Draft Mins 08.23.17
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 09/13/2017 ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 23, 2017
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, August 23, 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 Burch led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Historic Preservation Committee
Commissioner Hudes
- HPC met 8/23/17; considered one matter:
• 223 Massol Avenue
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
Vice Chair Kane requested that Item 2 be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
1. Approval of Minutes – August 9, 2017
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar consisting of the Minutes of August 9, 2017. Seconded by
Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 663 Blossom Hill Road, Suite 200
Conditional Use Permit Application U-16-002
APN 529-65-028
Property Owner: Linda L. Lester, c/o Lester Investment
Applicant: LGC Barre LLC, Shadin Saah and Stacy Barrett
Project Planner: Erin Walters
Required one year review of parking for the approved Conditional Use Permit for a
fitness studio (The Bar Method Los Gatos) on property zoned CH:PD.
Opened Public Comment.
Stacy Barrett
- She is the owner of The Bar Method Los Gatos. Many of their clients who live in the
surrounding townhomes and area walk and bike to the studio. There have been no issues
with parking and traffic. Limiting the childcare to five children has worked out well.
Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Kane to accept the one-year review report on 663
Blossom Hill Road, Suite 200. Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. 17400 Phillips Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-16-072
APN 532-39-015
Property Owner: Jeffrey Casale
Applicant: Sergio Ramirez-Batiz
Project Planner: Erin Walters
Requesting approval for construction of a swimming pool on property zoned HR-2½ on a
slope greater than 20 percent.
Erin Walters, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
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Opened Public Comment.
Jeff Casale
- The current pool design emphasizes fitting in with the same look and feel of the property.
They do not plan to remove any trees. The pool is salt water, so there would be low water
usage in terms of the landscaping. They have done strong outreach to the neighbors. No
neighbors can see the pool from their homes, and they are all supportive of the design.
Robert Stever
- He is the project engineer and prepared the project’s civil drawings. The site has stone
terraced walls that follow the contours of the site, as will the new design. All the walls will
be short and follow the contours, and the pool also curves and follows the contours of the
site, which was done to reduce the amount of earthwork required. They will use the same
type of stone that is already used on the site. Although it is close, they are actually under
the 30 percent slope.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve an Architecture and Site
Application for 17400 Phillips Avenue. Seconded by Vice Chair Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
4. 20102 Foster Road
Architecture and Site Application S-14-122
APN 537-33-009
Property Owner: Scott Coker
Applicant: Tom Sloan, AIA
Project Planner: Erin Walters
Requesting approval for a grading permit, construction of a single-family residence, and
an accessory structure on vacant property zoned HR-2½:PD.
Erin Walters, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
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Opened Public Comment.
Tom Sloan
- He is the project architect. The house itself does not require any exceptions to be granted,
except for the minor exception for the proposed relocation of the EVAE, Emergency Vehicle
Access Easement. The project meets every chapter of the Hillside Development Standards
and Guidelines. The Town’s consulting architect reviewed the design and considers the
home well designed and consistent with the Town’s Residential Guidelines, and specifically
recommended no changes be made.
John Brady
- He lives directly across the street from the subject site and endorses the project. They love
the design, the colors, the materials, and the single-story aspect with a height that is lower
than their own home. He hopes the project will be approved so there can be activity up on
the hill to discourage vandalism and crime that occurs due to the lack of development.
Tom Sloan
- With respect to visibility, the code states if more than 25 percent can be seen from any
viewing platform, then they must use paint and materials that have a light reflectivity value
of 30 percent or less, which they have done, and they would go even darker if necessary.
Blocking the view with trees is something that would be difficult for his client to accept.
The house is only 18 feet high, which was also done to cut down the visibility. No neighbors
have come forward with objections. It would be very difficult to see the house from the
viewing platforms, and with the colors as dark as they are, it would not stand out.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to approve an Architecture and Site
Application for 20102 Foster Road. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-2-1 with Vice Chair Kane and Commissioner Badame
opposing, and Commissioner Hudes abstaining.
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OTHER BUSINESS
5. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• Town Council met 8/15/17; adopted a temporary 45-day moratorium for the remainder
of the North 40 area, and on 9/19/17 will consider extending the moratorium until such
time as the town can consider and potentially adopt modifications to the Specific Plan.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 23, 2017
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________
Joel Paulson
Community Development Director
Prepared by
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin