Draft Mins 04.25.18
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/23/2018
ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 25, 2018
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair D. Michael Kane, Vice Chair Matthew Hudes, Commissioner Mary Badame,
Commissioner Kendra Burch, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Kathryn Janoff,
and Commissioner Tom O’Donnell
Absent: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Burch led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Historic Preservation Committee
Vice Chair Hudes
- The HPC met 4/25/18 and considered three items:
o 223 Massol Avenue
o 128 Tate Avenue
o 94 Hernandez
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – April 11, 2018
2. 320 Santa Rosa Drive
Conditional Use Permit Application U-18-001
APN 527-55-037
Property Owner/Applicant: Howard Clabo
PAGE 2 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2018
Project Planner: Erin Walters
Requesting approval for construction of a vineyard on property zoned HR -2-½.
3. 212-216 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Conditional Use Permit Application U-16-001
APN 529-04-085
Property Owner: McCarthy Santa Cruz Avenue, LLC
Applicant: Soul Cycle
Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman
Required six-month review for the approved Conditional Use Permit for a new fitness
studio (Soul Cycle) with group exercise classes on property zoned C-2.
Commissioner O'Donnell requested that Item 2, 320 Santa Rosa Drive, be pulled from the
Consent Calendar.
Chair Kane removed Item 2 from the Consent Calendar.
Vice Chair Hudes indicated that he would abstain from participating in Item 1, Approval of
Minutes for April 11, 2018, as he was absent from the hearing and had not reviewed the
recording.
Commissioner Hanssen indicated that she would recuse herself from participating in Item 2,
320 Santa Rosa Drive, as she lives on the same street as the applicant, and she sits on the
homeowners association board.
Commissioner Badame indicated that she would recuse herself from participating in Item 3,
212-216 North Santa Cruz Avenue, as the project location is within 500 feet of her business
address.
Chair Kane requested a show of hands to approve the amended Consent Calendar for Items 1
and 3.
The Commission voted unanimously to approve the amended Consent Calendar with Vice
Chair Hudes recused from Item 1 and Commissioner Badame recused from Item 3 .
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 320 Santa Rosa Drive
Conditional Use Permit Application U-18-001
APN 527-55-037
Property Owner/Applicant: Howard Clabo
Project Planner: Erin Walters
PAGE 3 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2018
Requesting approval for construction of a vineyard on property zoned HR -2-½.
Joel Paulson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Howard Clabo
- This is a small residential family vineyard for production of wine for their personal use.
There would be no grading on the property, and no trees would be removed. The project is
laid out in two phases: Phase 1 would be a 7,000 square foot vineyard; phase 2 would be a
smaller vineyard on another part of the property to be planted in the future. The project
would comply with the guidelines of the hillside zoning.
Cody Muhl
- There would be no heavy machinery used on the hillside; work would be done by hand. The
vine’s root structures, once established, would provide an enhanced erosion control
method that does not currently exist on the hillside, and the vineyard would serve as a
firebreak up the hillside for the entire community on the eastern side of the h ouse.
Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O'Donnell to approve a Conditional Use Permit
for 320 Santa Rose Drive. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Hanssen recused.
4. 17505 High Street
Architecture and Site Application S-17-025
APN 532-23-037
Property Owner/Applicant: Michael Sullivan
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Requesting approval for construction of an addition greater than 100 square feet to an
existing second story, to exceed the maximum building height for a single-family
residence, and for site improvements requiring a grading permit on property zoned
HR-1.
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
PAGE 4 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2018
Michael Sullivan
- Removing the most prominent feature, the A-frame at the front facing the valley, would
make a significant improvement. They would take the driveway slope from 33 percent to
20 percent. They would build a new fire sprinkler system for the house, as well as use new
exterior fire rated materials. The addition would be placed adjacent to the house and back
into the hillside; it would require no grading and would be well screened. The failing
retaining walls throughout the property would be replaced. The home would be upgraded
with green features. The carport would be enclosed to form a functional two-car garage.
They would widen High Street and build new retaining walls on it.
Theresa Wellington
- Their project has come a long way through meetings with the Town and neighbors, and
they strive to build a home that will blend with their community and respects the Hillside
Design Guidelines to the greatest extent possible. Working on the project has allowed them
to meet and get to know their neighbors.
Jeff Funston
- He lives on High Street and supports the project. He believes the home will be a great
addition to the neighborhood. He had to tear down and rebuild his own home, so he
understands why this home must also be remodeled, and he understands the process the
applicant is going through.
Taylor Stump
- He lives on College Avenue and is also in support of the project, saying it is nice to see
young blood come into a place and revitalize and modernize it. The plans are exceptional.
He lives on a hillside with trees, so he knows that fireproofing and fire safety is extremely
important. The project would improve the appearance of the hillside as well as the
community.
Ming Liu
- She supports the project. The applicants have been communicating with her and her
husband, and reviewed their plans with them. They are an uphill neighbor and see no
problem with their construction; it does not interfere with their view or access to or
enjoyment of their property.
Clay Cougar
- He and Ms. Liu live up the hill from the subject site. He really likes the house design and the
site lines. He thought the home would be a great addition to the neighborhood. He also
greatly appreciates the street widening to provide more parking and room to get around
traffic. He is in full support of the project.
PAGE 5 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2018
Kaylin Rodriguez
- She has seen the project plans and thinks the house would be a great improvement to the
community, and it would bring value. She has seen and driven the existing driveway, and is
very excited to have a safer driveway, especially for emergency vehicles.
Debbi Ricks
- She lives on High Street right below the project. She and her husband fully support the
project. They are excited about the applicant’s plans, and said the applicants had been in
complete communication with them from the very beginning. Because of the way the
house is sited back and away, they will see only a little of the new construction. The new
retaining walls would also not be a problem for them, because there is plenty of room to
do plantings.
Kurt Fehlberg
- He is a project architect. They are getting great feedback from the neighbors on the
project.
Lauri Fehlberg
- She is also a project architect. It has been great working with the Town’s staff and the
consulting architect on the project. They appreciate the support they have been given.
Paul Tersini
- He is in complete support of the project. The applicants have done great neighborhood
outreach, the area will be greatly improved, and he likes the safety features such as the fire
sprinklers and less steep driveway. The house will be a beautiful additi on to the
neighborhood.
Steve Howard
- He lives on High Street and is a neighbor to the applicants. He worked on the existing home
years ago and knows that the house needs renovation . He approves of the work that the
applicants intend to do on the house, and thinks it will make a great addition to the
neighborhood. He is in full support of the project.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve an Architecture and Site
Application for 17505 High Street. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 6 OF 6
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2018
OTHER BUSINESS
5. CIP Projects
Draft proposed Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2018/2019 to 2022/2023.
Matt Morley, Director of Parks and Public Works, provided the staff report.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Chair Kane to recommend to Town Council approval of the
2018/2019 to 2022/2023 Draft Proposed CIP. Seconded by Commissioner
Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
COMMISSION MATTERS
• Chair Kane pointed out Vice Chair Hudes had come to the hearing fully prepared after
flying for 72 hours from Asia.
6. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• Town Council met 4/17/18; approved the application for Nick’s Raw Bar; approved the
Ordinance Amendments and General Plan Amendments for Planned Development
Ordinances; and adopted a resolution which states the parameters for selecting up to
five additional members to be added to the GPC to form the General Plan Advisory
Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
April 25, 2018 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin