Attachment 12PREPARED BY: SEAN MULLIN, AICP
Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Planning Manager and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/10/2019 ITEM NO: 4
DATE: APRIL 4, 2019 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: TOWN CODE AMENDMENT APPLICATION A-19-001. PROJECT LOCATION:
TOWN WIDE. APPLICANT: TOWN OF LOS GATOS. CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 29 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE TOWN CODE REGARDING FENCES, HEDGES, AND WALLS, INCLUDING REGULATIONS FOR THE HILLSIDE AREA OF TOWN.
BACKGROUND:
On March 13, 2019, the Planning Commission considered amendments to Chapter 29 (zoning
regulations) of the Town Code regarding fences, hedges, and walls, including regulations for the
hillside area of Town. The Planning Commission received public comment, closed the public
hearing, discussed the amendments, and continued the matter to the April 10, 2019 meeting,
to allow further discussion of the amendments.
A working draft Ordinance prepared by Vice Chair Hanssen and Commissioner Janoff is included
as Exhibit 16.
Staff looks forward to the discussion and will be available to answer any questions.
DISCUSSION:
A.Public Outreach
On April 3, 2019, staff contacted the following organizations and requested input on the
current draft Ordinance:
•Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASCV)
•Santa Clara County Association of Realtors (SCCAR)
•Silicon Valley Association of Realtors (SILVAR)
ATTACHMENT 12
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DISCUSSION (continued):
In addition to contacting professional organizations, staff requested public input through
the following media and social media resources:
• An eighth-page public notice in the newspaper;
• 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; and
• On the Town’s NextDoor page.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Written comments received before 11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 5, 2019, are included as
Exhibit 16.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received with the March 13, 2019 Staff Report:
1. Hillside Area Map
2. Findings
3. Draft Ordinance
4. Ordinance Priorities Memorandum dated February 12, 2017, from Robert Shultz, Town
Attorney
5. Ordinance 2278, adopted December 18, 2018
6. Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines pertaining to fences
7. November 15, 2018 Town Council Policy Committee staff memorandum and synopsis
8. December 20, 2018 Town Council Policy Committee staff memorandum and synopsis
9. Examples of fence design and materials discussed in the draft Ordinance
10. General Plan Policies and Actions pertaining to fences, wildlife habitats, and migration
corridors
11. Neighboring Jurisdictions Fencing Regulations
12. Public Comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2019
Previously received with the March 12, 2019 Addendum Report:
13. Public comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2019, from which a page was
inadvertently omitted in Exhibit 12 (three pages)
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14. Public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2019 and 11:00 a.m.,
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 (one page)
Previously received with the March 13, 2019 Desk Item Report:
15. Public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, March 12, 2019 and 11:00 a.m.,
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 (four pages)
Exhibits received with this Staff Report:
16. Working draft Ordinance prepared by Commissioners Janoff and Hanssen, received
April 4, 2019
17. Public comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2019
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DRAFT -3/13/19
Amendments to Chapter 29 of Town Code -Fences, hedges, and walls.
SECTION I
RECEIVED
APR 4 2019
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING DIVISION
Los Gatos Town Code Chapter 29, Section 29.40.030 is hereby repealed and reenacted to read
as follows:
Sec. 29.40.030. Fences, walls, gates, gateways, entry arbors, and hedges.
Intent: The intent of this regulation is to preserve the natural beauty of the Town, the natural
movement of wildlife and to protect views while acknowledging residents have the right to fence their
properties to protect children, contain their animals, to protect garden or agricultural areas, and to
maintain privacy.
Specifically, within hillside areas, the intent of this regulation is to limit six-foot high fences and deer
fencing to those areas where they are absolutely necessary, to provide for the movement of wildlife
within the open rural character of the hillsides.
This Ordinance incorporates the Hillside Design Standards and Guidelines related to fencing (pages 42 -
44).
Definitions (included here and/or in the definitions section of the code):
Hillside: The area identified by the Town of Los Gatos' Hillside Area Map (found in the Hillside Design
Standards and Guidelines, Page 8) [OR REFERENCE WHERE IT IS IN THE TOWN CODE IF IT IS]
Wildlife-Friendly Open Fencing: Fencing designed of wood with rails spaced to allow animals to move
freely under, through or over the fence. The minimum height above grade is 16 inches and the minimum
space between rails is 12". [RECOMMEND ADDING THE ILLUSTRATION FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR
GREEN HILLS LITTER DATED MARCH 7, 2019 (IN OUR 3-13 PACKET), PAGE 2 IN THE HDS&G.]
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EXHIBIT 17