Loading...
M 06-10-91TOWN OF LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA TOWN COUNCIL/PARKING AUTHORITY June 10, 1991 Minutes TOWN COUNCIL The Town Council/Parking Authority of the Town of Los Gatos met in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall, 110 East Main Street, at 7:40 p.m., Monday, June 10, 1991, in special session. ROLL CALL Present:Randy Attaway, Joanne Benjamin, Steven Blanton, Eric D. Carlson and Mayor Brent N. Ventura. Absent:None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Given by all in attendance. CLOSED SESSION Katherine Anderton, Town Attorney, reported that Council had met in Closed Session prior to this evening's meeting pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b) to discuss Threat of Litigation regarding West Parr Avenue. There is no report from that discussion at this time. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6, Council met to discuss Labor Relations. There is no report from that discussion at this time. AFSCME LOCAL 101/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING/RESOLUTION 1991-132 Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Attaway that Council adopt Resolution 1991- 132 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS APPROVING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AND AFSCME LOCAL 101. Carried unanimously. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS The following person from the audience spoke to an issue: Rosalie Frankel, 15480 Palos Verdes, spoke regarding her concern for the new library fees. TC:D1:MM061091 HEARINGS PARR AVE W. 634/HOUSING DEVELOPMENT/MID-PEN HOUSING COALITION ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION/HEARING Mayor Ventura stated that this was the time and place duly noted for public hearing to consider a change of zone from "O" (Office) and R-1:8000 (single-family, 8,000 sq. ft. minimum lot size) to O-PD on approximately 3½ acres of property on the south side of Parr Avenue, east of Dardanelli Lane to permit the construction of a 68 unit multiple family development, day care facility, the relocation of the rear property line, and demolition of an existing single-family TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONT. PARR AVE W. 634/HOUSING DEVELOPMENT/CONT. residence. A Negative Declaration is being prepared for this development. If no significant environmental impacts are identified as a result of this project, a Negative Declaration will be recommended and an Environmental Impact Report will not be required. Property located at 634 W. Parr Avenue. Zone Change Application Z-91-2. Negative Declaration ND-91-3. Subdivision Application M-91-3. Architecture and Site Application S-86-24B. Property located at 634 W. Parr Avenue. Property Owner: Mid Peninsula Housing Coalition. Mr. Attaway stated for the record that he went to the neighborhood meeting and that he also met with the Mid Peninsula Housing Coalition. Mrs. Benjamin questioned the Town Manager regarding possibility of closing Parr Avenue because of the traffic issue with the residents. The following people from the audience spoke to this issue: Steven Cohn, 1056 Audrey Avenue, Campbell, objected to the three minute time limit for speakers. He donated his time to Chet Mallory. Chet Mallory, 1073 Lucot Way, Campbell, spoke regarding the possible traffic problems that could result from development of W. Parr Ave. He also submitted a petition from local residents. He was not in favor of the project. Matt Schwarz, Mid Peninsula Housing Coalition, 430 Sherman Avenue, Palo Alto, spoke in favor housing project addressing parking and traffic. Richard Olmsted, 77 Water Street, San Francisco, stated that he was the project architect and addressed allocating the parking equally. John Lien, 196 College Avenue, stated that he was in support of this project and addresses mitigation of parking. Mary-Lyle Rempel, 17831 Skyline Boulevard, President of West Valley Open Doors, co- sponsor of the project, spoke in favor of the project regarding parking and traffic. She urged Council to address the problems brought up. Lee Peterson, 1156 Audrey Avenue, Campbell, spoke regarding the heavy concentration of housing faced by his neighborhood and the problem of parking. Maggie Desmond, 1491 Hack Avenue, Campbell, concerned about the emergency vehicles on West Parr Avenue. Al Verdoia, 1179 Audrey Avenue, Campbell, invited the Council to his house for a bike ride through the area. Gary Mantalas, 1476 Walnut Drive, Campbell, addressed the traffic problem in Campbell. He also questioned Mr. Bowman about the parking situation. Kevin Klass, 1477 Theresa Avenue, Campbell, urged Council to vote against the proposal TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California because of the overburdening of traffic and parking on the neighborhood. He also had a concern about the cut through traffic on Theresa Ave. Susan Daugherty, 1017 Lucot Way, Campbell, spoke about the elementary school and the safety of the school children. William Winter, 115 Calle Estoria, spoke against the project and complained about the people going to the Courthouse. He suggested several other sites for this and also suggested that it be dispersed throughout town. TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONT. PARR AVE W. 634/HOUSING DEVELOPMENT/CONT. Speakers continued: Carolyn Monig, 593 Vasona Avenue, spoke in support of the project. She would like to see the traffic problems addressed. She would also like to see more affordable housing. Donna Gates, 15101 Kennedy Road, stated that there can only be these kind of projects in certain areas because of property values. She urged Council to vote yes. Mark E. Biehl, 1113 W. Parr Avenue, Campbell, spoke about the access to the new development. Lothar Schicker, 1092 Lucot Way, Campbell, requested that Council vote no on this project. He also said that if the project did go through that the access should be changed, and there should be no access on West Parr and that fences be provided. Parking should be on Knowles. Terry Corbet, 662 W. Parr Avenue, Campbell, stated he is not in favor of the present presentation of the project. Nancy Castro, 17239 Verdes Robles & Winchester, spoke in favor of the project and asked Council to vote yes on the project. David Mackie, 1074 Lucot Way, Campbell, stated that he is not in favor of the project as it is presently planned and felt there should be more cooperation from the Town over mitigation of traffic. Faith Schmidt, Saratoga, speaking on behalf of the Housing and Homeless Coalition in Santa Clara County was in favor of the project and defended the site in regards to traffic. She felt that projects of this type should follow transit corridors and felt Mid- Peninsula was doing an excellent job. John Palmer, 1019 Audrey Avenue, Campbell, voiced concern over the parking lot area referring to the "marking out" of parking places in the parking lot by the Fire Department to keep emergency access available. This would again reduce the number of spaces available. Dana DeMoulin, 114 Dardanelli Lane, #6, Los Gatos, supports the project but was concerned by the added traffic flow and feels the access should be on Knowles. Aaron Belansky, 1897 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, supports the project and would not mind having a development like this across the road from himself. Hal Hendrix, 1543 Hack Avenue, Campbell, stated the development should be built elsewhere and that certain vital issues were not being addressed such as traffic, parking, violations of the General Plan, and the EIR. He is against the project as proposed and feels the access should be from Dardanelli Lane or Knowles. Victoria Thomas, 694 W. Parr Avenue, Los Gatos, feels the Council does not represent the residents and would like the decision extended to allow time for residents to come up with alternatives such as access on Knowles. TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California Nan Bixler, 104 Pinta Court, Los Gatos, supports the development and approves of lower income housing in Los Gatos. Marc Morris, 694 W. Parr Avenue, Los Gatos, questions the statements made by Mid- Peninsula regarding parking and does not want to see all the affordable housing on one site. Charles Bilec, 1461 Theresa Avenue, Campbell, does not want any more affordable housing in this area and wants access on Knowles or Dardanelli Lane. Marlene Lamb, 105 Arroyo Grande Way, Los Gatos, supports development of this project to give more opportunities for affordable housing in Los Gatos. TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONT. PARR AVE W. 634/HOUSING DEVELOPMENT/CONT. Speakers continued: Ed Washington, 1079 W. Parr Avenue, Campbell, feels the affordable housing in this area will create a "ghetto" and have negative results. Extra traffic will make the area hazardous. Perley Payne, 15925 Quail Hill, Los Gatos, challenged the opponents of the development to locate other locations as alternatives to this site. Mr. Carlson had some questions to direct at Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition. He questioned why the Knowles access could not be constructed as an alternative to the W. Parr Avenue access. Fran Wagstaf, Executive Director, Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition, explained that the County and the Town of Los Gatos agreed to exchange parcels of land with the hospital. She said it made sense for the County to swap in this situation because the County gained approximately four-tenths of an acre. If they were to agree to an access road through to Knowles they would loose too much of their parcel. She said they felt the location was better for residential. Mr. Carlson directed questions to Staff regarding extra density on the site. Staff replied that County may not have enough property left after granting an easement for an access road to place all their parking and buildings. Mr. Carlson asked if a continuance could be made to discuss the merits of accessing Knowles Drive. Al Starkey, 1520 Vail Avenue, Campbell, questioned what was to be done about the parking at Villa Vasona. Parking should all be off street. There was no one else from the audience to speak to this issue. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Blanton, to close the public hearing. Carried unanimously. Mr. Attaway questioned Mid-Peninsula about how a continuance would affect the funding cycle with the State? The response was that there already was a signed contract in place, however renegotiations could be considered. Mr. Carlson asked if all that was needed to be decided at the meeting tonight was, location and number of units. Mid-Peninsula said they needed zoning approval. They also said they needed to submit the site plan, and didn't think it would be a major problem to arrange the access. The application cycle with the State closes July 8, 1991. Mr. Blanton asked what the absolute deadline for filing was. Mid-Peninsula replied TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California that the initial application had to be filed by July 8, 1991, and the deadline for follow-up information to be submitted was August 1, 1991. Mayor Ventura stated that the Council's last deadline would be 5 days before July 1, 1991. Mr. Carlson would like to have this project exit on Knowles Drive in order to alleviate the additional traffic near the school. He would like to approve the concept of the project and work further with the neighborhood on solving the traffic issues, and request that the Hospital consider restricting access onto Parr, if so the Town may make exceptions regarding the hospital's new project as to height, and other considerations so as to make the project more economically feasible. TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONT. PARR AVE W. 634/HOUSING DEVELOPMENT/CONT. Mr. Ventura stated that due to the traffic impacts to be generated by this project he would like to see the hospital parking lot egress and ingress area off of Vail Ave. which empties onto West Parr and force access onto Dardinelli, and to also consider closing Dardinelli access to Parr. This to be shown in the draft ordinance. