02-12-2025 GPC Minutes
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
GENERAL PLAN COMMITTEE
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
The General Plan Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a meeting on February 12,
2025, at 5:30 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Ryan Rosenberg, Vice Chair Emily Thomas, Council Member Maria Ristow,
Council Member Rob Rennie, Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett.
Absent: Commissioner Rob Stump.
Chair Rosenberg noted that there are no members of the public in the audience.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Meeting Minutes of June 26, 2024.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to Approve Consent Item. Seconded
by Vice Chair Thomas.
VOTE: Motion passes (4-1) with Committee Member Barnett recusing.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Consider Forwarding a Recommendation to the Planning Commission to Amend the
General Plan to Allow 100 Percent Affordable Housing Projects as a By-Right Use in the
Mixed Use Commercial General Plan Land Use Designation and Amend Chapter 29
(Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code to Add 100 Percent Affordable Housing Projects
as a Permitted Use in the Restricted Commercial Highway (CH) Zone Pursuant to
Implementation Program AB of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. Adoption of this
Resolution and Ordinance are Exempt Pursuant to CEQA, Section 15061(b)(3) in that it
Can be Seen with Certainty that they Will Not Impact the Environment. General Plan
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SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE GENERAL PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 12,
2025
Amendment Application GP-24-004 and Zoning Code Amendment Application A-24-010.
Project Location: Town Wide. Applicant: Town of Los Gatos.
Ryan Safty, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Committee members discussed the matter.
Jeffrey Barnett
Are these amendment requests consistent with other jurisdictions?
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney
These amendments are unique to Los Gatos’ Housing Element.
Rob Rennie
Are there any mixed-use locations that wouldn’t make sense to have 100 percent
affordable housing? Are there commercial zones that allow this?
Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
The Implementation Program is specific to the mixed-use General Plan Land Use
Designation. There are other commercial zones where mixed-use can be allowed with a
Conditional Use Permit.
Emily Thomas
It is suggested to provide a map of the locations this Program would apply to or where
we can expand it to, and to see if there are any overlaps with other programs when this goes to
Planning Commission.
Maria Ristow
This is in our approved Housing Element, so we cannot scale this back, but I would like
to see a map of potential locations.
Rob Rennie
Is there a difference in terms of what a developer is entitled to if they do a 100 percent
affordable build?
Gabrielle Whelan
I can speak to Density Bonus Statute: With 100 percent affordable, it is a very generous
height restriction compared to regular builds. I will clarify the height restrictions before this
item goes to Planning Commission.
Emily Thomas
Would our Objective Standards apply?
Joel Paulson
We will be sure to clarify that.
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE GENERAL PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 12,
2025
Maria Ristow
It would be useful to have a comparison or list of what kinds of waivers or concessions
can be done between 20 or 100 percent affordable housing.
Emily Thomas
Include information in the next staff report on what the consequences are if we don’t
accomplish these Implementation Programs.
Open Public Comment.
Lee Fagot
Asking for the maps is very helpful for the public, so getting this is great. The more
information the public can receive, the better so that we can engage more with the
conversations happening.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners continued to discuss the matter.
Maria Ristow
Are there additional incentives to offer for 100 percent affordable housing builds?
Joel Paulson
There is an Implementation Program that asks us to provide incentives for 100 percent
affordable housing.
MOTION: Motion by Chair Rosenberg to recommend approval to the Planning
Commission for a General Plan Amendment to allow 100 percent
affordable housing projects as a by-right use in the Mixed Use
Commercial General Plan Land Use designation and amend Chapter 29
(Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code to add 100 percent affordable
housing projects as a permitted use in the Restricted Commercial
Highway (CH) Zone pursuant to Implementation Program AB of the 2023-
2031 Housing Element. Additionally, it is recommended to include a map
and to clarify the height allowed for the 100 percent affordable housing
builds when this goes to Planning Commission. Seconded by Council
Member Ristow.
VOTE: Motion passes unanimously.
PAGE 4 OF 4
SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE GENERAL PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 12,
2025
OTHER BUSINESS
3. Election of the Chair and Vice Chair
Chair Nomination:
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to elect Ryan Rosenberg as Chair of
the General Plan Committee. Seconded by Commissioner Barnett.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Vice Chair Nomination:
MOTION: Motion by Chair Rosenberg to elect Emily Thomas as Vice Chair of the
General Plan Committee. Seconded by Council Member Rennie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
4. 2025 General Plan Committee Meeting Calendar
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
February 12, 2025, meeting as approved by the
General Plan Update Advisory Committee.
/s/Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development