Draft Mins 05.24.17
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/14/2017 ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 24, 2017
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, May 24, 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 Matthew Hudes, and Commissioner Kathryn Janoff.
Absent: Commissioner Melanie Hanssen
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Badame led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Historic Preservation Committee
Commissioner Hudes
- The HPC met 5/24/17 and considered five matters:
• 115 University Avenue
• 418 University Avenue
• 231 University Avenue
• 76 Alpine Avenue
• 15996 Linda Avenue
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Angelia Doerner
- Asked for a summary of the proposed amendments of the North 40 Specific Plan going to
the Town Council, and requested the addition of a section regarding the need for
replacement housing, the number of houses that one needed and what the type and size
equivalency of those units should be.
Brad McCurdy
- As an architect, his concern is regarding planning review. He has noticed intensification,
that they get comments now on planning responses or checklists that might be more
appropriate for a building permit plan check.
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CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – May 10, 2017
2. 30 Roberts Road and 6 Forrest Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-16-070
Subdivision Application M-16-009
APN 529-10-003
Property Owner: Tannka, LLC
Applicant: Gary King
Project Planner: Levi Hill
Requesting approval to demolish one multi-family dwelling with three units and one
single-family dwelling, construct one multi-family dwelling with four units, and merge
two lots into one lot on property zoned R-M:5-12. Continued from 3/22/2017. The
Applicant has requested a continuance and this item is being continued to the June 14,
2017 Planning Commission meeting.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously, with Commissioner Hanssen absent
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Town Code Amendment Application A-17-001 Regarding Cellars
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Project Planner: Erin Walters and Levi Hill
Consider amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town of Los Gatos
regarding cellars.
Erin Walters, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Tony Jeans
- The proposed policy change is terrible, because below ground mass, which is not visible,
cannot be used, meaning homeowners will not build below ground. It also provides no
reason for homeowners to tuck houses into hills, so they will put it on top and raise the
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height. The new policy would create much more massive homes on the hillsides than seen
before. The current policies have worked effectively.
Tom Sloan
- If it can’t be seen, why is it being regulated? He suggested they take more time, and
predicted there would be push back that would cause problems.
Brad McCurdy
- He agrees with other opponents of the proposed policy change and strongly disagrees with
the conclusion reached in the staff report analysis. The proposed policy would remove
incentives to bury square footage. The proposal is a significant change to the policy and has
the potential to significantly impact homeowner property rights and values.
Bess Wiersema
- Several architects that could not be at the meeting also disagreed with the proposed policy.
The wrong thing is being addressed; this is a stab at addressing bulk and mass, and it is
irresponsible and a way to try to mediate and mitigate and create a prescriptive policy
around something and create a rule for an exception rather than addressing the issue at
hand.
Nick Williamson
- The Residential Design Guidelines always defined basements as distinct from cellars, so
there has always been a basement policy that would apply generally in hillsides. It becomes
difficult when people design a basement, but call it a cellar, and so the cellar policy is
referenced. People are using the Cellar Policy incorrectly, particularly in the hillsides.
Lee Quintana
- She suggested figures be added to illustrate the concepts, and the language tweaked to
make the intent clearer.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Kane to continue Town Code Amendment A-17-001
to the meeting of June 28, 2017 subject to Planning Commission
direction. Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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OTHER BUSINESS
4. Report from the Director of Community Development
Robert Schultz, Town Attorney
• There will be a Policy Committee meeting on May 25, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. to take up the
issue of applicant and appellant submittals coming in after the deadline; and downtown
employee parking.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
MAY 24, 2017
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________
Joel Paulson
Community Development Director
Prepared by
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin