06 Staff Report.15411 National with attachments
PREPARED BY: Erin M. Walters
Senior Planner
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 01/21/2025 ITEM NO: 6
DATE: January 16, 2025
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Chris Constantin, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Granting an Appeal of a Planning Commission Decision to
Approve an Architecture and Site Application for Construction of a Single-
Family Residence and Site Improvements Requiring a Grading Permit on
Vacant Property Zoned R-1:8 and Remanding the Decision to the Planning
Commission with Specific Direction. Located at 15411 National Avenue. APN
424-12-140. Architecture and Site Application S-23-033. Categorically Exempt
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303: New Construction. Property
Owners: Vyankatesh and Ramya Muddada. Applicant: Jose Rama. Appellant:
Hellen Martinez. Project Planner: Erin Walters.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) granting an appeal of a Planning Commission decision to
approve an Architecture and Site Application for the construction of a single-family residence
and site improvements requiring a grading permit on vacant property zoned R-1:8 and
remanding the decision to the Planning Commission with specific direction.
DISCUSSION:
On December 17, 2024, the Town Council directed staff to prepare a resolution granting the
appeal of a decision of the Planning Commission and remanding the application back to the
Planning Commission with specific direction, including the following:
1. Reduce the second floor massing;
2. The number, location, and species of the privacy trees shall be mutually agreed upon by the
neighbors;
3. Work with the neighbors and Town staff to minimize and relocate windows to mitigate
privacy impacts on the neighbors; and
4. Use obscure glass to address privacy at impacted locations.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: 15411 National Avenue/S-23-033 DATE: January 16, 2025
The Council made the findings in accordance with Town Code section 29.20.275, that there was
an error or abuse of discretion by the Planning Commission in approving the Architecture and
Site application, because:
a. The Planning Commission’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence;
b. The application does not comply with the Residential Design Guidelines, including Section 2.1
of the Residential Design Guidelines, which states residential development shall be similar in
mass, bulk, and scale to the immediate neighborhood and consideration will be given to the
existing FARs, residential square footages and lot size in the neighborhood, as described by
Commissioner Barnett at the November 13, 2024, Planning Commission public hearing; and
c. Staff’s recommended denial of the application.
The Council directed staff to return to the Town Council with an updated resolution.
Adoption of the attached resolution (Attachment 1) would finalize that decision.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The project is Categorically Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303: New
Construction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
Attachments:
1. Draft Resolution Granting the Appeal and Remand the Application Back to the Planning
Commission with Specific Direction
Page 1 of 3
Draft Resolution Adoption Date
DRAFT RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
GRANTING AN APPEAL OF THE DECISION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
APPROVING A REQUEST FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE
AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRING A GRADING PERMIT
ON VACANT PROPERTY ZONED R-1:8 AND
REMANDING THE APPLICATION BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION WITH SPECIFIC DIRECTION APN 424-12-140 ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION: S-23-033 PROPERTY LOCATION: 15411 NATIONAL AVENUE APPELLANT: HELLEN MARTINEZ PROPERTY OWNERS: VYANKATESH AND RAMYA MUDDADA
APPLICANT: JOSE RAMA
WHEREAS, on November 13, 2024, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and
considered a request to construct a new single-family residence and site improvements requiring
a grading permit on vacant property zoned R-1:8. The Planning Commission approved the
Architecture and Site application subject to modified conditions of approval;
WHEREAS, on November 25, 2024, the appellant, an interested person, filed a timely
appeal of the decision of the Planning Commission approving the request for construction of a
new single-family residence and site improvements requiring a grading permit on vacant
property zoned R-1:8;
WHEREAS, this matter came before the Town Council for a public hearing on December
17, 2024, and was regularly noticed in conformance with State and Town law; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council received testimony and documentary evidence from the
appellant and all interested persons who wished to testify or submit documents. The Town
Council considered all testimony and materials submitted, including the record of the Planning
Commission proceedings and the packet of materials contained in the Council Agenda Report
for their meeting on December 17, 2024, along with any and all subsequent reports and
materials prepared concerning this application; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council directed staff to prepare a resolution granting the appeal
of a decision of the Planning Commission and remanding the application back to the Planning
Commission with specific direction including the following:
1. Reduce the second floor massing;
Draft Resolution to be
modified by Town
Council deliberations
and direction.
ATTACHMENT 1
Page 2 of 3
Draft Resolution Adoption Date
2. The number, location, and species of the privacy trees shall be mutually agreed upon
by the neighbors;
3. Work with the neighbors and Town staff to minimize and relocate windows to
mitigate privacy impacts on the neighbors; and
4. Use obscure glass to address privacy at impacted locations.
WHEREAS, the Town Council directed staff to return to the Town Council with an
updated resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
In accordance with Town Code Section 29.20.275, the Town Council finds that:
1. There was an error or abuse of discretion by the Planning Commission in approving
the Architecture and Site application, because:
a. The Planning Commission’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence;
b. The application does not comply with the Residential Design Guidelines, including
Section 2.1 of the Residential Design Guidelines, which states residential
development shall be similar in mass, bulk, and scale to the immediate
neighborhood and consideration will be given to the existing FARs, residential
square footages and lot size in the neighborhood, as described by Commissioner
Barnett at the November 13, 2024, Planning Commission public hearing; and
c. Staff’s recommended denial of the application.
2. The appeal of the decision of the Planning Commission approval of a request for
construction of a new single-family residence and site improvements requiring a
grading permit on vacant property zoned R-1:8 is granted and the application has
been remanded back to the Planning Commission with specific direction.
3. The decision constitutes a final administrative decision pursuant to Code of Civil
Procedure section 1094.6 as adopted by Section 1.10.085 of the Town Code of the
Town of Los Gatos. Any application for judicial relief from this decision must be sought
within the time limits and pursuant to the procedures established by Code of Civil
Procedure section 1094.6, or such shorter time as required by state and federal Law.
Page 3 of 3
Draft Resolution Adoption Date
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los
Gatos, California, held on the 21st day of January 2025, by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
SIGNED: _______________________________
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
__________________________________
TOWN CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
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