418 University Ave - Desk Item and Exhibit 12PREPARED BY: JOCELYN SHOOPMAN
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: 01/10/2018
ITEM NO: 4
DESK ITEM
DATE: JANUARY 10, 2018
TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION S-17-018 AND VARIANCE
APPLICATION V-17-002. PROJECT LOCATION: 418 UNIVERSITY AVENUE.
PROPERTY OWNER: CYNTHIA BEVERAGE AND TIMOTHY CANEPA.
APPLICANT: BESS WIERSEMA, STUDIO 3 DESIGN.
REQUESTING APPROVAL OF A VARIANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE THAT DOES MEET SETBACK REGULATIONS AND
APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITION TO A SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENCE THAT WILL EXCEED THE ALLOWABLE FLOOR AREA RATIO ON
PROPERTY ZONED R1-D. APN 529-06-066.
DEEMED COMPLETE: DECEMBER 1, 2017
FINAL DATE TO TAKE ACTION: JUNE 1, 2018
REMARKS:
Exhibit 12 includes public comments received after distribution of the January 10, 2018, Staff
Report.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received with January 10, 2018 Staff Report:
1.Location Map
2.Required Findings and Considerations (two pages)
3.Recommended Conditions of Approval (ten pages)
4.Letter of Justification for Exception to Floor Area Ratio, received December 18, 2017 (one
page)
5.Letter of Justification for Variance from Applicant, received November 7, 2017 (five pages)
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: 418 UNIVERSITY AVENUE/S-17-018 AND V-17-002
JANUARY 10, 2018
N:\DEV\PC REPORTS\2018\University 418 01-10-18 DESK.docx 1/10/2018 12:28 PM
6. Letter of Justification for Variance from Property Owner, received August 30, 2017 (five
pages)
7. Neighborhood Analysis, received November 7, 2017 (18 pages)
8. May 24, 2017, Historic Preservation Committee Minutes (four pages)
9. Arborist Report, received December 5, 2017 (four pages)
10. Public Comments received by 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 5, 2018 (one page)
11. Development Plans, received December 11, 2017 (14 sheets)
Received with this Desk Item:
12. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m. Thursday, January 5, 2018 and 11:00 a.m.,
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Distribution:
Cynthia Beverage and Timothy Canepa, 418 University Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Bess Wiersema, 638 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Jocelyn Shoopman
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Jocelyn Shoopman
Project Planner
Town of Los Gatos
Karen Hebert <karen@oyagroup.com>
Monday, January 08, 2018 11:35 AM
Jocelyn Shoopman
Project Remodel at 418 University Avenue
Re: 418 University Avenue Remodel
Dear Jocelyn,
RECEIVED
JAN -:. ~ 2018
TO\NN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
I understand that you are the person who I should address this to. If Aot, can you please forward to the appropriate
party? The hearing on this project is set for January 10th.
We are the immediate neighbors of Tim and Cynthia Canepa at 418 University Avenue. We own the property at 420
University Avenue and it is our primary residence. Our names are Karen Hebert and Adam Gordon.
Our neighbors (The Canepas) have shared their proposed plans with us and have provided many opportunities for
review and conversation. Based on that information we feel the overall design is in keeping with the personality and
community aesthetic of Los Gatos and will be a welcome improvement to our neighborhood and street. I do appreciate
that the proposed design will retain much of the California craftsman bungalow character on street v iew. I think that's
an important design decision.
We also understand that the size and scale of the house will increase in the rear and by adding a second story. Our
house is 2+ stories as are most of the houses in the immediate vicinity and therefore I think the proposal scale of the
remodel is appropriately comparable and should fit in well.
Based on the above and the plans that we have seen we are in support of their project.
I hope you have a fabulous day!
Karen Hebert I CEO and Executive Creative Director
The Oya Group
Full Serv ice Brand Marketing
4 08 398-5151 mobile I 408 358-3444 ext. 222 office
email karen@oyagroup.com
sky pe kj.hebert
web www.oyagroup.com
blog http://oyaqroup.com/blog
llnkedln http://www.linkedin.com/in/kihebert
EXHIBIT 12
Jocelyn Shoopman
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
Cynthia Beverage <cbeveragel@gmail.com>
Monday, January 08, 2018 9:28 AM
TimCanepa
Fwd: You Plans
----Forwarded message------
From: "Bandaian, John" <John.Bandaian@kla-tencor.com>
Date: Jan 7, 2018 6:56 PM
Subject: You Plans
To: "Cynthia Beverage" <cbeveragel@gmail.com>
Cc:
Hi Tim & Cynthia:
RECEIVED
JAN ~8 Z018
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
Thank you for giving us a copy of your plans, they look great. Adrienne and I feel that adding the second story
and increasing your square footage will be a big improvement to your place and the neighborhood. We are also
in complete support of your making your garage bigger and the reduced setbacks.
We are excited for you and look forward to seeing your new and improved house. We know it will make the
entire neighborhood look even better once your remodel is complete.
Good luck with everything.
John Bandaian
IC£1;'1'encor
The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential. It is intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you ha ve received this email in error please notify the
system manager and the sender immediately and do not disclose the contents to anyone or make copies. If the statements in this email are intended in the course of
negotiation, KLA-Tencor does not intend that any party rely or act based on those statements, or any other (oral or in writing) unless they are in corporated into o
written definitive agre em ent signed by authorized representatives of the parties.
1
Jocelyn Shoopman
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc
Subject:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
martydart@gmail.com on behalf of Marty Dart <mldart@stanford .edu>
Sunday, January 07, 2018 4:20 PM
tcanepa@comcast.net
Renata
Letter for Planning Commision.
Follow up
Flagged
RECEIVED
JAN-~ 2018 ...
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
Hi Timl..Take a look at what we wrote below and let me know what you think. I tried to keep it direct and concise, but
let me know if it needs more info .
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
To:
Los Gatos Planning Commision
From :
Marty and Renata Dart,
Home owners and residents
412 University Ave.
Los Gatos
Please consider this letter an endorsement for the proposed plan for the property of Tim canepa at 418 University
Ave. Our home, 412 University Ave., Is adjacent.
As residents of Los Gatos for over 25 years we greatly value the character of the town. We have extensively viewed the
plans that are currently being proposed at 418 University and appreciate the efforts that nm has made to preserve the
quality that is in keeping with the traditional historical feel of Los Gatos.
The scale of the home is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. The p lacement of the garage is sensible and
part of a well reasoned design. We believe this project will be an enhancement to our neighborhood.
Please feel free to contact us directly with any questions regarding our support:
Phone: 408-504-2136
Email : Martydart@gmail.com
1
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Intentionally
Left Blank
January 8, 2018
Adil and Renee Munshi
471 Wraight Ave.
Los Gatos, CA
To: Jocelyn Shoopman, Project Planner
Cc: Tim Canepa and Cynthia Beverage
Re: 418 University Ave.
RECEIVED
JAN -:~ 2018
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
We live in the house to the southeast (rear) of 418 University Ave. After a conversation
between Renee and Tim on Jan. 4, our understanding is that Tim and Cynthia will use the
standard 3-foot setback for the rear wall of their proposed garage (instead of the 1-foot
variance shown on the current plans). When the plans are changed, we would appreciate a
copy.
We oppose the variance for the following aesthetic and practical reasons:
Aesthetically, the proposed garage is significantly bigger than the old garage, Its ridge line is
higher by 1 foot, and the ridge line is turned 90 degrees such that it is parallel to the 6-foot
fence between the two properties. The proposed changes, combined with the fact that our
house and patio sit approximately 6 feet lower than the 418 University property mean that the
proposed garage will loom block-like over our backyard. (Photo on page 2.) The closer the
garage is to the fence, the more prominent it will be.
Practically, if the proposed garage wall were only 1 foot from the 6-foot fence, the garage roof
eaves and gutters could potentially extend to the property line or hang over onto our property;
painting or otherwise maintaining the southeast garage wall would be very difficult; and the
narrow, unmaintained space between the fence and wall could become a nesting spot for
skunks or rats. (Skunks are already a problem in the neighborhood.)
We think and hope that Tim and Cynthia will still be able to come up with a driveway solution
that works for them. We appreciate their willingness to accommodate us.
Sincerely,
Adil and Renee Munshi
1
This photo was taken from our back door/patio. It shows the current 418 University Ave. garage
7 feet from the other side of our back fence. The pink dotted line approximates the outline of
the ·proposed garage.
2