Item 2 - Desk Item & Exhibit 8TOWN OF LOS GATOS ITEM NO: 2
DESK ITEM PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: April13, 2016
PREPARED BY:
APPLICATION NO.:
LOCATION:
APPLICANT/
CONTACT PERSON:
PROPERTY OWNER:
APPLICATION SUMMARY:
EXHIBITS:
REMARKS:
Erin M. Walters, Associate Planner
ewalters@losgatosca.gov
Conditional Use Permit U-16-002
663 Blossom Hill Road, Suite 200 (at the northwest corner of
Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Boulevard)
LGC Barre LLC, Shadin Saah and Stacy Barrett
Linda L. Lester c/o Lester Investment
Requesting approval for a new fitness studio (Bar Method
Studio) with group classes on property zoned CH:PD . APN 529-
65-028.
DEEMED COMPLETE: March 11 ,2016
FINAL DATE TO TAKE ACTION: September 11 ,2016
1-7. Previously received with Aprill3 , 2016 Staff Report
Received with this Desk Item Report:
8. Comments received from 11:01 a.m . on AprilS , 2016 to
11:00 a.m. on April 13 , 2016
The attached public comment (Exhibit 8) was received after distribution of the staff report.
~ Approved by:
Erin Walters Joel Paulson, AICP
Associate Planner Community Development Director
JP :EW :sr
N :\DEV\PC REPORTS\20 16\663 BHR. Suite 200 -CUP-d esk item.docx
Er in M. Wa lters
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Regarding :
Maria Ri stow <ristows @co m cast.net >
Tue sday, April 12, 2016 2:19 PM
Planning; Er in M . Walters
REC EIVED
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APR 1 3 Z016
Planning Co mmissi on meeting 4/13, co nsent item CUP appl_i!=a!~ ~fo.l"6}9 02
r-J"\• .... NG DIVISION
663 Blossom Hill Road, Suite 200 . Conditional Use Permit Application U-16-
002 . Requesting approval for a new fitness studio (Barre Method Studio) with group
classes on property zoned CH :PD . APN 529-65-028. PROPERTY OWNER: Linda L.
Lester c/o Lester Investment. APPLICANT: LGC Barre LLC , Shad in Saah and Stacy
Barrett . PROJECT PLANNER: Erin Walters .
This latest application for a fitness studio, Barre Method Studio, should make everyone pause and
consider the assumptions made with this and each similar application.
Planning Commissioners,
I have one concern with the Barre Method CUP application at Lester Square.
Parking for a gym or fitness studio is set at one space for every 3 class participants, plus space for
staff. In this case, the classes are expected to hold 24 students, so there are 8 parking spaces for
members required . Do we really expect 2 of 3 people in each workout class to walk, bike , carpool or
take the bus to this gym???? It would be great, but th e parking issues c reated by Yoga Source and
Orange Theory indicate otherwise. This parking occurs in clusters, as all the students for a given
class arrive within minutes of each other, sometimes clogging up with those leaving the last class.
While the parking rules permit this ratio of students to parking , neighbors can tell you where the
impact then falls , with excess cars landing on resid e ntial streets or in nearby businesses .
I am not opposed to this fitness stud io. It appears to be a desirable addition to the development,
according to the neighbors, and it might truly be used by residents immediately in the
neighborhood. But it turns out most people in this town drive to their indoor workout.
It would be ideal if ALL fitness studios, gyms , cycle rooms, etc. would push their members to a just
tiny bit higher level of fitness and extend the exercise outside the walls of the gym! Gym managers
should point out to their members that driving might not be the best way to get there . All gyms should
have generous and convenient bike parking , and encourage their membership to use active
transport. I expect these studios to take responsibility for reminding members of nearby parking
restrictions . Members should know that 2 of 3 people in each class do NOT have parking on site . I
encourage residents to join a studio that is close enough to home or job that one can get there
without a car. Fitness studios, of ALL uses, should not be clogging our streets with traffic and parked
cars .
Please put SOME conditions on th is application to encourage alte rnatives to driving , and ma ke bike
ra cks a requirement at the location. The only other re asonable option is to deny these uses .
Thank you , f.XHi6t1 B
1
Maria Ristow
Los Gatos Community Alliance
2