Exhibit 19 - Public comments received between 1101 a.m., Friday, November 8, 2024, and 1100 a.m., Tuesday, November 12, 2024From: Lydia Norcia
Sent: Friday, November 8, 2024 12:05 PM
To: Mary Badame <MBadame@losgatosca.gov>; Matthew Hudes <MHudes@losgatosca.gov>; Rob
Moore <RMoore@losgatosca.gov>; Rob Rennie <RRennie@losgatosca.gov>; Maria Ristow
<MRistow@losgatosca.gov>; Council <Council@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Please be advised of my recommendation to rebuild the Los Gatos Meadow. Sincerely, Lydia
Norcia
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
•Dear Planning Commissioners,
I’m writing to ask you to recommend that the Town Council approve the proposed re-build of Los Gatos
Meadows. The proposed project addresses three key issues that are important to me and to Los
Gatos: housing, supporting older adults in our community, and wildfire safety.
This project revitalizes a dilapidated campus site and addresses the current housing and social
integration needs of older adults in our community by creating a sustainable community where older
adults can flourish.
The non-profit sponsor of this project has provided exemplary care to Los Gatos residents for over a
half-century and this approval of their project will enable them to remain in our community, providing
support to both residents of the rebuilt community as well as supporting older adults throughout Los
Gatos.
A particularly critical attribute of the proposed project is the major improvement in fire safety. The
rebuild proposal will replace a mostly wooden structure and compromised circulation with non-
combustible buildings with greatly enhanced circulation attributes. This will vitally improve fire safety
and emergency evacuation to properties well beyond the limits of the project.
The shuttered facility does not benefit the Town or neighborhood. The planning process for rebuilding
has gone on long enough. I support moving this project forward now.
EXHIBIT 19
Dear Members of the Planning Commission, 11 Nov 2024
I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed expansion of the Meadows retirement community across
from my residence at
My home's significant attribute is its stunning view of the valley, which is currently well-preserved due to the
existing Meadow’s three-story buildings and being largely obscured by mature trees. However, the new
development plans raise several issues that I believe warrant careful consideration:
1. Impact on View from My Property:
• The visualizations provided by FrontPorch are insufficient for understanding the impact on my home's
view. They depict the view from a second-story balcony, which does not represent the experience from
my front yard patio or from my front door. These are the primary areas from which my family and I enjoy
the panoramic view of the valley. I request that visual impact assessments be conducted from these
points to accurately depict how the proposed five and six-story buildings will alter my view. It is crucial
that these assessments also consider the angle and visibility from ground level to ensure we are not
merely looking at the back of a new structure.
Here is the visualization they gave me without trees, this past week from my second story. They said they
might be able to do the same from my first floor/front door. As you can see Villa F (5 Stories) and Villa A
(6 stories) are significant.
2. Preservation and Enhancement of Screening Trees:
• The existing trees serve as a natural screen, significantly contributing to both privacy and the aesthetic
quality of our neighborhood. The development proposal includes potential impacts on these trees, with
no guarantees for their preservation. I urge the commission to:
o Ensure that there is a binding agreement to maintain these trees throughout the construction
and post-construction phases.
o Require that additional trees be planted at the commencement of the project to ensure they can
mature over the four-year construction period, thereby providing immediate and future
screening.
3. Proper Handling of Harmful Materials:
• Given that the site involves the demolition of older structures, there is a significant concern regarding the
management of hazardous materials such as asbestos as has also been in the papers recently. I suggest
that:
o The developer must provide detailed plans for the abatement of such materials, adhering to all
environmental regulations, to prevent health risks to the community.
o Oversight by independent environmental experts should be mandatory to ensure compliance
with safety protocols.
4. Traffic Management During Construction:
• The construction period will coincide with peak traffic times, particularly during the morning and
afternoon commutes for Los Gatos High School. This timing could exacerbate existing traffic issues,
leading to:
o Increased congestion on local roads.
o Potential safety hazards for students and residents due to construction vehicles and altered
traffic patterns.
I recommend that the developer:
o Coordinate construction schedules to avoid peak school traffic times.
o Implement traffic management plans that include signage, detour routes, and possibly traffic
officers during high congestion periods.
In conclusion, while I understand the need for development and expansion, it is imperative that such projects
respect the existing community's quality of life, especially in terms of preserving natural views, ensuring
environmental safety, and minimizing disruption to daily life. I kindly request that these concerns be addressed in
the planning and approval stages of the project to mitigate adverse impacts on my property and the neighborhood
at large.
Thank you for considering these issues. I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss these matters further at
an appropriate time.
Sincerely,
Julie Southern
From: Evelyn Mitsunaga
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2024 4:59 PM
To: Planning <Planning@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Los Gatos Meadows Project
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Planning Commission:
I am writing to voice my support for the Meadows rebuild project. I live on Broadway Ext. and have
attended most of the thirteen community meetings that the project managers have held to keep the
neighborhood informed. In the re-design, I think they have bent over backwards to address the
concerns of residents on Tait Avenue as well as those of the neighbors on Wood Road. Including bridge
units between buildings is an example of how they have come up with solutions to maintain the lower
height and, at the same time, meet the financial feasibility of the project.
I sincerely hope the revised plan of this important project gains your approval. Thank you for your
attention.
Evelyn Mitsunaga
Los Gatos.
From: Jeff Black
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 8:40 AM
To: Planning <Planning@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Los Gatos Meadows Rebuild
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Dear Planning Commissioners,
I’m writing to ask you to recommend that the Town Council approve the proposed re-build of Los Gatos
Meadows. The proposed project addresses three key issues that are important to me and to Los Gatos:
housing, supporting older adults in our community, and wildfire safety.
This project revitalizes a dilapidated campus site and addresses the current housing and social
integration needs of older adults in our community by creating a sustainable community where older
adults can flourish.
The non-profit sponsor of this project has provided exemplary care to Los Gatos residents for over a
half-century and this approval of their project will enable them to remain in our community, providing
support to both residents of the rebuilt community as well as supporting older adults throughout Los
Gatos.
A particularly critical attribute of the proposed project is the major improvement in fire safety. The
rebuild proposal will replace a mostly wooden structure and compromised circulation with non-
combustible buildings with greatly enhanced circulation attributes. This will vitally improve fire safety
and emergency evacuation to properties well beyond the limits of the project.
The shuttered facility does not benefit the Town or neighborhood. The planning process for rebuilding
has gone on long enough. I support moving this project forward now.
Jeffrey S Black