Staff Report
PREPARED BY : RYAN SAFTY
Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Community Development
Department Director, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 40 8 -354 -68 32
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/05/2018
ITEM NO: 16
DATE: MAY 23 , 201 8
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION Z -17 -00 1. PROJECT LOCATION: 221
ALMENDRA AVENUE . PROPERTY OWNER: JOEY MCCARTHY . APPLICANT:
BE S S WIERSEMA .
REQUESTING APPROVAL OF A ZONE CHANGE FROM O:LHP (OFFICE WITH A
LANDMARK AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY) TO R -1D:LHP
(SINGLE -FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DOWNTOWN WITH A LANDMARK AND
HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY). APN 510 -14 -044.
RECOMMENDATION :
Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment 5 ) effecting a Zone Change (Z -17 -00 1 ) from O:LHP (Office
with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) to R -1D:LHP (Single -Family Residential
Downtown with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) for the property located at 221
Almendra Avenue.
BACKGROUND :
The subject property consists of 7 ,841 square feet and is located on the southern side of
Almendra Avenue, one property west of the Almendra Avenue and North Santa Cruz Avenue
intersection (Attachment 1). The property is located within the Almond Grove Historic District ,
and it is not lis ted as a contributor to the Almond Grove Historic District. The property was
originally developed with a residential use in 1900 and was subsequently converted to an office
use.
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SUBJECT: 221 ALMENDRA AVENUE/Z -17 -001
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BACKGROUND (Continued):
The subject property has a Medium Density Residential General Plan L and U se D esignation and
is zoned O:LHP. As summarized in Table 1 , below, the subject property is bound by parcels with
a Medium Density Residential General Plan L and U se D esignation to th e north, south, and west.
The parcel to the east, fronting along North Santa Cruz Avenue, has a Central Business District
General Plan L and U se D esignatio n .
The subject property is bound by parcels zoned R -1D:LHP to the north, south, and west. The
par cel to the east is zoned C -2 (Central Business District Commercial).
Table 1 . Surrounding Area
Address Existing Land Use General Plan Zoning
North 216 -230 Almendra Ave Residential Medium Density Residential R -1D:LHP
South 222 Bachman Ave Residential Medium Density Residential R -1D:LHP
East 333 N. Santa Cruz Ave Commercial Central Business District C -2
West 227 Almendra Ave Residential Medium Density Residential R -1D:LHP
The applicant is requesting approval of this Z one C hange to allow the owners to transition the
building from an office use back to a single -family residential use (Attachment 7 ). The
Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (LHP) would remain if the application is
approved. At this time, no modifications to the building are proposed.
DISCUSSION :
A. Planning Commission
At its April 11 , 201 8 meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the application and
recommended approval of the Zone Change to the Town Council (Attachments 2 and 3 ).
B. Zone Change
The applicant is requesting approval of a Z one C hange from O:LHP to R -1D:LHP. The
proposed zoning would be consistent with the existing General Plan Land Use Designation
(as discussed below). The existing office use would be required to cease within two years of
adoption of the ordinance effecting a Zone Change for the property (Attachment 5).
H owever, the applicant has indicated that it is the intent of the current owners to return the
property to a residential use in the near future. A residential use is the primary permitted
use within the R -1D Zone.
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DISCUSSION (continued):
C. General Plan Land Use Designation
The proposed R -1D:LHP zoning would conform with the existing General Plan Land Use
Designation of Medium Density Residential. Pursuant to the General Plan, “The Medium
Density Residential designation provides for multiple -family residential, duplex, and/or
small single -family homes.”
The goals and policies of the 2020 General Plan applicable to this project include , but are
not limited to:
Land Use Goals
LU -1 To preserve, promote, and protect the existing small -town character and
quality of life within Los Gatos.
LU -6 To preserve and enhance the existing character and sense of place in
residential neighborhoods.
Land Use Policies
LU -6.4 Prohibit uses that may lead to the deterioration of residential
neighborhoods, or adversely impact the public safety or the residential
character of a residential neighborhood.
LU -6.5 The type, density, and intensity of new land use shall be consistent with that
of the immediate neighborhood.
LU -10.3 Establish and maintain strong boundaries between the Central Business
District designation and adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Community Design Goal
CD -10 To maintain the historic character of the Downtown.
Community Design Policies
CD -6.4 Encourage the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, reuse, and
maintenance of existing buildings Downtown.
CD -12.2 Encourage the preservation, maintenance, and adaptive reuse of existing
re sidential, commercial, or public buildings.
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CONCLUSION :
Staff recommends that the Town Council:
1. Make the required finding that there is no possibility that this project will have a
significant impact on the environment; therefore, the project is not subject to the
California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15061 (b)(3): Review for exemption
(Attac hment 4 );
2. Make the required finding that the proposed Zone Change is consistent with the
General Plan (Attachment 4 ); and
3. Introduce an Ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos effecting a Zone Change from O:LHP
(Office with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) to R -1D:LHP (Single -Family
Residential Downtown with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay ) for the
property located at 221 Almendra Avenue (Attachment 5 ), by title only, with any specific
changes identified and agreed upon by the majority of the Town Council.
ALTERNATIVES :
Alternatively, the Town Council may:
1. Continue this item to a date certain with specific direction to staff;
2. Remand the application to the Planning Commission with specific direction; or
3. Deny the application.
CEQA :
The project is Categorically Exempt pursuant to the adopted Guidelines for the Implementation
of 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 Zone Chang e will have a significant effect
on the environment.
PUBLIC COMMENTS :
All public comments received by 11:00 A.M., Thursday, May 31 , 201 8 , are included with this
report as Attachment 6 .
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ATTACHMENTS :
1. Location M ap s (with existing General Plan Land Use and Zoning Designations)
2. April 11 , 201 8 Planning Commission Staff Report (without Exhibits)
3. April 11 , 201 8 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes
4. Required Findings (one page)
5. Draft Ordinance for Zone Change, with Exhibit A (three pages)
6. Pub lic comments received by 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 31 , 201 8
7. Submittal Package (seven pages)
8. Development Plans (five pages)
Distribution:
Joey McCarthy, 213 Tait Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Bess Wiersema, Studio 3 Design, 638 University Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95032