1997-007-Denying A Request For Architecture And Site Approval To Demolish A Pre-1941 Residence And To Construct A New Two Story Single Family Residence On Property Zoned R-1:8RESOLUTION 1997 - 7
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS GRANTING
APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION DENYING A REQUEST FOR
ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPROVAL TO DEMOLISH A PRE -1941 RESIDENCE AND
TO CONSTRUCT A NEW TWO STORY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON PROPERTY
ZONED R -1:8. PROJECT APPLICATION PRJ- 96 -75.
PROPERTY LOCATION: 123 LOMA ALTA AVENUE.
PROPERTY OWNERS /APPELLANTS: TERRY AND VICTORIA MCELROY.
WHEREAS:
A. This matter came before the public hearing on January 6, 1996, continued from
December 16, 1996, on an appeal from a decision of the Planning Commission and was regularly
noticed in conformance with State and Town law.
B. The Planning Commission had denied the applicant's request for architecture and site
approval to demolish the existing structures on the property and request to construct a new two story
single family residence, and the applicant requested the Council to reverse the Planning
Commission's decision.
C. The Council received testimony and documentary evidence from the applicant and
property owners and all interested persons who wished to testify or submit documents. The Council
considered all testimony and materials submitted, including the record of the Planning Commission
proceedings and that packets attached to the Council Agenda of December 16, 1996 and January 6,
1997, concerning this application.
D. The applicant does not wish to maintain the structure, which is not of a historical
nature, and in order to comply with the requirements of the Town Code regarding structures across
lot lines, the residence would have to be moved if its is not demolished. There is no economic utility
in moving the structure rather than demolishing it and replacing it with a new residence.
E With respect to site approval, the Planning Commission erred in not considering the
character of the neighborhood as a whole or considering the size or mass of the proposed structure
in relation to the other buildings in the neighborhood.
F. The Planning Commission did not have the opportunity to consider certain design
changes (replacing cement window casings on front window with shutters, removing the front
balcony and exterior lighting), which improve consistency with the neighborhood.
RESOLVED:
The appeal of the decision of the Planning Commission Project PRJ -96 -75 is granted
and is approved subject to the conditions attached as Exhibit A hereto.
2. This decision does not and shall not constitute any precedent for any other demolition
the Town, and the Town shall continue to examine any such request on a specific site, design, and
historic use basis under the Town Code and Town policies.
3. Pursuant to Town Code section 29.20.320, this approval will expire two (2) years
from the date that this resolution was adopted unless the approval is used before expiration. Section
29.20.335 defines what constitutes use of an approval granted under the Zoning Code. Reasonable
time extensions of the approval not exceeding one year may be granted upon application to and
approval by the Planning Commission, but the Commission approval must occur before the initial
expiration of the approval occurs.
This decision constitutes a final administrative decision pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure
section 1094.6 as adopted by section 1. 10.085 of the Town Code of the Town of Los Gatos. Any
application for judicial relief from this decision must be sought within the time limits and pursuant
to the procedures established by Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.6, or such shorter time as
required by state or federal law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los
Gatos, California, held on the 21st day of January, 1997 by the following vote.
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Randy Attaway, Steven Blanton, Jan Hutchins, Linda Lubeck.
NAYS: Mayor Joanne Benjamin
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SIGNED:
, >LMYOR OF THE TOWN PPF�I OS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST: j
CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
3
EXHIBIT A
CONDITION OF APPROVAL ON DEMOLITION OF
STRUCTURES AT 123 LOMA ALTA AVENUE
Project: PRJ -96 -75
Property Owners: Terry and Victoria McElroy
TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR:
1. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL LETTER. A Copy of the Conditions of Approval
letter shall be printed on the cover sheet of the Building Permit plans.
2. SOLAR WATER. The residence shall be pre - plumbed for solar hot water heating.
3. WELLS. A well information questionnaire (available through the Counter
Technician) shall be completed before the issuance of the building permit.
4. CASINGS. The developer will remove all cement window casings and replace the
cement casings around the front window with with shutters.
BALCONIES. The developer will remove the front balcony.
LIGHTING. The developer will remove the exterior lighting on the front balcony.
TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, FORESTRY AND
MAINTENANCE SERVICES:
7. TOWN TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE. All existing trees listed on the plan
are specific subjects of this approval and must remain on site.
8. TREE STAKING. All newly planted trees shall be double stake to Town standards.
TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING AND ENGINEERING
SERVICES:
9. GENERAL. All public improvements shall be made according to the latest adopted
Town Standard Drawings and the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction. All work
shall conform to the applicable Town ordinances. Adjacent public right -of -way shall be kept clear
of all job related dirt and debris at the end of day. Dirt and debris shall not be washed into storm
sewers. The storing of goods and materials on the sidewalk and/or street will not be allowed unless
a special permit is issued. The developer's representative in charge shall be at the job site during all
working hours. Failure to maintain the public right -of -way according to this condition may result
in the Town performing the required maintenance at the developer's expense.
10. PUBLIC WORKS INSPECTIONS. The developer or his representative shall notify
the Engineering Construction Inspector at least twenty -four (24) hours before starting any work
pertaining to on -site drainage facilities, grading, or paving; and all work in the Town's right -of -way.
Failure to do so will result in rejection of work that went on without inspection.
11. RESTORATION OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. The developer shall repair
or replace all existing improvements not designated for removal that are damaged or removed
because of developer's operations. Improvements such as, but not limited to, curbs, gutters,
sidewalks, driveways, signs, pavements, raised pavement markers, thermoplastic pavement
markings, or signs shall be repaired and replaced to a condition equal to or better than the original
condition. Existing improvements to be repaired or replaced shall be at the direction of the
Engineering Construction Inspector. Developer shall request a walk - through with the Engineering
Construction Inspector before the start of construction to verify existing conditions.
