Item 1 Staff Report Draft Policies for Accessory Living QuartersDATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DISCUSSION:
MEETING DATE: 2/22/97
ITEM NO. Planning Commission
#1
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
February 14, 1997
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN MANAGER
DRAFT POLICIES FOR ACCESSORY LIVING QUARTERS
Upon Council request, the Architectural Standards Committee has revised the Policies for Accessory Living Quarters.
The "before" and "after" versions of the policies are attached. The newly revised Draft is based on comments from the
last meeting of the Architectural Standards Committee. The Committee has not yet approved of the Draft. If the
Council accepts the Draft at the February 22, 1997 study session, Architectural Standards will recommend approval to
the Planning Commission.
Attachments:
1. Draft Policies for Accessory Living Quarters.
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PREPARED BY: LEE E. BOWMAN e.
PLANNING DIRECTOR
Reviewed by: Attorney
Finance
Revised: 2/14/97 12:55 pm
Reformatted: 10/23/95
After
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Policies for
ACCESSORY LIVING QUARTERS
Established by
The Town Planning Commission
Revised: February 13, 1997
The Los Gatos Town Code allows for a variety of accessory structures to be placed on
residentially zoned property in the Town (Section 29.40.015.) The guidelines in this policy
are to be followed in administering the Town Code regulations, specifically for conditional
use permit applications concerning Accessory Living Quarters. Examples of accessory
living quarters are:
A Pool house or Cabana.
An In-law quarters or "granny flat".
A Play/Hobby/Office room with an adjoining bathroom.
All accessory living quarters shall bear a reasonable relationship to the primary structure
and should comply with the guidelines below:
• The structure shall not be plumbed and wired to allow an independent living unit
(220 wiring not permitted).
• The structure shall not include a bar sink in addition to a bathroom sink.
• The structure shall not include more than one main room in addition to a bathroom
or changing room.*
• The structure shall not include cooking facilities (stove, oven, dishwasher,
refrigerator).
Baths, closets and other rooms with less than 75 square feet of floor area are not considered a main
room.
Exceptions may be made to these guidelines by the deciding body on a case by case
basis. An exception shall not be considered a precedent for any other application.
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Before
Town of Los Gatos
Policies for
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
Established by
The Town Planning Commission
Revised: October 9, 1996
The Los Gatos Town Code allows for a variety of accessory structures to be placed on residentially zoned
property in the Town. The guidelines contained in this policy are to be followed in administering the Town Code
regulations.
All accessory structures shall bear a reasonable relationship to the primary structure and the lot size.
Accessory structures are permitted where the total of all accessory structures on the lot do not exceed 30% of
the primary structure square footage or 10% of the lot size, whichever is less.
Applications are commonly submitted for three types of accessory structures, which are listed in the table
below. The table indicates which features are allowed in each type of structure.
Features
Workshop, Studio,
or Entertainment
Room
Pool House or
Cabana
Accessory Living
Quarter/ Guest
House
Toilet
yes
yes
yes
Wash Basin(in bathroom)
yes
yes
yes
Shower or Bathtub
no
yes
yes
Regular sink
yes
no
yes
Bar sink
yes
no
no
220 wiring
yes
yes
no
More than 1 main room*
no
no
no
Cooking facilities
no
no
no
Refrigerator
yes
no
no
Dishwasher
yes
no
no
"Baths, closets and other rooms with less than 75 square feet of floor area are not considered a main room.
Exceptions may be made to these guidelines by the deciding body on a case by case basis. An exception shall
not be considered a precedent for any other application.
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