401-409 Alberto Wy - Staff Report and Exhibits 26-27DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
REMARKS:
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MARCH 14, 2017
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: 03/22/2017
ITEM NO : 2
JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION S-15-056. CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT APPLICAIION U-15-009. AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
EIR-16-001. PROJECT LOCATION: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY. PROPERTY
OWNER: CWA REALTY. APPLICANT: SHANE ARTERS. LP ACQUISITIONS.
LLC.
CONSIDER A REQUEST OF APPROVAL TO DEMOLISH THREE EXISTING
OFFICE BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCT A NEW, TWO-STORY OFFICE
BUILDING WITH UNDERGROUND PARKING ON PROPERTY ZONED CH . APN
529-23-018.
The applicant submitted revised plans on February 10, 2017. The applicant requests that the
item be continued to the April 12, 2017 meeting to provide additional time to respond to
neighbor and staff comments on the revised plans.
EXHIBITS :
Previously received under separate cover:
1. Draft Environmental Impact Report
Previously received with August 10, 2016, Staff Report:
2. Location Map
3. Required Findings and Considerations (two pages)
4 . Required CEQA Findings of Fact (24 pages)
5. Recommended Conditions of Approval (15 pages) .
6. Letter of Justification/Project Description (15 pages), received July 15, 2016
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER ARMER
Associate Planner
Reviewed by : Planning Manager and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 • 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
PAGE2 OF 2
SUBJECT: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY/S-15-056/U-15-009/EIR-16-001
MARCH 14, 2017
7. Project Construction Details (three pages), received August 3, 2016
8. Letter of Outreach Conducted (40 pages), received February 10, 2016
9. Second Letter of Neighborhood Outreach (26 pages), received August 3, 2016
10. Consulting Arborist's Report (41 pages), dated September 26, 2015
11. Architectural Consultant's First Report (five pages), received September 10, 2015
12. Architectural Consultant's Final Report (five pages), received March 18, 2016
13. Conceptual Development Advisory Committee Meeting minutes, June 10, 2015
14. Public Comments
15. Final EIR and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, dated June 29, 2016
16. Development Plans (37 pages}, received July 15, 2016
Previously received with August 10, 2016, Desk Item:
17. Comments received from 11:01 a.m., Thursday, August 4, 2016 to 11:00 a.m., Wednesday,
August 10, 2016
Previously received with August 24, 2016, Staff Report:
18. Comments received from 11:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 10, 2016 to 11:00 a.m., Thursday,
August 18, 2016
19. Applicant's Response Letter, re~eived August 19, 2016
Previously received with August 24, 2016, Desk ltem:
20. Comments received from 11:01 a.m., Thursday, August 18, 2016 to 11:00 a.m., Wednesday,
August 24, 2016
21. Applicant's Response Letter, received August 24, 2016
Previously received with October 26. 2016. Staff Report:
22. Communication from the applicant, received October 10, 2016 and October 19, 2016
23. Public comments received from 11:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2016 to 11:00 a.m.,
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Previously received with January 11, 2017 Staff Report:
24. Communication from the applicant, received November 11, 2016
25. Public comments received from 11:01 a.m., Thursday, October 20, 2016 to 11:00 a.m.,
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Received with this Staff Report:
26. Communication from the applicant, received February 28, 2017
27. Comments received from 11:01 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2017 to 11:00 a.m. on
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Distribution:
Shane Arters, LP Acquisitions, LLC, 525 Middlefield Road, Ste. 118, Menlo Park, CA 94025
N:\DEV\PC REPORTS\2017\Alberto Wy 401-409 03.22.17 Cont.docx 3/14/2017 4:11 PM
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sant:
To:
Subject:
HI Jennifer,
Shane Arters <shane@lambpartners.com>
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 10:40 AM
Jennifer Armer
Continuance to 4-12-17
Please change and continue our applicatron to the PC Hearing tentatively scheduled for April 12, 2017 due to the same
reasons as mentioned previously.
Thanks,
Shane
LA !v\ B
'.''\! ·. \: h '·
Shane Arters
535 Middlefield Road, Suite 190
Menlo Park, CA 94025
917-975-7690 mobile
650-326-1600 ext.102
650-326-1661 fax
shane@lambpartners.com
shane.arters@dragoonre.com
Alfflieted with:
(. l>iw.Ji~'R.E ·-~11.l"i ~ b~ .... .r t n~•:>fE'.\T
~ f' im;s e consider t he enviro1 m1ent befor e print i ng this ema':.
EXHIBIT 2 6
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Jennifer Armer
From: bmartinpt@aol.com [mailto:bmartinpt@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2017 9:47 AM
To: Planning
Subject: 401 Alberto way
I live at435 Alberto way. I saw the drawings and notes from developer. I see they plan to plant large trees bordering our
townhomes stating it softens the look for us. They look like redwood trees. No matter what type, tall trees will block
even more light from our homes. In addition the roots could interfere with our current nice olive trees. The storms come
from that direction and debris from those trees will end up on our property for us to clean up. Also roots from certain
trees could disrupt our wall and or driveway. I do not think large tall trees are good. Sure it looks better than a huge
building in our face but not good for reasons noted. That big building will significantly lower the value of units on the
driveway and cascade to other units. To much traffic. I wrote prevlously about Alberto Oaks. They want tons of space
and its a much better location for a lager project than the 401 project. The big problem with that is Alberto way is high
density alr~~dy. Lots of traffic. If you think los gatos lodge property won't develop in the future your kiddin'g yourselves.
This intersection will become a nightmare. I most likely will move well before this happens.
Thanks for hearing my concerns.
Written on I phone so please excuse typos and format.
Sincerely,
Bradford Martin
Sent from my iPhone
EXHIBIT 2 7
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent
To:
Subjed:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Loretta Fowler < lorettakfowler@grnail.com >
Thursday, February 02, 2017 4:14 PM
Jennifer Armer
401-409 Alberto Way; meeting with Mr. Lamb
Follow up
Flagged
Hello, Jennifer. What follows is the Alberto Way Committee1s report on The Commons meeting with Mr.
Lamb
Thirty-nine residents met with Mr. Lamb and his associate on January 30 from 4:30 to 6 PM. All but three were
The Los Gatos Commons residents, and we met in the Commons clubhouse. Prior to this meeting we all
received a one-page summary of the revisions Lamb has made to his proposed project, as well as some
drawings of the building.
We heard a presentation from Lamb and Shaun, the gist of which was that they had met our requests and
addressed our complaints. Mr. Lamb said that Los Gatos needs another Class A office building. There
followed a question-answer period.
Most of the questions were about construction details. Residents asked a few questions about what work will
take place on the street itself. There were some comments about traffic congestion and delays. Residents did
not give Mr. Lamb an assessment of his revisions as listed on his one-page summary.
But, from the residents' viewpoint, the most important question asked was why Mr. Lamb ignored the Planning
Commission's and our conclusion that the building should be significantly reduced in size.
Mr. Lamb told us if he-reduced the building to less than 83,000 square feet he could not make enough money to
justify the project.
We residents of The Commons will meet to discuss our position on Mr. Lamb's new plan and prepare a
response based on the majority view.
Marilyn Basham
Loretta Fowler
Suzanne Currie Noble
Marietta Riney
Shirley Ryan
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent
1'o:
mmpmitzi@comcast.net
Tuesday, February 07, 2017 6:00 PM
Jennifer Armer
Subject: Re: 401-409 Alberto Way Revised Plans Available Online
Foll ow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Follow up
Flagged
It's still too massive for the space I!! It will produce way too much traffic and commotion. Please decline the application.
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 7, 2017, at 4:16 PM, Jennifer Armer <JArmer@losgatosca.gov> wrote:
You are receiving this notice as a result of your previ ous inter est in the proposed proj ect at 401-409
Albe rto Way.
Revis ed plans have been su bmitted in preparation for the Planning Commission hearing on March 22,
2017. Plans are av ai lable online here: http:l/www.losgatosca .gov /2216/Pending-Planni ng-Pr ojects .
A letter from the applicant responding to the concerns expressed by the Planning Comm ission and
public comment is expected by the end of the week and will be posted online in the same
location. Printed plan sets are also expected to be submitted by the end of the week and will ·be
available for review at the Development Counter starting next week during regular counter hours.
