Attachment 27To :
Subject:
From:
June 5 , 2017
Mayor Sayoc and the Los Gatos Town Counci l
339-341 Bella Vista Avenue
Lee Quintana
REC E IVED
JUN -5 2017
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
Please deny the appeal of the applicant to reverse the denial by the Planning
Commission.
At the December 6 , 2016, Council hearing it was clear that the Council could not make
the finding of Commission error or abuse of discretion, or that the Commission had
acted on an issue not in their purview. That left only "new information " as a reason to
uphold the appeal.
At the December 6 , 2016, hearing the Council directed the applicant to submit new
information based on specific Council direction. In response the applicant submitted
Plan F, which only partially responds to the Council's direction.
There is no argument that a legal right exists to build on this land , however what is built
needs to be consistent with all the Town 's regulations not just focus on being under the
maximum allowed FAR. The maximum allowed square footage should be determined by
the constraints of the site.
In response to Council 's direction the applicant's latest proposal, Plan F, provides a
lower profile for the garage . However, Plan Fas a whole does not meet the Council 's
overall direction. In particular, the small decrease to the overall length of the
development plan from north to south length does not adequately address the mass and
bulk of the house as seen from Maggi Court, nor does it improve the compatibil ity with
the homes on the East side of Bella Vista . That would require a redesign that focu se s
on designing a house to fit constraints of the site.
The issue with this project is not whether:
• The design of the house and site tec hnically meets the Town Code ,
• The square footage of the house is under the maximum allowed FAR,
• The lower floor in part, or as a whole, is counted towards the gross floor are a
• The number and size of trees to be saved or removed
• etc.
The iss ue is whether the proposed project d e sign is designed to fit the constrains of t he
site and to :
• Minimize grading
• Minimi ze tree impacts,
• Be compatible with the neighborhood,
• Consider all applicable Town planning doc ume nts and regulations.
f .ATTACHMENT 2 "t
Building to the site's constraints would:
• Result in a smaller house
• Minimize mass and bulk
• Be compatibility with the neighborhood
• Reduce impacts from grading
• Reduce tree removal and impacts to remaining trees from site grading.
Thank you for your consideration.
RECEIVED
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
. .
JUN -5-2017
\2~4~.prn
CLERK DEPARTMENT
~~~
Peckler Capital Management, Inc .
R eal Est:at:e Investment:s & Co:nsu.lt:i:ng
Sally Zarnowitz
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Los Gatos Town Council,
Angie Smith <angiecolemansmith@gmail.com>
Monday, June 05 , 2017 4 :50 PM
Sally Zarnowitz; Council
Approve 339-341 Bella Vista
As Los Gatos residents for many years, we encourage you to approve Deb & Dan Ross' plan for 339-341 Bella Vista as
proposed.
Their plan has gone through multiple reductions and modifications based on feedback from Town Planning, Town
Architect, Arborist, Engineering and Planning Departments. The plan is compatible in density and square footage with
other homes in the neighborhood and should be approved.
Thank you,
Angie & Craig Smith
1
Sally Zarnowitz
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Town Council,
Bina Roy De sai <binaroydesai @ya hoo.com >
Monday, June 05 , 2017 8:30 PM
Sally Za rnow itz; Rob Rennie ; BSpector; Marico Sayoc; Marcia Jen se n; Steven Leonardi s
Ross Bella V ista Home: 339-341
My husband and I are writing to you asking you all reconsider for our friends Dan & Deb Ross (339-
341 Bella Vista). They are true role models in our community with their volunteering efforts,
donations, and kindness . They have struggled to get a plan approved to build their (downsized)
home on a residential lot in our town for 10 years.
As a Los Gatos home owner for 10 years , we are reluctant to go through the construction experience
b/c of the above frustration/10 years of expenses for our friends Dan & Deb Ross. We should have
nothing but confidence in the system , and that's clearly not the case.
They do not deserve to be singled out like this as they have respectfully complied with the town ,
arborist , engineering, and planning department...(meeting all square footage/density when compared
to neighboring homes), not fair. Please listen/reconsider at tomorrow's meeting, we would certainly
appreciate an opportunity for Deb and Dan to move on in a positive light after this 10 year struggle.
Best,
Bina & Raj Desai
1