Staff Report.14331 Capri
PREPARED BY: Ryan Safty
Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Planning Manager, Community Development Director, and Town Attorney
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6872
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 09/10/2025
ITEM NO: 2
DATE: September 5, 2025
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Request for Approval of a Zone Change from O (Office) to R-1:8
(Single-Family Residential, Minimum Lot Size of 8,000 Square Feet). Located
at 14331 Capri Drive. APN 406-32-004. Zone Change Application Z-23-005.
Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3):
Common Sense Exemption. Property Owner: Ravi Kiran Vallamdas.
Applicant: Gordon K. Wong. Project Planner: Ryan Safty.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request for approval of a zone change from O (Office) to R-1:8 (Single-Family
Residential, minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet), located at 14331 Capri Drive.
PROJECT DATA:
General Plan Designation: Low Density Residential
Current Zoning Designation: O, Office
Applicable Plans and Standards: General Plan
Parcel Size: 13,092 square feet
Surrounding Area:
Existing Land Use General Plan Zoning
North Residential Low Density Residential R-1:8
South Residential Low Density Residential R-1:8
East Commercial Neighborhood Commercial C-1
West Residential Low Density Residential R-1:8
PAGE 2 OF 5
SUBJECT: 14331 Capri Drive/ Z-23-005
DATE: September 5, 2025
CEQA:
The project is Categorically Exempt pursuant to the adopted Guidelines for the Implementation
of the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15061(b)(3): Common Sense Exemption.
FINDINGS:
▪ The application is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act, Section
15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the
proposed amendment to the Town Code will have a significant effect on the environment.
The application proposes to change the zoning classification of a property to be consistent
with the underlining General Plan Land Use Designation. The associated Architecture and
Site Application (S-24-043) for construction of a new residence and site grading is
Categorically Exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15303:
New Construction.
▪ The proposed zone change is consistent with the General Plan and its Elements.
ACTION:
The Planning Commission will provide a recommendation to the Town Council who will render
the final decision on the proposal.
BACKGROUND:
The subject property is located at the southwest corner of Capri Drive and Vasona Avenue
(Exhibit 1). The 13,092-square foot lot is zoned O (Office) and is currently developed with a
1,128-square foot single-family residence and a detached, 1,150-square foot, two-story
structure which includes two permitted Accessory Dwelling Units, one on each floor.
The applicant submitted an Architecture and Site application (S-24-043) to demolish the
existing residence and construct a new, two-story single-family residence and associated site
grading, and a Zone Change application to change the property zoning from O (Office) to R-1:8
(Single-Family Residential) to match the existing and proposed use and underlining General Plan
Land Use Designation of Low Density Residential. The proposed zone change requires a
recommendation from the Planning Commission with a final decision being made by the Town
Council.
PAGE 3 OF 5
SUBJECT: 14331 Capri Drive/ Z-23-005
DATE: September 5, 2025
This Zone Change application, as well as the associated Architecture and Site application, was
reviewed by the Planning Commission on June 25, 2025. The Planning Commission forwarded a
recommendation for approval to the Town Council on both applications (Exhibit 4). However,
following this meeting and in consultation with the Town Attorney, it was determined that the
Zone Change application did not receive proper public notification pursuant to Government
Code Section 65854. Therefore, this application, with proper noticing, is coming back before the
Planning Commission for a recommendation to the Town Council.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
A. Location and Surrounding Neighborhood
The subject property is 13,092 square feet, located at the southwest corner of Capri Drive
and Vasona Avenue (Exhibit 1). The property is currently developed with a 1,128-square
foot single-family residence and a detached, 1,150-square foot, two-story structure
including two permitted ADUs. Single-family residential development surrounds the
property with a commercial use located across Capri Drive, east of the subject site.
B. Project Summary
The applicant proposes a zone change from O (Office) to R-1:8 (Single-Family Residential)
(Exhibit 5).
