Draft Minutes of the May 14, 2025, 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: 05/28/2025
ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 14, 2025
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Emily Thomas, Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner Susan Burnett,
Commissioner Steve Raspe, Commissioner Joseph Sordi, Commissioner Rob Stump
Absent: Vice Chair Kendra Burch
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – April 23, 2025
2. Approval of Minutes – April 30, 2025
3. Consider an Appeal of a Community Development Director Decision to deny a fence
exception request for an existing fence partially located in the Town’s right-of-way and
exceeding the height limitations within the required front yard and street-side yard
setbacks on property zoned R-1D. Located at 10 Charles Street. APN 532-36-022.
Categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303: New Construction or
Conversion of Small Structures. Fence height Exception Application FHE-23-001.
Property Owner/Applicant/Appellant: Firouz Pradhan. Project Planner: Sean Mullin.
Commissioner Stump requested Item 1, Draft Minutes of the April 23, 2025 Planning
Commission meeting, be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Stump to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar, with the exception of Item 1. Seconded by Commissioner
Barnett.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 14, 2025
1. Approval of Minutes – April 23, 2025
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Stump to approve adoption of Consent
Calendar Item 1, Approval of April 23, 2025 Meeting Minutes, as
amended. Seconded by Commissioner Raspe.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. Senate Bill 9 Ordinance Amendments
Town Code Amendment Application A-25-002
Project Location: Town Wide
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Project Planner: Ryan Safty
Consider making a recommendation to the Town Council on an ordinance amending
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code for Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) in response to
the provisions of Senate Bill 450 (SB 450). The proposed amendments to the Town Code
are not considered a project under Section 15378 of the California Environmental
Quality Act, and in accordance with Government Code Sections 66411.7(n) and
66452.21(g), Senate Bill 9 ordinances are not a project subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act.
Ryan Safty, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Harini
In 2023 I specifically requested the Town Council to remove the 1,200 square foot
second unit limit, as it (inaudible) the intent and purpose of the State law, but that suggestion
was ignored, probably to try to see what sticks in, but that thinking makes it difficult for the
Town to control objective Town planning until a more strict State law comes in and takes over
the Town’s control completely. I request this be in line with the intent of State law. Regarding
the bonus, I saw and agree with the comment about being consistent with (inaudible) bonus
(inaudible) non-split scenario (inaudible) four units (inaudible) and the ADUs provided a
minimum of 800 square feet, or 10% of the lot size. Here, I only see 10% of the lot size, the
minimum of the 800 square feet is not there in the SB 9, so I would request you to add that. The
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 14, 2025
shared utilities is a serious issue. We can have shared utilities and yet separate (inaudible) and
as rightly said in the comments, sewers are not metered and there is no need for shared
utilities for that, as (inaudible) and installation costs are quite high for multiple sewers, so it’s
always good to have shared utilities for those sorts of things.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Raspe to recommend to Town Council approval
of an ordinance amending Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town
Code for Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) in response to the provisions of Senate Bill
450 (SB 450). Seconded by Commissioner Stump.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
5. Forward a recommendation of approval to the Town Council for the Draft Proposed
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025/26 – 2029/30.
Saurabh Nijhawan, Capital Improvement Senior Civil Engineer, presented the staff report.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Raspe to recommend to Town Council approval
of the Draft Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget for
Fiscal Years (FY) 2025/26 – 2029/30. Seconded by Commissioner Sordi.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
REPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• The Town Council met on May 6th:
o Discussed Program AB, which the Planning Commission had recommended
approval of. After deliberation the Council sent the matter back to staff with
direction to look at different options and to discuss it with the Department of
Housing and Community Development to narrow the focus of that effort. This
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 14, 2025
item will return to the Planning Commission or Town Council, depending on the
scope of those modifications.
o A special Council meeting is scheduled for May 6th for Dio Deka at 143-151 East
Main Street was cancelled due to a clerical error between notices, and will now
be heard at the Town Council’s May 27th meeting.
o The Genuine Automotive project that was heard by the Planning Commission will
now be heard by the Town Council on June 3rd.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
General Plan Committee
Commissioner Thomas
- The GPC met on May 14th:
o Forwarded a recommendation to approve a General Plan amendment to adopt the
Fire Hazard Severity Map. The Planning Commission will receive this item in the
future.
o Recommended to Town Council to dissolve the General Plan Committee due to lack
of work.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
May 14, 2025 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin