Cellar [Received after deadline from Debra Wagner]JOEL PAULSON
RE: CELLAR POLICY REVISION
Hello,
28JUNE 2017
!REC EI VE D
JUN 2 8 2017
12.:So PM
T OWN OF LOS GATOB
PLA NN~t·JG D!\/lSiON
Please include these photos with the desk items emailed to you, I have been having problems with my
scanner
& could not get them to scan in an e -mail.
Thank you,
D. Wagner
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Cellar Policy Revision June 28,2017 Wednesday June 28 2017 12 17 PM
From: "Bill Wagner" <wjwagner3@yahoo.com>
To: jpaulson@losgatosca .gov
s
Raw Message Printable Vo-
Please Include as a Desk Item for Planning Commission June 28,2017
Re : Revision of "CELLAR POLICY"
Dear Joel Paulson & Planning commission Members,
Please revise the Cellar (Basement Living Space) Policy excluding underground square
footage in the FAR Cal culations . This policy has been abused since its inception .
Although the intent of the original implementation was to reduce mass and scale above
ground primarily in hillside development, that aspect has been consistently
ignored and simply viewed as "Free Square Footage ", particularly in FLAT LAND
Residential Development, as well.
The Planning Commission is familiar with the development at 16362 Hilow Rd .
In spite of extensive analysis related to application of guidel ine in two PC Sessions in
Sept 2016 6-1 vote for denial and Dec 2016 4-2vote for de nial this project was overturned
by the T own Council and allowed to proceed .
This house was too massive for the neighborhood from the beginning . After a reduction in square
footage the above ground sq ft to approx . 3500-3600 sq . the basement was still allowed@ 1670sq. ft.
That i s still 2 houses on a single property w ith no r egard for the above ground 2 story mass.
The project @ 16362 Hilow Rd is a prime example of the abuses this exclusion of underground living
space in the FAR creates. Th is house was and isstill too massive for the neighborhood and traffic.
Please drive by this construction to view the results of this policy .
There have been several complete recons tr uctions on Hilow. In these other constru ctions there has
not
been the leve l of noise disturbance created by the buil ding of thi s underground structure .
The equipment to dig, d isplace earth and constru ct cement is producing a great impact on neighbors.
T here is also some type of compressor or compactor that sound s like an a irplane engine running
10-12hrs a day,,that is allowed by the Town's construction work hours, 8AM-8PM MON-FRI , 9AM-
7PM
WEEKENDS AND HOLLIDAYS . T hat is 7days a week 10-12hrs a day of continual neighborhood
disturbance. Residential work hours, as opposed to commercial construction hours should be
changed .
Even the county hours are 8AM-6PM , M-FRI , 9AM-5PM SAT, NO SU N DAYS OR HOLIDAYS.
Also there were at least 2 days of serious noxious fumes coming into our home while a Sealant or
waterproofing chemica l was being applied to the underground structure . these fumes affect
residents' health.
A healthy over 60yr old Redwood tree with a 60" trunk was removed in the yard to accommodate the
structure & the 3 existing Redwood trees in front are subject to root damage as well by the
allowance of this underground structu re .
The Policy of allowing th e extra unaccounted Sq uare Footage in a home is causing a complete
redevelopment of our neighborhood . It i s impossible to go ba c k once these basements are allowed .
T his policy is forever effecting our neighborhood . Deve lopers are looking at the current policy as
"F REE SQUARE FOOTAGE", ignoring the intent of "IN LIEU OF ABOVE GROUND MASS".
A rch itects are still able to c reate homes that comply within the guidel ines , with a revisi on in this
pol icy to count underground living space square footage .
Most Town Council members were first on the Planning Commission many wi th the platform of
recognizing the Protection of Neighborhoods from excessive development.
http s ://mg.mail . yahoo .com/neo/b/message ?sMid=O&fid =Sent&fidx=2&so rt=date&order=... 6/28 /20 1 7
Cellar Policy Revision June 28 ,2017 -Sent -Yahoo Mail Page 2 of2
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Doesn't the current policy of excluding Basement Square footage contradict the protection of
residential neighborhoods?
Please vote and maintain a change in the current BASEMENT(CELLAR) Policy to include
the underground square footage in the FAR for both Hillside and Flat lot residential
construction .
Thank you for your consideration .
Debora Wagner
16374 HILOW ROAD
LOS GATOS.CA
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