Sahadi subdivisions. The requested sign would be on
a private road, not on a public street, and the gates close off the private road. The
retaining wall is three feet tall on one end and one foot on the other, and the letters are
only one foot high, so the sign is not intrusive or lit.
Mark Ellenbogin, Owner’s Representative
- We have already set up our Home Owners Association (HOA). The signage was included as
a maintenance and reserve item.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Thomas to approve an Architecture and Site
application for 230 La Terra Court.
Commissioner Janoff requested the motion be amended to include language making it
explicit that Vice Chair Thomas’ Condition of Approval stating that when 75 percent of the
properties have been sold the sign maintenance responsibility would transfer to the HOA
would be added to the other Conditions of Approval in Exhibit 3.
The maker of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
PAGE 3 OF 4
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 8, 2024
Seconded by Commissioner Janoff.
Commissioner Barnett requested the motion be amended to include the considerations to be
made on page 10 of the staff report.
The maker of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
The seconder of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. 32 Euclid Avenue
Request for Review Application PHST-24-001
APN 529-30-064
Property Owner/Applicant/Appellant: David Wilson
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Consider an appeal of a Community Development Director decision to deny a Request to
Remove a Presumptive Historic Property (Pre-1941) from the Historic Resources
Inventory on property zoned R-1:8. Exempt pursuant to CEQA Section 15061 (b)(3).
Chair Raspe reported that the applicant had requested the public hearing be continued to a
date certain of June 12, 2024.
Sean Mullin, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Chair Raspe to continue the public hearing for 32 Euclid
Avenue to a date certain of June 12, 2024. Seconded by Commissioner
Barnett.
Opened Public Comment.
Kevin Forbes, Neighbor
- I am in favor of the requested changes. The property needs updating because it is
currently bringing down the value of the neighborhood. This is a welcome update to our
neighborhood.
Closed Public Comment.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 4 OF 4
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 8, 2024
REPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Jennifer Armer, Planning Manager
• The Town received a letter from the State on May 3, 2024, stating that the Draft
Housing Element meets the statutory requirements for State certification. The final
steps in the Housing Element certification process include Planning Commission review
on May 22, 2024, and Town Council consideration on June 4, 2024. The required seven-
day public comment period begins tomorrow.
• Town Council met April 16, 2024:
o An appeal for 501 Monterey Avenue was on the agenda, however the applicant
withdrew their appeal.
o Consideration and adoption of the revised Story Pole Policy was completed.
• Town Council met May 7, 2024:
o Discussed increased distance of neighbor noticing for some of the larger projects
coming into Town. Council directed expanding the standard 300-foot
notification for projects three stories or higher to 1,000 feet at the receipt of
either the preliminary application or formal application, and the notification for
public hearing would also use 1,000 feet.
o Discussed whether additional objective design standards should be pursued.
o Adopted the Sign Code modifications with a slight modification for signs related
to specific events, saying that they must be removed within seven days.
o Adopted changes to the Senate Bill 9 regulations with some minor modifications
to the Planning Commission’s recommendations.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Historic Preservation Committee
Commissioner Barnett
- The HPC met April 24, 2024.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
May 8, 2024 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin