Attachment 11DATE:
TO:
FROM :
SUBJECT:
REMARKS:
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
APRIL 11, 2017
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: 04/12/2017
ITEM NO: 3
ADDENDUM
JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
ARCHITECTURE AND SITEAPPL!CATION S-15-056. CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT APPLICATION U-15-009 AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
EIR-16-001. PROJECT LOCATION: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY. PROPERTY
OWNER: CWA REALTY. CONTACT PERSON: SHANE ARTERS. LP
ACQUISITIONS. LLC.
REQUESTING APPROVAL TO DEMOLISH THREE EXISTING OFFICE
BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCT A NEW, TWO-STORY OFFICE BUILDING WITH
UNDERGROUND PARKING ON PROPERTY ZONED CH. APN 529-23-018.
The applicant requests that the item be continued to the May 10, 2017 meeting to provide
additional time to respond to public comments (Exhibit 37).
Exh i bit 38 includes additional public comment received between 11:01 a.m. Thursday, April 6,
2017 and 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received under separate cover:
1. Draft Environmental Impact Report
Previously received with August 10, 2016 Staff Report:
2. Location Map
3. Required Findings and Considerations (two pages)
4. Required CEQA Findings of Fact (24 pages)
5 . Recommended Conditions of Approval (15 pages)
6 . Letter of Justification/Project Description (15 pages), received July 15, 2016
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER ARMER
Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Planning Manager and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 • 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
ATTACHMENT 11
PAGE2 OF 3
SUBJECT: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY PROJECT/S-15-056, U-15-009 AND EIR-16-001
APRIL 11, 2017
7. Project Construction Details (three pages), received August 3, 2016
8. Letter of Outreach Conducted (40 pages), received February 10, 2016
9. Second Letter of Neighborhood Outreach (26 pages), received August 3, 2016
10. Consulting Arborist's Report (41 pages), dated September 26, 2015
11. Architectural Consultant's First Report (five pages), received September 10, 2015
12. Architectural Consultant's Final Report (five pages), received March 18, 2016
13. Conceptual Development Advisory Committee Meeting minutes, June 10, 2015 meeting
(four pages)
14. Public Comments
15. Final EIR and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, dated June 29, 2016
16. Development Plans (37 pages), received July 15, 2016
Previously received with August 10, 2016 Desk Item:
17. Comments received from 11:01 a.m. on Thursday, August 4, 2016 to 11:00 a.m . on
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Previously received with August 24. 2016 Staff Report:
18. Comments received from 11:01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 to 11:00 a.m . on
Thursday, August 18, 2016
19. Applicant's Response Letter, received August 19, 2016
Previously received with August 24. 2016Desk Item:
20. Comments received from 11:01 a.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2016 to 11:00 a.m . on
Wednesday,August24,2016
21. Applicant's Response Letter, received August 24, 2016
Previously received with October 26, 2016 Staff Report:
22. Communication from the applicant, received October 10, 2016 and October 19, 2016
23. Public comments received from 11 :01 a.m ., Wednesday, August 24, 2016 to 11:00 a.m .,
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Previously received with January 11, 2017 Staff Report:
24. Communication from the applicant, received November 11, 2016
25. Public comments received from 11:01 a.m., Thursday, October 20, 2016 to 11:00 a.m.,
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Previously received with March 22. 2017 Staff Report:
26. Communication from the applicant, received February 28, 2017
27. Comments received from 11:01 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2017 to 11:00 a.m . on
Thursday, March 16, 2017
N:\DEV\PC REPORTS\2017\AlbertoWay401·409 04.12.17 ADD.docx 4/11/2017 11:24 AM
PAGE30F3
SUBJECT: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY PROJECT/S-15-056, U-15-009 AND EIR-16-001
APRIL 11, 2017
Previously received with the April 12, 2017 Staff Report:
28. Revised Required Findings and Considerations
29 . Revised Conditions of Approval {21 pages)
30. Comments received from 11:01 a.m . on Thursday, March 16, 2017to11:00 a.m . on
Thursday, April 6, 2017
31. Applicant's Response Letter (23 pages), received March 17, 2017
32. Architectural Consultant's Report on Revised Plans (six pages), received February 22, 2017
33. Applicant's Response letter to Architectural Consultant's Report (three pages), received
March 16, 2017
34. Architectural Consultant's Second Report on Revised Plans (eight pages), received March
17,2017
35. Traffic Consultant Letter (eight pages), rece i ved April 6, 2017
36. Revised Developll'!ent Plans (35 pages), received Mt;irch 17, 2017
Received with this Addendum Report:
