Staff Report
PREPARED BY: ERIN WALTERS/AZHAR KHAN
Associate Planner/Assistant 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 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 03/05/2019
ITEM NO: 6
DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2019
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: TOWN CODE AMENDMENT APPLICATION A-18-002. PROJECT LOCATION:
TOWN WIDE. APPLICANT: TOWN OF LOS GATOS.
CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 29 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF
THE TOWN CODE REGARDING SHARED PARKING.
RECOMMENDATION:
Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment 4), by title only, effecting amendments to Chapter 29
(Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding shared parking.
BACKGROUND:
On February 15, 2018, the Town Council Policy Committee considered economic vitality
initiatives to streamline application processes for Town businesses. Members of the Town’s
business community attended that meeting. One of the topics discussed was shared parking
and how to make the process more streamlined and affordable for businesses.
The Town Code currently requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for alternating use of
off-street parking spaces (shared parking) in the RC, HR, R-1, RD, R-M, O, C-1, C-2, CH, LM, and
CM zones.
The Policy Committee discussed the matter and directed staff to bring forward a Code
amendment to the Planning Commission and the Town Council to create an incentive for
shared parking by no longer requiring a CUP and allowing shared parking through a ministerial
permit process. Attachment 1, Exhibit 2 contains the Policy Committee minutes for the
February 15, 2018 meeting.
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 29 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE
TOWN CODE REGARDING SHARED PARKING
DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2019
BACKGROUND (continued):
On January 23, 2019, the Planning Commission considered the draft amendments to Chapter 29
(Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding shared parking and recommended approval to
the Town Council.
DISCUSSION:
A. Proposed Town Code Amendments
The Town Code [Section 29.10.150 (e)] allows alternating use of parking where some uses
generate parking demands primarily during hours when the remaining uses are closed.
The Town Code currently requires alternating use of parking to be reviewed and approved
through the CUP process. The proposed amendments as shown in Attachment 4 would:
• Replace the term ‘alternating use(s)’ with the term ‘shared parking’;
• Allow the Community Development Director to approve shared parking through the
approval of a Shared Parking Permit; and
• Remove the CUP requirement for alternating use of off-street parking spaces from
the Table of Conditional Uses.
B. Planning Commission
On January 23, 2019, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended
approval of the draft amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code
regarding shared parking to the Town Council. Attachment 2 contains the verbatim
minutes for the Planning Commission meeting.
C. Public Outreach
Staff requested public input through the following media and social media resources:
• A poster posted at the Planning counter at Town Hall;
• On the Town’s website home page, What’s New;
• On the Town’s Facebook page;
• On the Town’s Twitter account;
• On the Town’s Instagram account;
• On the Town’s NextDoor page; and
• Weekly Email blasts.
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 29 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE
TOWN CODE REGARDING SHARED PARKING
DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2019
DISCUSSION (continued):
In addition to the social media posts, staff met with the Chamber of Commerce to discuss
the draft Ordinance.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council:
1. Make the 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)] (Attachment 3);
2. Make the required finding that the amendments to Chapter 29 of the Town Code
(Zoning Regulations) regarding shared parking are consistent with the General Plan
(Attachment 3);
3. Introduce the Ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos effecting the amendments of the
Town Code regarding shared parking A-18-002 (Attachment 4), by title only, with any
specific changes identified and agreed upon by the majority of the Town Council.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternatively, the Council may:
1. Continue this item to a date certain with specific direction to staff;
2. Refer the item back to the Planning Commission with specific direction; or
3. Take no action, leaving the Town Code unchanged.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
There is no possibility that the project would have a significant impact on the environment;
therefore, the project is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act [Section
15061(b)(3)].
COORDINATION:
The evaluation of the application was coordinated with the Economic Vitality Manager.
PAGE 4 OF 4
SUBJECT: CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 29 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE
TOWN CODE REGARDING SHARED PARKING
DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2019
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
No public comments have been received.
Attachments:
1. January 23, 2019 Planning Commission Staff Report, with Exhibits 1 - 3
2. January 23, 2019 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes (12 pages)
3. Required Findings (one page)
4. Draft Ordinance (four pages)
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