12. SIDEWALK REPAIR. The developer shall repair and replace to existing Town
standards any sidewalk damaged now or during construction of this project. Sidewalk repair shall
match existing color, texture and design, and shall be constructed per Town Standard Detail S -1.
Limits of sidewalk repair will be determined by the Engineering Construction Inspector during the
construction phase.
13. CURB AND GUTTER. The developer shall repair and replace to existing Town
standards any curb and gutter damaged now or during construction of this project. New curb and
gutter shall be constructed per Town Standard Detail S -1. Limits of curb and gutter repair will be
determined by the Engineering Construction Inspector during the construction phase.
14. GRADING MORATORIUM. No grading or earth - disturbing activities shall be
initiated between October 1 and April 15 of each year. For grading operations commenced before
October 1, all grading or earth disturbing activities shall cease October 15 and will not be allowed
to restart until April 15. These limitations include, but are not limited to these items: driveways,
building pads, foundation trenches, drilled piers, retaining walls, swimming pools, tennis courts,
outbuildings, and utility trenches. Install interim erosion control measures, shown on the approved
interim erosion control plan by October 1, if final landscaping is not in place. Maintain the interim
erosion control measures throughout the October 1 to April 15 period.
15. GRADING INSPECTIONS. The soils engineer or his qualified representative shall
continuously inspect all grading operations. The soils engineer shall submit a final grading report
before occupancy and Certificate of Completion.
16. SURVEYING CONTROLS. Horizontal and vertical controls shall be set and
certified by a licensed surveyor or registered civil engineer for the following items:
a. Retaining wall - -top of wall elevations and location
b. Toe and top of cut and fill slopes
C. Pad elevation
d. Finish floor elevation
e. Foundation corner locations
17. UTILITIES. The developer must agree to install all utility services, including
telephone, electric power, and other communications lines underground, according to Town policy.
Cable television capability shall be provided to all new lots or houses. The developer shall connect
to the San Jose Water Company for water service and the West Valley Sanitation District for sanitary
sewer service.
18. ENCROACHMENT PERMIT. All work in the public right -of -way will require
a Construction Encroachment Permit. All work over $5,000 will require construction security.
19. SANITARY SEWER LATERAL. Sanitary sewer laterals are televised by West
Valley Sanitation District and approved by the Town of Los Gatos before they are used or reused.
The property owner shall install a sanitary sewer lateral clean -out at the property line and connect
to the West Valley Sanitation District.
20. DRIVEWAY APPROACH. The developer shall install one (1) Town Standard
Residential driveway approach. The new driveway approach shall be constructed per Town Standard
Detail S -2.
21. BUILDING PERMITS. A building permit application shall be required for each
proposed structure. Separate Electrical /Mechanical/Plumbing permit shall be required as necessary.
22. SIZE OF DEVELOPMENT PLANS. The maximum size of construction plans
submitted for building permits shall be 24 in. X 36 in.
23. SOILS REPORT. Soils report and foundation design recommendation shall be
required for this project. The report shall be prepared by a licensed civil engineer specialized in the
soils mechanics. Two copies of the soils and geologic report shall be submitted with the grading
permit application. The soils report shall include specific criteria and standards governing site
grading, drainage, pavement design, retaining wall design, and erosion control. The reports shall
be signed and "wet stamped" by the engineer, in conformance with Section 6735 of the California
Business and Professions Code.
24. FOUNDATION INSPECTION /PAD CERTIFICATE. A pad certificate prepared
by a licensed civil engineer or land surveyor shall be submitted to the project building inspector upon
foundation inspection. This certificate shall certify compliance with the recommendations as
specified in the soils report and the building pad elevation and on -site retaining wall locations and
elevations are prepared according to approved plans. Horizontal and vertical controls shall be set
and certified by a licensed surveyor or registered civil engineer for the following items:
a. Pad elevation
b. Finish floor elevation
C. Foundation corner location
25. DISABLED ACCESS. The residence shall be designed with adaptability features
for single family residences per Town resolution 1994 -61:
a. Wooden backing (2 x 8 minimum) shall be provided in all bathroom walls at water
closet, shower and bathtub, located at 34 inches from the floor to the center of the
backing, suitable for the addition of grab bars.
b. All passage doors shall be at least 32- inches wide on accessible floor.*
C. Primary entrance shall have a 36 -inch wide door including, a 5 -foot by 5 -foot level
landing no more than 1 -inch out of plane with the immediate interior floor level, with
an 18 -inch clearance at interior strike edge.
d. Door buzzer, bell or chime shall be "hard" wired.
26. ENERGY COMPLIANCE. California Title 24 Energy Compliance forms shall be
blue lined on the construction plans.
27. CONSTRUCTION PLAN PREPARATION. The construction plans for this
project shall be prepared under direct supervision of a licensed architect or engineer. (Business and
Professionals Code Section 5538)
28. FIREPLACES. New fireplaces shall be EPA phase II approved appliances per the
Town Ordinance 1905. Tree limbs shall be cut within 10 feet of chimneys.
29. NON -POINT SOURCE. The Town standard Santa Clara Valley Nonpoint Source
Pollution Control Program specification sheet shall be part of plan submittal. The specification sheet
(Size 24" X 36 ") is available at the Building Department service counter.
30. REQUIRED ASSOCIATED AGENCY APPROVALS. The Project requires the
following agencies approval before issuing a building permit:
a) West Valley Sanitation District: 378 -2408
b) Central Fire District: 378 -4015
c) Your project School district certificate of approval from any of the following:
i) Los Gatos School District: 395 -5570
*Note: obtain the School district form from the Town Building Department.