This project Is scheduled to be heard at the Planning Commission meeting of March 22, 2017, 7pm . Any
public comments received by llam on Thursday, March 16, 2017, will be included as attachments to the
staff report materials for the hearing. The meeting agenda will be posted and publiciy distributed on the
Friday prior to the hearing. You may view the agendas and related staff reports on the Town website by
using this link: http://www.town.los-gatos.ea.us/2148aown-Council-Agenda-Minutes
If you have addit i onal questions o r comments, I can be reached at 408-399-5706 or by e-mail at
JArmer@LosGat osCA.gov.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
<lmage003.jpg>Jennifer T.C. Armer, AICP • Associate Planner
Community Development Department • 110 E. Main Street, Lo s Gatos CA 95030
Ph : 408.399.5706 • jarmer@losgatosca .gov
www.losgatosca.gov • https://www.facebook.com/losgatosca
Community Development Counter Hours: 8:00 AM -1:00 PM, Monday-Friday
Please note the upcomi ng Town closure: Feb r uary 20 -Pr esidents' Day
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named in this e-mail. If you receive this e-mail and are not o named recipient, any use,
dfssemlnatlan, distribution or copying of tM e-mall Is strictly prohibittd. If you have received this communication in mor, please /mm edlattly
notify us at the above e-mail address.
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent:
To:
Subjed:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Stat us:
Raymond Toney <raymond.toney2@verizon .net>
Tuesday, February 07, 2017 6:43 PM
Jennifer Armer
401-409 Alberto Way
Follow up
Flagged
Ms . Armer: Thanks for your update on the above noted project. We appreciate being induded in this Information .. RAY
TONEY 453 Alberto Way. The applicant laid out his current plan at a local meeting. This project makes no sense as a
financially feasible project. I think the applicant is forcing this project through from an ego standpoint, having told us that
no matter what the neighbors wanted, he was going to build this project. The new plan he showed us is nowhere near
the size recommended by the Planning Commission, and still has only one ingress and egress from the underground
parking garage .. The only reason he is trying to push this plan through is that this is one of the only sites available with the
zoning to build his style of building. His completed projects are in more open areas with a lot of major streets to service
the traffic engendered by the tenants thereof. He boasts that his building will bring a ·lot of people who will make use of
the restaurants and commercial businesses downtown. It is well known that the current parking availability for downtown
is jammed up as it is . Current residents have trouble finding parking spaces to avail themselves of shops and
restaurants. A lot of us Los Gatos residents avoid shopping downtown as it is imposs ible to find a place to park at any
hour of the day. We will be in attendance at the March meeting. Thanks again. RAY
Jennifer Armer
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
Joan K Larson <joanldarson@aol.com>
Tuesday, March 07, 2017 2:15 PM
Jennifer Armer
401-409 Alberta Way
Thank you . Jennifer, for keeping me in the loop.
J am at the Commons on Alberta WAY and continue to be disturbed about the construction plans for 401-409 Alberta
Way.
I have attended many of the meetings. On January 30th (2017} Mr Lamb presented his current plan for the Planning
Commission meeting for March 22nd meeting at our clubhouse. ALL the residents were unhappy and strongly opposed
the new proposal.
Alberta WAY is a narrow and twisting DEAD END road with only ONE entrance and exit. If a sizable truck is parked one
one side and a car opposite, the road becomes only ONE OPEN LANE.
The demolition and the digging for the garage will be a nightmare with trucks. What will be the air quality during this
period? I question the water table after all this rain for the depth of the underground parking garage. The study was
done during drought conditions.
Mr Lamb stated that financially the project had to be this present size and with 330 parking spots. What about our
neighborhood property values?
The difficulty of entrance and exit on Alberta WAY will have an impact even after this project would be completed.
There is not much space from the exits from highway 17 nor on Los Gatos Saratoga Road (route 9). The bridge Is narrow
and becomes one lane with merging traffic. The traffic will be backed up. The traffic is usually very heavy even now. Do
we as residents of Los Gatos want even more traffic in our neighborhoods?
Joan K Larson
441 Alberta Way
Los Gatos. 408-348-6698
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