37. Communication from the applicant, received April 10, 2017
38. Public Comment received between 11:01 a.m. Thursday, April 6, 2017 and 11:00 a.m.
Tu esd ay, April 11, 2017
Distribution:
Shane Arters, LP Acquisitions, LLC, 535 Middlefield Road, Ste. 190, Menlo Park, CA 94025
N:\DEV\PC REPORTS\2017\AlbertoWay401-409 04.12.17 ADD.docx 4/11/201711:24AM
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent:
To:
Subjed:
Hi Jennifer,
Shane Arters <shane@lambpartners.com>
Monday, April 10, 2017 4:34 PM
Jennifer Armer
Continuance to 5-10-17
Please change and continue our application to the PC Hearing tentatively scheduled for May 10, 2017 so that we can
submit a response to the Public Comments.
Thanks,
Shane
Shane Arters
535 Middlefield Road. Suite 190
Menlo Park, CA 94025
917-975-7690 mobile
650-326-1600 ext.102
650-326-1661 fax
ww1.'·f.bmbpartners.c0m
shane@lambpartners.com
shane.arters@dragoonre.com
Affiliated with:
\) Ur.t1G .o<;;K~.-..uv ~" i h·\-;·.x.o~·,u 'vt
~ Pl·:ase consider th-: environment befor•: printing this em:iil.
EXHIBIT 3 7
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Planning Commissioners,
Ken Lown <kenlown@gmail.com>
Friday, April 07, 2017 11:28 AM
Jennifer Armer
405 Alberto Way Development
I am unable to attend the Planning Commission meeting. on 4/12. If I were there I would speak on the
occupancy
of the size buildings being proposed. The current rule of thumb (which I have confirmed with Apple and
Oracle facility
managers) is 200 sq. ft. per person (175 sq. ft. per person if bench seating is utilized}. This figure includes
accommodation
for conference rooms, hallways, etc. At it's current proposal of 83,000 sq . ft . this implies 415 occupants are
feasible in this
Class A office space. I know the developer has offered to limit the number of occupants by lease but I do not
believe this
is. enforceable by the town. It does indicate that the allocated parking is wholly inadequate for the size of the
office
space being proposed which is well in excess of the tentative recommendation by one Planning Commissioner
from
the last meeting this proposal was discussed ("' 60,ooO sq. ft.). I tend to feel that something in the order of
45,000
sq. ft . is more appropriate for this site with 225 parking spaces with below ground parking.
Best regards,
-Ken L.
EXHIBIT 8 8
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent:
To:
Jennifer E Liebthal <jliebthal@gmail.com>
Monday, April 10, 2017 11:15 AM
Subjed:
Jennifer Armer; Council; Planning; Rob Rennie
401 to 409 Alberto Way -Opposition
Dear Planning Commission,
I own a condo at 420 Alberto Way. I implore you NOT to approve the application development for 401-409 Alberto Way. I have met with
the developers to provide my feedback and it seems they have not listen to any of the residents requests. I went to the last planning meeting
on this issue and the new plans do not seem to address any of the issues brought up by the town or the residents.
Below is a list of issues I have with the proposed development as it stands today:
• Loss of views
oThe development direction cuts off ALL mountain views I have from my condo! I currently enjoy, as do most of the
residence at 420 Alberto Way a lovely open view and if this development is approved I will see only this concrete mini
city which is being proposed.
oNot only are those on Alberto Way views being taken away this new structure will interrupt the beautiful views for
residents of Bella Vista and the Bella Vista bridge which currently has beautiful views towards downtown.
o The removal of views from my condo will have direct impact on the value of my property and I am not ok with that not
should the town of Los Gatos let that happen.
•Traffic Issues
o The developers directly said in a meeting that they were hoping to get a "Google" type company in this structure. This is
a residential area not business complex area! We don't need a Google type complex near our downtown area. The
reason people live in Los Gatos is to get away from this type oflarge complexes that take away from the ambiance
downtown areas ..
o Traffic impact will be brutal no~ only to residents in this area but also residents all over Los Gatos who travel down
HWY9 from Los Gatos Blvd.
