Attachment 2PREPARED BY : RYAN SAFTY
A ssociate Planner
Reviewed by: Planning Manager and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 40 8-354 -68 74
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 4 /11 /201 8 ITEM NO: 3
D ATE : A PRIL 4 , 201 8 TO : PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION Z -17 -00 1 . PROJECT LOCATION: 221
ALMENDRA AVENUE . PROPERTY OWNER: JOEY M CCARTHY. APPLICANT: BE S S WIERSEMA . R EQUESTING 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 :
Fo rward a recommendation of approval to the Town Council on the proposed z one change
application 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 an
existing property located at 221 Almendra Avenue.
CEQA :
T he 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 amendments to the General Plan and
Town Code will have a significant effect on the environment.
FINDINGS :
As required by Section 21083.3 of the State Environmental Guidelines as adopted by the
Town that this project is Statutorily Exempt.
That the proposed z one c ha nge is consistent with the General Plan and its Elements in
that the proposed zoning is consistent with the existing General Plan designation.
ATTACHMENT 2
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BACKGROUND :
T he 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 (Exhibit 1). The property is located within the Almond Grove Historic District but is
not listed as a contributor to the Almond Grove Historic District. Th e property was originally
developed with a residential use in the 1900s but was converted to an office use.
T he 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 , t he subject property is bound by parcels with
a Medium Density Residential General Plan L and U se D esignation to the north, south , and west.
The parcel to the east , fronting along North Santa Cruz Avenue, has a Central Business District
General Plan L and Us e D esignation (Exhibit 2).
T he subject property is bound by parcels z oned R-1D :LHP to the north, south , and west
(Exhibit 3). The parcel to the east is z oned 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
T he applicant is requesting approval of this z one change application to allow the owners to
transition the building from an office use back to a single -family residential use (Exhibit 6). 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.Zone Change
The applicant is requesting approval of a zone change application from O:LHP to R -1D:LHP.
The proposed zoning would be consistent with the existing General Plan L and U se
D esignation (as discussed below). The existing office use would be required to cease within
two years of adoption of the ordinance to rezone the prope rty (Exhibit 5); however, 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 a principally permitted use within
the R -1D Z one.
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B. General Plan
The proposed R -1D:LHP z oning 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/o r
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 Goal s
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 Polic ies
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 Cen tral Business
District designation and adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Community Design Goal
CD -10 To maintain the historic character of the Downtown.
Community Design Polic ies
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
residential, commercial, or public buildings.
PUBLIC COMMENTS :
As of the drafting of this report, no comments from the public have been received.
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CONCLUSION :
A. Summary
The proposed change in zoning would be consistent with the pattern of land use s and
z oning in the surrounding neighborhood . The proposed change in zoning would make the
subject property consistent with the General Plan L and U se D esignation for the site , and
comply with the goals and policies within the General Plan , as noted above .
B. Recommendation
Based on the analysis above, s taff recommends that the Planning Commission consider the
existing General Plan L and U se D esignation and the existing and proposed z oning
designation s and forward a recommendation of approval of the zone change application to
the Town Council . If the Planning Commission finds mer it with the proposed zone change ,
it should:
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, Sec tion 15061 (b)(3): Review for exemption
(Exhibit 4 ); and
2. Make the required finding that the proposed zoning is consistent with the General Plan
and its Elements in that the proposed zoning is consistent with the existing General
Plan Land Use D esignation (Exhibit 4 ); and
3. Forward a recommendation of approval of z one c hange a pplication Z -17 -00 1 to the
Town Council.
C. Alternatives
Alternatively, the Planning Commission may:
1. Continue this item to a date certain with specific direction to staff; or
2. Provide a recommendation for denial to the Town Council providing findings for denial.
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EXHIBITS :
1. Location M ap
2. General Plan Land Use Map
3. Zoning Designation Map
4. Draft Findings
5. Draft Ordinance for Zone Chang e , with Exhibit A (three pages)
6. Submittal Package (seven page s )
7. Development Plans (five pages )
Distribution :
Joey McCarthy, 213 Tait Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Bes s Wiersema, Studio 3 Design, 638 University Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95032
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