Draft Mins 01.25.17
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/08/2017 ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
JANUARY 25, 2017
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, January 25, 2017, 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
General Plan Committee
Commissioner Hanssen
- General Plan Committee met on 1/25/17; elected Chair and Vice Chair, but were unable to
conduct full agenda business due to lack of a quorum; items were continued to 2/8/17.
Historic Preservation Committee
Commissioner Hudes
- Historic Preservation Committee met on 1/25/17; considered 15820 Shady Lane; reviewed
reports on HPC activities; elected Chair and Vice Chair.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Angelia Doerner
- One of the most troubling areas with respect to traffic issues is Highway 9 at Massol and
Tait. For years she has requested a traffic signal at Massol. This area would be more
significantly impacted by the McCarthy project.
PAGE 2 OF 5 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 2017 FEBRUARY 2, 2017
N:\DEV\MINUTES - PC\2017 GRANICUSMINS.PC\DRAFT\PC ACTION MINUTES 1-25-17.docx 2/2/2017 4:13 PM
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – December 15, 2016 and January 11, 2017
2. 216 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Conditional Use Permit Application U-16-007
APN 529-04-085
Property Owner: McCarthy Santa Cruz, LLC
Applicant: Aaron Ruiz, Pressed Juicery
Project Planner: Levi Hill
Requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a restaurant use on property zoned
C-2. The applicant has requested the application be continued to a date uncertain.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. 15860, 15880, and 15894 Winchester Boulevard
Architecture and Site Application S-16-023
Subdivision Application M-16-002
Negative Declaration ND-16-003
APNs 529-11-013, -038, -039, and -040
Property Owner: South Beach Partners LLC/Cumulus Capital Holdings, LLC
Applicant: Valley Oak Partners – Doug Rich
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Requesting approval to demolish three existing single-family residences, remove a
second unit, remove large protected trees, and merge four lots for the purposes of
constructing a new two-story office building with below grade and at grade parking. No
significant environmental impacts have been identified as a result of this project and a
Mitigated Negative Declaration is recommended.
Jocelyn Puga, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
PAGE 3 OF 5 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 2017 FEBRUARY 2, 2017
N:\DEV\MINUTES - PC\2017 GRANICUSMINS.PC\DRAFT\PC ACTION MINUTES 1-25-17.docx 2/2/2017 4:13 PM
Doug Rich
- Although zoning allows for 40 percent lot coverage, they have reduced it to 26 percent to
properly place the building on the site. They created oversized setbacks versus what is
required along the south and east to be sensitive to pedestrians, cars, bicycles, etc. They
significantly reduced the height along Winchester. They have worked with the Town’s
arborist to save trees on the site.
Chek Tang
- The project’s major design elements are siting, tree preservation, and oversized setbacks.
They used the roof structure to conceal the mechanical elements and make the project
more residential in scale. There are significant screening trees along the residential uses to
the south and east. The design incorporates sustainable features, such as a solar roof, EV
charging station, and energy conscious windows.
Bryan Carr
- He lives directly across from the proposed building, which would block his view of the
hillside, is too high, too close to Winchester, and not compatible with the neighborhood.
The project does not benefit the Town of Los Gatos.
Andrew Spyker
- He is the HOA president at University Oaks, with his unit being closest to the property site.
Issues the community has include the building’s size, which will set a precedent for the rest
of the land north of the project and blocks their views; no left turn visibility to the Blossom
Hill intersection; and noise and exhaust from the garage.
Georgina Van Horn
- She also lives at University Oaks in a unit close to the proposed project site. It is precarious
turning right or left out of their driveway with traffic speeding on Winchester. The building
size does not fit in the surrounding area and would block light. Most of the trees on the site
would be eliminated. The exhaust fan from the underground parking is very close to the
their complex.
Kyle Frandle
- He is the owner/operator of the Los Gatos Dog and Cat Hospital. He is confused by the
portrayal of which oak trees would be removed from the site, because there is one that
hangs over 60% of his clinic and has damaged his roof; he needs clarification as to whether
they are to remain. He is pleased the water will be dealt with, because for 28 years they
have had to sandbag the back of their entrance to prevent flooding coming down the
grade.
PAGE 4 OF 5 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 2017 FEBRUARY 2, 2017
N:\DEV\MINUTES - PC\2017 GRANICUSMINS.PC\DRAFT\PC ACTION MINUTES 1-25-17.docx 2/2/2017 4:13 PM
John Eichinger
- He enjoys coming up Winchester on his daily commute and seeing the view of the
mountains at the intersection; that view would be blocked by this project. The state has
mandated that Los Gatos must provide more housing, but this project provides more
commercial space, which will bring in 300 people a day with only 120 parking spaces. The
project should be residential. Los Gatos does not need more office and commercial
buildings.
Angelia Doerner
- There are many children that traverse this area before and after school, which was not
discussed in the TIA. The Alberto Way, McCarthy, and Double D’s projects will likely all be
happening at the same time and that VTA routes 48 and 49 will be eliminated. The Town
must devise a holistic plan for traffic impacts during construction of these projects; she
requests a study session on traffic impact analysis.
Bryan Mekachuk
- The applicant worked out how much parking they could have and worked backwards from
that in terms of the square footage, so the building is as large as it can be for the amount of
parking they have. They picked the highest point on the property, the northwest corner, to
establish the 35 feet. The large setback is provided in order to keep the trees in the front
and southwest side of the property. The parking lot the applicant calls at grade is actually
almost a full story at the back.
Doug Rich
- The project was originally submitted as residential, but was pulled because of lack of
support, it would have required a zoning change, wasn’t compatible with existing zoning,
and would have brought impacts relative to residential. The 300 people a day number is a
maximum based on fire and building code, but is not the intent in the design of the
building. The design features of the building are absolutely compatible, as referenced by
the peer review from the Town’s architect.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to continue the public hearing for
15860, 15880, and 15894 Winchester Boulevard to a date certain, with
direction to consider Planning Commission comments. Seconded by Vice
Chair Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 5 OF 5 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 2017 FEBRUARY 2, 2017
N:\DEV\MINUTES - PC\2017 GRANICUSMINS.PC\DRAFT\PC ACTION MINUTES 1-25-17.docx 2/2/2017 4:13 PM
Reopened Public Comment
Commissioners and applicant discussed the matter.
Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to continue the public hearing for
15860, 15880, and 15894 Winchester Boulevard to the March 22, 2017
meeting, with direction to consider Planning Commission comments.
Seconded by Vice Chair Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
4. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• The Planning Commission will meet 1/26/17 to discuss potential North 40 Specific Plan
Amendments.
• The Town Council will hold a priority session on 1/31/17.
• A tentative joint session between the Planning Commission and Town Council is set for
2/28/17.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
January 25, 2017
APPROVED AS TO FORM: Prepared by
_____________________________ _____________________________
Joel Paulson /s/ Vicki Blandin
Community Development Director