Draft Mins 03.08.17
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 03/22/2017 ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 8, 2017
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, March 8, 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 Hudes led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
None.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Bryan Mekechuk
- Provided an update on 15860, 15880, and 15894 Winchester Blvd, which was scheduled to
come before the Planning Commission on March 22, 2017, but the hearing has been moved
to April. He and other neighbors have met twice with the applicant, and things are moving
forward.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
Chair O'Donnell moved Item 3, 360 Bella Vista Avenue, from Public Hearings to the Consent
Calendar, as the applicant had requested a continuance to March 22, 2017.
1. Approval of Minutes – January 26, 2017
2. Approval of Minutes – February 8, 2017
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3. 360 Bella Vista Avenue
Architecture and Site Applications S-15-053 and S-15-054
APN 529-22-038
Property Owner: John Brady
Applicant: Michael Black
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Requesting approval to demolish an existing two-family residence and construct two
new single-family residences on property zoned R-1:8. Continued from 2/8/2017.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously
PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. 16 Pennsylvania Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-16-064
APN 510-42-014
Property Owner/Applicant: Nikan Omidi and Farhad Shafai
Project Planner: Erin Walters
Requesting approval to exceed the allowable floor area ratio for an addition to an
existing two-story pre-1941 single-family residence on property zoned R-1D.
Erin Walters, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Nikan Omidi and Farhad Shafai
- They moved from Canada last year with two small children, and love Los Gatos for its small
town character. They fell in love with the character of their Victorian home, but they need
to make the interior more livable, allow their bedroom to be on the same level with the
children’s bedrooms, and create a play space.
Chris Spaulding
- Although the lot appears large, it becomes a small lot with slope adjustment, and the
existing attic makes the home appear larger than it actually is. They are trying to make the
existing cellar space usable; it would not change the bulk or shape of the house.
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Doug Richards
- He is a nearby neighbor who thought the proposed addition was a dramatic exceedance of
the allowable floor area, because he did not have the backstory. Now that he knows the
increase would be in the cellar and not apparent from the outside, and if the project stays
with the historic intent of the neighborhood, he would be fine with it.
Nikan Omidi
- She had contacted Mr. Richards’ daughter during neighborhood outreach, and knocked on
his door, but he was not home, which is why he was not contacted.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve an Architecture and Site
Application for 16 Pennsylvania Avenue. Seconded by Commissioner
Hudes.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
5. 91 and 101 W. Main Street
Conditional Use Permit Application U-16-008
APN 529-01-025
Property Owner: Vermont Building, LLC
Applicant: Teri Hope
Project Planner: Levi Hill
Requesting approval for a modification of an existing Conditional Use Permit (Los Gatos
Roasting Company) to allow on-site and off-site beer and wine service and
entertainment before 10:00 p.m. on property zoned C-2:LHP.
Levi Hill, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Teri Hope
- With the CUP modification she plans to offer traditional coffee house style entertainment,
which would bring in additional clientele and allow her business to be on par with other
establishments that offer light entertainment under the Town’s new Entertainment
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Ordinance. Having beer and wine service would allow her to serve locally produced
boutique wines and craft beers with meals inside the café, and have retail sales of beer and
wine. The addition of a tasting area would allow for wine tasting activities in a limited area
of her operation.
Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Kane to forward a recommendation of approval to
the Town Council of Conditional Use Permit U-16-008. Seconded by
Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
6. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• The Town Council met 3/7/17; adopted the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan; adopted
a resolution approving modification to the Toll House Hotel Conditional Use Permit, with
the addition of an operating agreement; and denied an appeal and approved the Gum
Tree Lane project.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
March 8, 2017
APPROVED AS TO FORM: Prepared by
_____________________________ _____________________________
Joel Paulson /s/ Vicki Blandin
Community Development Director