12b Staff Report - Resolution Supporting Measure A~t N 0
uu s COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
og GA~o
DATE: OCTOBER 9, 2006
MEETING DATE: 10/16/2006
ITEM NO:
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL J
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGE
SUBJECT: CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING MEASURE A,
THE SANTA CLARA LAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE .
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider adoption of a resolution in support of Measure A, the Santa Clara Land Conservation
Initiative.
BACKGROUND:
The Town Manager received a request from two Council Members to place and consider
adoption of a resolution in support of Measure A, the Santa Clara Land Conservation Initiative
on the Town Council agenda. Given the limited number of Council meetings available before
the November 7, 2006 election when Measure A would appear, this staff reports presents key
facts about the Initiative for Council consideration.
Measure A is sponsored by People for Land and Nature (PLAN), a coalition of local
environment organizations and leaders, including the Santa Clara Audubon Society, Committee
for Green Foothills, Sierra Club, Acterra, and Greenbelt Alliance. The measure was successfully
placed on the November 2006 Gubernatorial General Election Ballot.
If approved by voters, the Initiative would amend the Santa Clara County General Plan through a
set of technical modifications to preserve rural, unincorporated lands zoned "Hillsides,
Ranchlands," and "Large Scale Agriculture." In summary, the Initiative would:
■ Increase parcel sizes under some circumstances on hillsides and ranchlands to limit the
amount of development.
■ Prohibit large-scale industrial and commercial development in rural areas.
■ Add necessary protections to scenic views, streamside corridors, and sensitive wildlife
habitat.
PREPARED BY: JE UYAMA
A mist e Prograr s Manager
NAMGR\JHaruyama\StaffReports\Measure A.doc
Reviewed by: Q , Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance CDD
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING MEASURE A, THE
SANTA CLARA LAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
October 9, 2006
The Initiative applies to approximately 400,000 acres in unincorporated Santa Clara County.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has reviewed the Initiative to determine its applicability to the unincorporated Hillside
areas around Los Gatos. Below is a summary of the portions of the initiative that are anticipated
to have some level of impact on the Town:
■ Modification to the Slope-Density Formula: The County's existing formula establishes a
density range of 20-120 dwelling units per acre, depending on the average slope. The
Initiative modifies the formula and establishes a density range of 40-120 dwelling units per
acre.
■ Clustered Hillside Development: The County requires that most hillside subdivisions
cluster the developable lots. The Initiative limits the size of the building envelope to 3
acres per parcel. County policy currently limits the size a building envelope to 10% of the
site acreage.
■ Permanent Open Space: The Initiative requires that all area outside of the building
envelopes be preserved as permanent open space. The General Plan currently requires that
90% of the land area within a subdivision be preserved as permanent open space.
■ Development Standards: The Initiative contains standards requiring adequate water
supply, adequate fire access, and avoidance of seismic and unstable soil areas.
■ Maximum Floor Area: The Initiative establishes a maximum house size in Hillside
areas. The size of all buildings on a parcel would be capped at 2% of the parcel area or
20,000 square feet, whichever is less. In no case, however, would the maximum building
size be less than 10,000 square feet.
■ Visibility: New parcels shall not create building sites on a ridgeline, unless there is no
other feasible location. Buildings may not be located on slopes of greater than 30%.
The net effect of these changes would reduce the number of allowable units in the
unincorporated hillside areas and require that the allowed developments be clustered somewhat
more closely together.
CONCLUSION:
Measure A, the Santa Clara Land Conservation Initiative would amend the Santa Clara County
General Plan through a set of technical modifications to preserve rural, unincorporated lands
zoned "Hillsides," Ranchland," and "Large Scale Agriculture."
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING MEASURE A, THE
SANTA CLARA LAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
October 9, 2006
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with taking action on this resolution.
Attachments:
Attachment No. 1: Resolution suppol Ling Measure A, the Santa Clara Land Conservation
Initiative
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS SUPPORTINGMEASURE A,
THE SANTA CLARA LAND CONSERVATION INITITATIVE
WHEREAS, Measure A, the Santa Clara Land Conservation Initiative is
sponsored by the People for Land and Nature (PLAN), a coalition of local environment
organizations and leaders; and
WHEREAS, if approved by voters, Measure A would amend the Santa
Clara County General Plan through a set of technical modifications to preserve rural,
unincorporated zoned "Hillsides," Ranchlands," and "Large Scale Agriculture"; and
WHEREAS, Measure A would increase parcel sizes under some
circumstances on hillsides and ranchlands to limit the amount of development, prohibit
large-scale industrial and commercial development in rural areas, and add necessary
protections to scenic views, streamside corridors, and sensitive wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, Measure A would apply to approximately 400,000 acres in
unincorporated Santa Clara County; and
WHEREAS, the provisions in Measure A would positively impact local
hillsides and rural lands, maintaining the high' quality of the environment and life in the
County and Los Gatos area.
RESOLVED, the Town of Los Gatos does hereby adopt a resolution in
support of Measure A, the Santa Clara Land Conservation Initiative.
. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the Town Council of
the Town of Los Gatos, California, held on the day of , 2006 by the
following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN: SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTACHMENT 1