Draft Mins 01.10.18
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 01/24/2018
ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
JANUARY 10, 2018
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Tom O'Donnell, Vice Chair D. Michael Kane, Commissioner Mary Badame,
Commissioner Kendra Burch, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Matthew Hudes,
and Commissioner Kathryn Janoff
Absent: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Badame led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
None.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Angelia Doerner
- She frequently goes through the intersection of Santa Cruz Avenue and Highway 9, and
appreciates the work done by Double D’s to preserve the hillside views and downtown Los
Gatos character while rebuilding after a fire. The story poles for the McCarthy Ranch show
how much of the hills would be obscured, and that is the panorama at the gateway to
downtown Los Gatos.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – December 13, 2017
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 2 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2018
JANUARY 16, 2018
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 401 to 409 Alberto Way
Architecture and Site Application S-15-056
Conditional Use Permit Application U-15-009
Environmental Impact Report EIR-16-001
APN 529-23-018
Property Owner: CWA Realty
Applicant: Shane Arters, LP Acquisitions, LLC
Project Planner: Jennifer Armer
Continued from 12/13/2017
Requesting approval to demolish three existing office buildings and construct a new, two -story
office building with below grade and at grade parking on property zoned CH. It has been
determined that this matter may have a significant impact on the environm ent and an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared as required by the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Chair O'Donnell indicated that Commissioner Badame would recuse herself from participating
in the public hearing for 401 to 409 Albert Way because she lives within 500 feet of the
subject property.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Janoff to continue the public hearing for 401 to 409
Alberto Way subject to direction given by the Planning Commission to consider modifying the
north end of the building, to make any portion of it single story in order to preserve views, and
for the applicant to consider how to achieve the necessary square footage with that
modification. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
Commissioner Hudes requested that the motion be amended to include consideration of,
whether increasing the north setback would improve views, and designating a different
public open space use that the residents would prefer for the area now proposed as a dog
park.
The maker of the motion accepted the proposed amendments to the motion.
The seconder of the motion accepted the proposed amendments to the motion.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-2 with Vice Chair Kane and Commissioner Hanssen opposing.
PAGE 3 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2018
JANUARY 16, 2018
Staff suggested the hearing be continued to a date certain of February 28, 2018.
The maker of the motion accepted the suggested hearing date.
The seconder of the motion accepted the suggested hearing date.
The Planning Commission agreed by consensus to continue the public hearing to February 28,
2018.
Commissioner Burch left the meeting prior to consideration of Item 3.
3. 400 Carlton Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-17-002
APN 424-12-098
Property Owner: T&M Properties
Applicant: Kohlsaat and Associates, Inc.
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Requesting approval for demolition of two existing medical office buildings and
construction of a new medical office building on property zoned O.
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Dr. Tom Eduardo
- Office space for lease in this area is old and dilapidated, and a state of the art facility is
necessary to meet the needs of the aging population and to comply with medical codes.
They engaged in community outreach over the summer, including two medical neighbors
with whom they share an easement. There would be a significant reduction in traffic with
the new building as opposed to the current amount. The underground parking would be
gated and well lit, but not so as to shine into the neighbors’ homes.
Gary Kohlsaat
- They are not asking for any exceptions, are below the height limit, and below the max
coverage. The site is surrounded by offices and is along the National Avenue corridor, a
well-known doctors office street; and also by many two-story homes. They are using the
existing ingress/egress locations, so there would be no change in habits. They are removing
trees, but will re-landscape the site. The street trees help screen the building, so the two-
story aspect would not be as noticeable. The architecture was designed to read as a
medical office building but also have a touch of residential character to it to relate to the
residential neighbors.
PAGE 4 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2018
JANUARY 16, 2018
Janice Carter
- She is concerned about traffic, because the area has become more and more congested;
the noise of car alarms going off, because residents can’t park on Jo Drive, because it is all
medical buildings and the employees must park on the street because they are not allowed
to park in the parking lots; and the scale and look of the building, a large Mediterranean
beige building in a residential area.
Jose Serrano
- He is a neighbor on Carlton Avenue across from the subject property. The story poles
erected in mid-December show how the construction would obstruct the view of the
mountains from his property. The traffic has increased in the two years he has lived on the
street and has become dangerous for children to play outside. Employees in the
surrounding medical offices park in front of his home.
Gary Kohlsaat
- Their project would not change the parking situation on the street, because none of the
people who park on Carlton Avenue or Jo Drive work in the existing building. The project is
in a traffic zone, but that is where offices should be. They have reduced the building height
as much as possible and still keep it a high-quality office building; and it is only a few feet
higher than a residence, and would be a good bridge between the residential to the other
offices.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve an Architecture and Site
Application for 400 Carlton Avenue, with additional conditions of
approval that employees park onsite, and that the repair and
replacement of the sidewalks shall be reviewed with the town arborist
and town engineer. Seconded by Vice Chair Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
4. 418 University Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-17-018
Variance Application V-17-002
APN 529-06-066
Property Owner: Cynthia Beverage and Tim Canepa
Applicant: Studio 3 Design, Bess Wiersema
Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman
PAGE 5 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2018
JANUARY 16, 2018
Requesting approval of a variance for construction of an accessory structure that does
not 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.
Jocelyn Shoopman, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Bess Wiersema
- The exception for increasing square footage over the FAR checks the box on finding that
the current house has the same site conditions as adjacent properties, many of which are
larger, over the FAR, and two-story. Although they are 408 square feet over the allowable
FAR, they are only the fourth largest house in the immediate neighborhood, and a modest
home at 2,301 square feet. They have had extra meetings with the rear neighbor, and they
are only requesting that the right side setback be reduced to 1 foot, and the rear setback
would be 3 feet to accommodate the rear neighbor’s concerns.
Tim Canepa
- They are excited to expand their home, and want to maintain the character of the house. It
is challenging to get in and out of the driveway, and dangerous to park on the street due to
the close proximity to the corner. Their cars have been hit multiple times, and totaled
twice. The side variance and moving the garage over 1 foot allows them to get their two
cars into the garage and off the street.
Jim Woods
- He lives behind and down two houses. Currently from their kitchen window and through an
opening in the trees they can see the hills, and based on the story poles this project would
wipe out that view.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to approve an Architecture and Site
Application and Variance application for 418 University Avenue.
Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 6 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2018
JANUARY 16, 2018
OTHER BUSINESS
5. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
MOTION: Motion by Chair O'Donnell to nominate Vice Chair Kane as Chair of the
Planning Commission.
Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Kane to nominate Commissioner Hudes as Vice
Chair of the Planning Commission.
Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
6. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• Town Council met 12/19/17; approved modifications to Hillside Development Standards
and Guidelines relating to visibility; granted appeal for 26 Alpine; and adopted the
General Plan Amendment for 202 University Avenue.
• Town Council will meet on January 16, 2018; will consider the Accessory Dwelling Unit
Ordinance modifications, and the North 40 Specific Plan Amendments from the
November 14, 2017 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:38 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
January 10, 2018 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission
/s/Vicki Blandin, Minutes Transcriber