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Attaway, that Council can make the CEQUA findings in Attachment 7, Exhibit E, of the staff report, and make the Negative Declaration finding that community benefits mitigate any traffic impacts and all impacts so far defined can be mitigated. Carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council and staff study other ways of traffic circulation for this project, such as negotiations for Knowles Ave. access, and find that the community benefit for this project would outweigh the traffic impact. To proceed with the best possible project, allowing that the Town would be willing to negotiate density, even with dedication for street access to the project from Knowles, although most projects are not allowed maximum buildout at any time. Carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council make the finding that a community benefit mitigates traffic impacts, based upon Mr. Abkin's letter which appears in the staff report, the findings provided by the Planning Commission which appear in the staff report, and the response to the Town's Housing Element given several times by the State, that in fact this project does help the Town achieve significant Community benefit and significant regional benefit in providing the Town's fair share of what is per definition "low income" housing. Carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council find the zone change request is consistent with the General Plan insofar as the current office zoning would allow a much more significant traffic impact than this project would generate, and the housing project appears far more consistent with the General Plan. The Route 85 Committee findings have been, that within this area, the Vasona Corridor and Route 85 Corridor, Los Gatos as well as the other cities along these transportation corridors have been committed to increasing densities within these areas and therefore this proposal is consistent with the recommendations for modification of the General Plan. Sufficient access to mass transit, jobs and housing will be provided in these proposed areas. This project also allows for the development of moderate income housing called for in our current plan. This motion to TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California include the findings within the staff report which finds that the zone change request is consistent with the General Plan. Carried unanimously. Motion by Mayor Ventura, seconded by Mr. Carlson, that the smaller parking lot not access on Parr but only on Dardenelli. Carried unanimously. TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONT. PARR AVE W. 634/HOUSING DEVELOPMENT/CONT. Motion by Mayor Ventura, seconded by Mr. Carlson, that the adjoining parking lot that is to have a covenant for sharing the parking have a gate or opening for freer access and that the parking be available at 5:00 p.m. rather than at 6:00 p.m. Carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that the introduction of the draft ordinance, revised mitigation monitoring plan, findings regarding the zoning ordinance, site application, and lot line adjustment return to Council June 17, 1991. Carried unanimously. OPERATING BUDGET 1991-92/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING Mayor Ventura stated that this was the time and place duly noted for public hearing to consider 1991-92 Operating Budget Including the Use of Community Block Grant Funding. The following people from the audience spoke to this issue: Marlene Lamb, 105 Arroyo Grande Way, spoke in opposition to closing the circulation desk in the Children's Library. Rosalie Frankel, 15480 Palos Verdes, opposes moving the wall and having one check out area, and opposes additional video tape fees. Nan Bixler, 104 Pinta Court, opposes closing the children's library check out counter. Mary-Lyle Rempel, 17831 Skyline Boulevard, supports the concept of a separate children's library. Bill Jacobson, 17470 High Street, chairman of the Library Board stated that the library had to find $45,000.00. The Library Board would prefer to cut the book budget or the hours but to have a common check out area for adult and children's library. There was no one else from the audience to speak to this issue. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Blanton, to close the public hearing. Carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, not to charge the children for making requests for books. Carries unanimously. Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council not cut the library hours. Carried by a vote of four Ayes, Mr. Attaway voting no stating that the book budget should not be cut. TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that the proposed budget be adopted, with the changes made at previous meetings and this evening, for adoption on June 17, 1991. Carried unanimously. TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONT. OPERATING BUDGET 1991-92 CONT. Council consensus that the $45,000 needed for the library would not come from cutting hours, the book budget or charging for children's book requests but the use of some suggestions by the Library Board could be implemented to balance the library budget. TRANSIT ASSIST SUPERVAN/BID AWARD/CAPITOL FORD Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Carlson, that Council authorize purchase of one 1991 Ford stripped SuperVan from Capitol Ford Inc., at the sales price of $16,502.61 (including tax) for the Transit Assist program without contingency that point of sale be in Los Gatos. Carried unanimously. COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS/POLICY ADVISORY BOARD Mr. Carlson stated that the Policy Advisory Board of the Traffic Authority did vote to support the staff's recommended actions for making up the 77 million dollar short fall. All mitigation measures were preserved and all the interchanges were preserved and also the interchange plan. Two actions were taken to make up the short fall, one was a delay in the construction of the freeway as it goes through Los Gatos by approximately a year. The completion of the freeway in Los Gatos will now move the end of 1993 to the end 1994. The second item was a cut in the number of lanes from six to four. Regarding the Measure A tax, one hundred percent of what was put forth for Route 101 will be completed; approximately ninety percent will be completed on Route 85. Route 237 will only have seventy-five percent completed. Alameda County should be assessed for the completion of Route 237. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Mayor Ventura, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adjourn this evening's meeting at 11:45 p.m. Carried unanimously. ATTEST: Wendy Marie Fries Deputy Town Clerk TC:D1:MM061091 June 10, 1991 Los Gatos, California Marian V. Cosgrove Town Clerk TC:D1:MM061091