C. Zoning Compliance
A single-family residence is a permitted use in the R-1:8 zone. The proposed residence, with
approval of the zone change, is in compliance with the maximum allowable floor area,
building height, setbacks, lot coverage, and on-site parking requirements for the property,
applicable to the R-1:8 zone.
DISCUSSION:
A. Zone Change Analysis
To facilitate the Architecture and Site application for a new single-family residence, the
applicant is requesting approval of a zone change from O to R-1:8. Residential is not a
permitted use in the O zone, and residential uses are only allowed in the O zone with a
Conditional Use Permit when a part of a mixed-use project. The proposal to demolish and
replace the existing single-family residence necessitates this zone change.
PAGE 4 OF 5
SUBJECT: 14331 Capri Drive/ Z-23-005
DATE: September 5, 2025
The property is zoned O, but has a General Plan Land Use Designation of Low Density
Residential. The surrounding neighboring properties on the west side of Capri Drive are all
zoned R-1:8 (Exhibit 1). The proposed zone change from O to R-1:8 is consistent with the
surrounding neighborhood.
The applicant proposes a new single-family residence on a R-1:8 zoned property. Single-
family residential is a permitted use in the R-1:8 zone. The 13,092-square foot property
complies with the 8,000-square foot minimum lot size, as well as the minimum frontage and
depth requirements for R-1:8 properties. The proposed new residence would comply with
all applicable R-1:8 zoning requirements, including maximum allowable floor area, building
height, setbacks, lot coverage, and on-site parking requirements.
B. General Plan
The proposed R-1:8 zoning would conform with the existing General Plan Land Use
designation of Low Density Residential. Pursuant to the General Plan, “the Low Density
Residential designation provides for single-family residential properties located on generally
level terrain.”
The surrounding neighboring properties on the west side of Capri Drive all have a Low
Density Residential General Plan Designation and are zoned R-1:8 (Exhibit 1). The proposed
zone change from O to R-1:8 is consistent with both the General Plan and surrounding
neighborhood.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Story poles (for the Architecture and Site application) and signage (for both applications) were
installed on the site and written notice was sent to property owners and tenants located within
300 feet of the subject property. One public comment was received prior to the June 25, 2025,
Planning Commission hearing, which was related to the design of the residence. No public
comment was received regarding the Zone Change application. At time of publication of this
report, no additional public comments have been received.
CONCLUSION:
A. Summary
Due to a public noticing error, this Zone Change application is coming back before the
Planning Commission for a recommendation to the Town Council on approval. On June 25,
2025, the Planning Commission unanimously forwarded a recommendation of approval on
the Zone Change application to the Town Council. The proposed zone change would be
consistent with the existing General Plan Land Use Designation and the existing pattern of
land uses and zones surrounding the subject parcel (Exhibit 1).
PAGE 5 OF 5
SUBJECT: 14331 Capri Drive/ Z-23-005
DATE: September 5, 2025
B. Recommendation
Based on the analysis above, staff recommends that the Planning Commission forward a
recommendation to the Town Council for approval of the Zone Change application by taking
the following actions:
1. Make the finding that the project is not subject to the California Environmental Quality
Act Section 15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility
that the proposed amendment to the Town Code will have a significant effect on the
environment (Exhibit 2);
2. Make the finding that the proposed zone change is consistent with the General Plan and
its Elements (Exhibit 2); and
3. Forward a recommendation of approval of Zone Change application Z-23-005 to the
Town Council.
C. Alternatives
Alternatively, the Planning Commission can:
1. Continue the matter to a date certain with specific direction;
2. Provide a recommendation for approval with modification to the Town Council; or
3. Forward a recommendation for denial to the Town Council providing findings for denial.
EXHIBITS:
1. Location Maps (including General Plan Land Use Designations and Existing Zoning)
2. Required Findings
3. Draft Ordinance for Zone Change, with Exhibit A
4. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, June 25, 2025
5. Letter of Justification
6. Project Plans
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