Draft Mins 12.02.15ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
DECEMBER 2, 2015
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Special Meeting on Wednesday,
December 2, 2015, at 7:00 pm.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Chair Burch called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Kendra Burch, Vice Chair Mary Badame, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen,
Commissioner Tom O’Donnell, and Commissioner Joanne Talesfore
Absent: Commissioner Charles Erekson, Commissioner D. Michael Kane
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Hanssen led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Desk Item for Items 2 and 3.
REQUESTED CONTINUANCES
None.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
None.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (AUDIENCE)
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Minutes – November 11, 2015
2. Adopt 2016 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Badame to approve Item 1, the meeting minutes
of November 11, 2015; and Item 2, Adopt 2016 Planning Commission
Meeting Schedule with the correction made in the Desk Item.
Seconded by Commissioner Talesfore.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Project Planner: Joel Paulson
Consider amendment to the Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines regarding
visibility analysis and exterior colors.
Chair Burch opened the public hearing.
Joel Paulson, Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
Page 2 of 4
Planning Commission Minutes December 2, 2015
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Dennis Razzari, Davidon Homes
- Commented that the current HDSG standard of 25% has worked well for the Town for 12-plus
years. The Town’s arborist should determine a tree’s health and whether or not it has screening
characteristics. Davidon would support deed restrictions for mitigation tree planting. Sparse
canopy should be allowed for screening.
David Weissman
- Commented that he has new information that treats the two different species of hillside oak trees
differently, since they response differently to disturbance. The visibility calculations should be
peer reviewed by an outside firm.
Steve Abbs, Davidon Homes
- Commented that the methodology proposed by Dr. Weissman and Ms. Quintana is unfair to
applicants and lacks expert input. The Town arborist should be involved in the discussion.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Abbs.
Michael Keaney, SummerHill Homes
- Commented that he advocates LRV averaging for homes in the hillsides. SummerHill is not
opposed to an LRV cap, but the cap must be high enough to achieve the goal of creating high-
quality architecture.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Keaney.
Lee Quintana
- Commented that it is not clear to her whether color averaging includes both the roof structure and
the side elevations, or if they are determined separately. Roofs have much more of an impact on
visibility if they are highly reflective. The term “viewing platform” should be used instead of
“vantage point.”
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Quintana.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Dan Hale
- Commented that he is architect for SummerHill Homes. Coming up with color schemes that have
an LRV maximum of 30% is extremely challenging, resulting in dark, dreary and uninspired
elevations. He supports LRV averaging, because it provides better architectural design.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Hale.
Chair Burch closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Badame to forward to Town Council a
recommendation of adoption of amendments to Chapter 5 of the Hillside
Development Standards and Guidelines, recommending the proposed
amendment on page 4 of the staff report dated October 21, 2015, and
including language that the roof material shall be calculated separately
and shall not exceed a maximum LRV of 30. The required findings were
made as noted in Exhibit 1 of the staff report dated December 2, 2015.
Page 3 of 4
Planning Commission Minutes December 2, 2015
Commission members discussed the matter.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Seconded by Commissioner Talesfore.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commissioner Hanssen requested the motion be amended to include a maximum LRV cap for
materials other than the roof.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commission members discussed the matter.
The maker of the motion declined to amend the motion.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commission members discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Talesfore to forward to Town Council a
recommendation of adoption of amendments to Chapter 2 of the Hillside
Development Standards and Guidelines, recommending the proposed
amendment on page 4 of the staff report dated October 21, 2015, and to
include Planning Commission comments from this meeting. The required
findings were made as noted in Exhibit 1 of the staff report dated
December 2, 2015.
Seconded by Chair Burch.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0.
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
NEW OTHER BUSINESS
4. Report from Planning Manager, Joel Paulson
• Town Council met 12/1/15; discussed and granted a story pole exception for
16212 Los Gatos Boulevard; adopted a new Outdoor Seating Policy; discussed
the Cottage Food Industry Home Occupation Ordinance and scheduled a second
reading for the Council’s 12/15/15 meeting.
Page 4 of 4
Planning Commission Minutes December 2, 2015
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:57 pm.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
___________________________________________
Kendra Burch, Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND ATTEST:
_____________________________
Joel Paulson
Interim Community Development Director