Item 1 - Draft Minutes of the May 22, 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: 06/12/2024 ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 22, 2024
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, May 22, 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)
1. Approval of Minutes – April 10, 2024
2. Approval of Minutes – May 8, 2024
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Thomas to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar with correction of a typographical error in the May 8, 2024
minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Burnett.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element
General Plan Amendment Application GP-24-001
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Location: Townwide
Project Planners: Erin Walters and Jocelyn Shoopman
PAGE 2 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 22, 2024
Consider and make a recommendation to the Town Council on adoption of the Draft
Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element. An environmental analysis based on the
previously certified 2040 General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report has been
prepared for the Los Gatos 2023-2031 Housing Element.
Erin Walters, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to adopt the resolution in Exhibit 8
forwarding a recommendation of Town Council to approve the Draft
Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element. Seconded by Commissioner Janoff.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
4. 16510 Topping Way
Architecture and Site Application S-23-016
APN 532-09-029
Property Owner: Steve Bamberger and Susan McGovern
Applicant: Eric Beckstrom
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Requesting approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence and
construction of a new single-family residence on property zoned R-1:8. Categorically
exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15303: New
Construction or Conversion of Small Structures.
Sean Mullin, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Eric Beckstrom, Applicant/Architect
- We designed a traditional/transitional style with the forms broken up. Originally, the
applicants planned a house about 1,000 square feet larger and with an ADU, but after
consideration decided to make it smaller to better fit the neighborhood. The consulting
architect questioned the front gable, so we lowered the entire house by 15 inches. I have
worked on traditional historic projects, and this house fits with Hilow Road and Marchmont
Drive where houses are much larger. I think the neighborhood guidelines that compare a
Los Gatos house to just five houses around it can be confusing.
PAGE 3 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 22, 2024
Lee Quintana
- The Design Guidelines were created so that when houses are modified or enlarged there is
a gentle evolution rather than going from a small house to a large house, or one that seems
large. The Design Guidelines specifically define the neighborhood that is supposed to be
considered, and in this case the design makes the house slightly more compatible with the
neighborhood, but it is still not compatible. If the garage were taken off the house and put
in the back where it currently is and where a lot of houses have their garages, it would not
be as prominent. There is room to move the second story back, so it is not as impressive.
This neighborhood is in transition, but transition to me means gradual small steps, not big
steps.
Steve Bamberger, Co-owner
- We have tried to be conscious not to overbuild and keep the house from being too
cumbersome. We originally had an additional 1,000 square feet inclusive of an ADU, but
we thought it was too big for the neighborhood, and that’s one of the reasons we scaled
back. With respect to moving the house back, we worked to not have the front be too big
and have the big gable set back a little. We ask to not have to move the entire house back,
because we love the fact that our lot provides room for a back yard, and we’d like to
preserve as much of that space as possible. Two of the houses in the immediate
neighborhood would be larger than what we propose.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
Opened Public Comment.
Commissioners asked questions of the applicant.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Janoff to approve an Architecture and Site
Application for 16510 Topping Way. Seconded by Commissioner
Hanssen.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-1 with Commissioner Burnett dissenting.
REPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
None.
PAGE 4 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 22, 2024
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Historical Preservation Committee
Commissioner Burnett
- The HPC met May 22, 2024 and discussed two items.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
May 22, 2024 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin