401-409 Alberto Wy - Desk Item and Exhibit 26
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER ARMER
Senior 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: 1/10/2018
ITEM NO: 2
DESK ITEM
DATE: JANUARY 10, 2018
TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION 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.
REMARKS:
Exhibit 26 includes additional public comment received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, January
9, 2018 and 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 10, 2018.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received under separate cover:
1. Draft Environmental Impact Report
2. Final EIR and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, dated June 29, 2016
Previously received with December 13, 2017 Staff Report:
3. Location Map
4. Required Findings and Considerations (two pages)
5. Required CEQA Findings of Fact (24 pages)
6. Recommended Conditions of Approval (22 pages)
7. Excerpt of Town Council Meeting Minutes from October 3, 2017 (three pages)
8. Town Council Resolution 2017-056 (three pages)
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY PROJECT/S-15-056, U-15-009, AND EIR-16-001
JANUARY 10, 2018
N:\DEV\PC REPORTS\2018\AlbertoWay401-409 1.10.18 remand cont DESK.docx 1/10/2018 11:52 AM
9. Letter of Justification/Project Description (23 pages), received November 7, 2017
10. Supplemental Applicant Information (four pages), received November 17, 2017
11. Architectural Consultant’s Report on Previous Plans (eight pages), received March 17, 2017
12. Project Information Sheet, prepared by the Parks and Public Works Department
13. Public Comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 8, 2017
14. Development Plans (37 pages), received November 7, 2017
Previously received with December 13, 2017 Addendum Report:
15. Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc. Letter, dated November 30, 2017 (two pages)
16. TGKM Transportation Consultants, Inc. Letter, dated December 8, 2017 (one page)
Previously received with December 13, 2017 Addendum B Report:
17. Applicant’s Supplemental Response Letter, dated December 11, 2017
18. Applicant’s Geotechnical Consultant (ENGEO) Letter, dated December 12, 2017
19. Town’s Geotechnical Consultant (Amec Foster Wheeler) Letter, dated December 12, 2017
20. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, December 8, 2017 and 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Previously received with December 13, 2017 Desk Item Report:
21. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2017 and 11:00
a.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Previously received with January 10, 2018 Staff Report:
22. Revised Conditions of Approval (22 pages)
23. Applicant response letter, received January 3, 2018 (94 pages)
24. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2017 and 11:00
a.m. Friday, January 5, 2018
Previously received with January 10, 2018 Addendum Report:
25. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, January 5, 2018 and 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Received with this Desk Item:
26. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, January 9, 2018 and 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Ms.·Armer,
Rennis K <rennisk@gmail.com>
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 8:36 AM
Jennifer Armer
Rennis K
In Opposition to the Alberto Way 401-409 Plans
This is to express my concern about the pending plans for "improving" the 401-409 Alberto Way complex.
Alberto Way a very narrow street which is exacerbated by parked cars and a few blind turns. As you know there are
several high-density housing complexes ("The Commons", "Bella Vista Village", etc.) that creates a great deal of
residential traffic and pedestrians. Adding more office space causing in turn more traffic will lead to serious safety issues
for those of us who live here as well as inconven~ence given Alberto Way is a dead-end street.
Considering the extent of construction that is involved in the proposed 401-409 Alberto Way Plan, there will be a major
disruption to the residents and limited business in the area (e.g., Grill 57, Best Western, etc.) during the construction
phase. This creates a "double-whammy" effect for those of us who live on this street -not only will we be negatively
impacted in the short term by the construction, but also much longer term once the offices are populated.
Another serious consideration is in the case of a significant disaster occurring. As mentioned Alberto Way is a dead-end
street. Should there be a major fire (like Napa/Sonoma/SoCal recently experienced), deadly earthquake or other similar
catastrophic event, it is very likely the residents could be trapped due to the added congestion of the office building
evacuation, added chaos and restricted access for medical and emergency services.
The Alberto Way 401-409 Plan is a bad deal for a large number of residents in this area. We get nothing out of it except
frustration, congestion and head-aches.
I urge you and the Planning Commission to reject the plan on January 10, 2018.
Regards,
Rennis Kauffman
109 Treseder Court
Los Gatos, CA 95032
408.355.8730
EXHIBIT 26
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
January 10, 2018
Paulette Sato <surlbudha@gmail.com>
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 10:22 AM
Jennifer Armer
401-409 Alberto Way
Hello Planning Committee and esteemed Town Council Members,
I am writing in response to the proposed construction at 401-409 project on Alberto Way. I have attended the four
Town Council meetings addressing this construction and have spoken at three of them . I understand the enormous
amount of time, consideration, and work that this project has involved for the Town Council members, and only ask that
you consider this final point before any movement on this construction takes place. This proposed 74,000 sq. ft.
commercial property in downtown Los Gatos is unlike anything Los Gatos has ever seen before. If this project is
approved in its current form, it will only allow and set the precedent for other developers to come into downtown Los
Gatos and try to build another office complex of this size and stature. This would be an enormous upset and defeat for
the current residents of Los Gatos, as it would begin to deteriorate the beautiful small town-feel and charm that is
cherished by Los Gatos residents and has become what Los Gatos is known for. Fof that reason, please do not approve
this construction in its current form and protect Los Gatos.
Thank you so much for your time and hard work,
Paulette Sato
Resident of Pueblo de Los Gatos
420 Alberto Way
Jennifer Armer
From: Susan L. & John B <love bourgeofs@yahoo.com>
To: planning@losgatos.gov <planning@losgatos.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 9:30:22 AM PST
Subject: 401 to 409 Alberto Way
Planning Commission:
Thank you for your consistent message to the developers at 401 to 409 Alberto Way to decrease the size of their
proposed development. Given the zoning of the parcel and the mixed nature of the land use on Alberto Way, I
understand that this is a challenging decision.
However, I urge you to continue to consider the neighborhood compatibility of the proposed development. Many Town
residents live on Alberto Way, and we are being squeezed by an intensification of proposed uses on e ither end. This
intensification of land use would dramatically changing the character of our neighborhood, and is being exacerbated by
other actions in Town such as the summer traffic mitigation measures which funnel all of that traffic to our front door. I
understand that this is not a traditional neighborhood, but it is our home.
Thank you for continuing to put land use issues of interest to Town residents before developer profit margins.
Thank you all,
John Bourgeois
420 Alberto Way #37
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Kemp, Melanie <Melanie.Kemp@cbnorcal.com>
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 10:54 AM
Jennifer Armer
I DO NOT support the proposed development at 401 Alberto Way
I am strongly opposed to the proposed development at 401 Alberto Way by Lamb Partners. I have
been a resident in Bella Vista Village for 19 years. We need to find a more reasonable size and scale
to this project including a one-level underground parking garage.
Thank you,
Melanie Kemp
17 4 Cuesta de Los Gatos Way
Los Gatos, CA 95032
MELANIE
KEMP
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Broker Associate
COLDWELL BANKER
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confirm the instructions . Additionally, please note that the sender does not have authority to bind a party to a
real estate contract via written or verbal communication.
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sen t
To:
Subject:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Dear Ms. Armer,
Cathy J. Cathey <ccathey@bfr.com>
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 10:59 AM
Jennifer Armer
405 Alberto Way Project and Lo s Gatos
Follow up
Fla g ged
First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for both the planning commission and the Town council. No matter
what the outcome, I am grateful for the efforts the planning commission and the Town council to do what is right for our
town . So, a big thank you!
My husband and I moved to Los Gatos 28 years ago. He'd arrived before me and started a job in San Jose. I followed him
with our 5 year old daughter. My husband had rented a furnished apartment in the El Gato Penthouse
apartments. Since I had secured a job in San Francisco, our plan was to live in San Mateo, San Carlos area. We'd head up
that way looking for housing, then return to Los Gatos. We'd go to the Los Gatos coffee roasting company to talk about
the housing. One day, while sitting outside on a bench in front of the Coffee Roasting Company, I told my husband, "I
think I want to live HERE-I love this town-but I don't want to commute to San Francisco from Los Gatos". He turned to
me and said, "well, you don't have to take that job-I like it here, too, so let's live here and you can find another
job". (One of the many reasons I loved my husband). So we stayed. I was smitten with the town, despite the fact that it
was rebuilding after the Loma Prieta earthquake-I knew this town was something special.
So, now 28 years have gone by, my husband passed away 19 years ago, my children are grown up and gone, and I am
still smitten. I still get a thrill driving down the streets and looking at the architecture. I love the downtown area, the
events, the dining, the Happy Dragon :-), but what I love the most is the people and the environment. When I tell people
I live in Los Gatos, they smile and tell me, "I love Los Gatos-it's charming, fun and beautiful". I couldn't agree more.
Of course, change is necessary and inevitable, and the 405 project is a prime example of defining how we want Los
Gatos to change in the future years. My feelings about this project have remained the same since this process started-
it's too big and truly does not capture the essence of this town. It does not fit into the existing aesthetic of the
neighborhood, it will compromise the health and safety of the neighborhood, and of course, we already have the traffic
issues which have increased dramatically since I've lived on Alberto Way for the past 15 years. I have a friend who works
for the Planning Commission within Santa Clara County-she said, "It's a big ugly box" -I wouldn't go so far as to say
that-I agree with someone on the planning commission who said "Nice building, wrong location".
For the record, I DID support the project that is now the Best Western, Grill 57, and the medical offices (although I am
still looking for the Card/gift shop which was originally promised when the 55 Alberto Way proposal started, lol).
I think it is now time for some soul searching prior to making a decision on this project. In 5-10 year's time, if the
Planning commission and the town council approve this project, will the members who voted for it look back and think
that was a good decision, or will they say to themselves, "What was I thinking?".
Thank you,
Cathy Cathey (board member at Pueblo de Los Gatos)
420 Alberto Way #44
Los Gato s, CA 95032
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Planning Commission:
J Scott <gatosbella@gmail.com>
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 11:00 AM
Jennifer Armer
What would you approve if this were your neighborhood?
We may not have the same deep pockets this developer has to buy his way into this town but what we do have is our
integrity. We're standing up for what is important, safe and appropriare for the small residential neighborhood, the
town's general design guidelines and the precedence we'd be setting if this massive project is approved as is.
Kindly,
Jannette Scott
420 Alberto Way
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