• Currently, on any given morning traffic is back up on HWY9 going to town and the freeway from Los Gatos
Blvd and there is never anyone at the light turning left onto Albert Way. With 300-700 employees there will
be constant traffic at this light that in tum will stop traffic coming off Los Gatos Blvd and will back up Los
Gatos Blvd both ways!
• All this added traffic with have both safety and environmental impacts. The amount of people on Alberto way
will likely double!
• On street parking
oAlberto Way currently has much needed parking on the street that will be taken away to supposedly widen the street will
help. It will only take away much needed parking
• Does not meet LG General Plan
oPolicy CD-1.1 Building elemerits shall be in proportion with those traditionally in the neighborhood.
•At 93,000 sq. ft., the PDs buildings are massive compared to what's on the site now and what's in a residential
neighborhood.
• This building is too large, to tall and too close to the street. It looks to be double/triple the size of the current
structure. The current structure has some small areas off roofing that is higher than the rest of the the
structure however the new proposal wants all of the roof line to be 3 ft higher than the current tallest peak. I
say peak become the current structure is mostly very low roofline as you can see from enclosed pictures.
oPolicy CD-1.2 New structures, remodels, landscapes, and hardscapes shall be designed to harmonize and blend with the
scale and rhythm of the neighborhood and natural features in the area.
• Again this is a small residential neighborhood. This build will tower over the street blocking sunlight on the
street many enjoy walking and blocking views.
o Policy CD-1.4 Development on all elevations shall be of high quality design and construction, a positive addition to and
compatible with the Town's ambiance. Developm_ent shall enhance the character and unique identity of existing
commercial and/or residential neighborhoods.
•This new complex is in no way compatible with the ambiance of the neighborhood. The buildings in the
neighborhood are all small with meandering grass areas throughout the complexes to that not only break up
the buildings but provide a lovely openness to the complexes
The residents of Alberto Way have banned together and spend many many many hours putting together reports, taking pictures, doing traffic
surveys, etc to oppose this development because we all feel it will significantly degrade our quality of life here in Los Gatos.
I want to thank you for your time and consideration!
Jennifer Liebthal
Planning Conunission Meeting April 12, 2017, 7PM
Re Lamb Partners 401-409 Alberto Way
RlECIE~VIED
APR 06 2017
TOVVN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
This project has been under consideration for quite a long time now. We have only to look at
the Story Poles that have blighted our street for so long. We the
neighbors have had many meetings with the principals both on site and at the Oub House of
Los Gatos Commons. So many, in fact that some of us consider Randy and Shane as old
friends.
As a matter of fact, we have looked at many redrawn architectural renderings and I want to
state that, in my opinion, style is not the drawback with this project. As a matter of fact if the
developers had followed the Commission's suggested size reduction there might not be the
negative feelings that exist today.
Jesse Pue of Los Gatos Public Works stated that they approved the Traffic Plan as submitted
by Lamb Partners when the project was first sent to the Planning Commission. The date of
application was July 24, 2015 . This application approval by Public Works does not fit in with
current conditions and doesn't make much.sense. The town has been under siege from internal
and external traffic, with the newspapers reporting such an overflow of automobile traffic, that
streets have had to be closed. Traffic signs, redirecting Fwy 17 traffic around downtown, have
been painted on the streets. Unfortunately, those directions send the excess Los Gatos Blvd.
car traffic right past Alberto Way.
Primarily, my main concern with the size of this project is safety. As I reported before, Alberto
Way is a dead end street which has only one way out to service hundreds of cars of residents
as well as an office complex at the lower end of Alberto Way, a restaurant and bar across the
street from the projected office complex, a motel with 41 units and a medical facility with
patients coming and going all day. Directly across from Alberto Way, and serviced by the
same stop lights, is Los Gatos Lodge, a motel with a restaurant and bar, three private meeting
rooms which are mostly booked and 131 motel rooms.
If you have ever been in an underground parking area when a car caught fire, and I have
experienced that situation, the prospect of the gas tank exploding is very real. The rush to get
out of there jams up the exits. This projected office complex has two levels of underground
parking housing 300 plus vehicles with only one exit and entry. As I noted before, the
Safeway Store on Santa Cruz Ave has parking for a lot fewer cars but with two exits · and
entrances, each on a separate street. I have yet to see a revision with more than just the one
way in and out.
In short, this project is being shoehorned into an already overbuilt neighborhood.
Ray Toney, 453 Alberto Way #241. Los Gatos, Ca. 95032