Draft Mins 04.27.16DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 27, 2016
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, April
27, 2016, at 7:00 pm.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Chair Badame called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Mary Badame, Vice Chair D. Michael Kane, Commissioner Charles Erekson,
Commissioner Matthew Hudes, and Commissioner Tom O’Donnell
Absent: Commissioner Kendra Burch, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Vice Chair Kane led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Desk Item for Item 8.
REQUESTED CONTINUANCES – ITEM S 2-5
2. 15371 Santella Ct (Lot 8)
Architecture and Site Application S-15-001
APN 529-09-017
Property Owner/Applicant: Davidon Homes
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Continued from 2/24/16
Consider an appeal of a decision of the Development Review Committee to approve an
Architecture and Site Application to construct a new single-family residence and remove large
protected trees on property zoned HR-2½:PD.
3. 15343 Santella Ct (Lot 7)
Architecture and Site Application S-14-072
APN 527-09-016
Property Owner/Applicant: Davidon Homes
Project Planner: Marni Moseley
Continued from 2/24/16
Requesting approval to construct a new single-family residence and remove large protected trees
on property zoned HR-2½:PD.
4. 15358 Santella Ct (Lot 10)
Architecture and Site Application S-15-004
APN 527-09-019
Property Owner/Applicant: Davidon Homes
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Continued from 2/24/16
Requesting approval to construct a new single-family residence and remove large protected trees
on property zoned HR-2½:PD.
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Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2016
5. 15415 Santella Ct (Lot 13)
Architecture and Site Application S-15-005
APN 527-09-022
Property Owner/Applicant: Davidon Homes
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Continued from 2/24/16
Consider an appeal of a decision of the Development Review Committee to approve an
Architecture and Site Application to construct a new single-family residence on property zoned
HR-2½:PD.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to continue Items 2-5 to a date
uncertain.
Seconded by Vice Chair Kane
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Minutes – March 16, 2016 and April 13, 2016
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hudes to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar.
Seconded by Vice Chair Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0.
REQUESTED CONTINUANCES – ITEM 6
6. North 40 Phase 1
Architecture and Site Application S-13-090
Vesting Tentative Map M-13-014
APNs 424-07-024 through 027, 031 through 037, 070, 083 through 086,090, and 100.
Property Owners: Yuki Farms/ETPH, Grosvenor USA Limited, Summerhill N40 LLC, Elizabeth K.
Dodson, William N. Fales, William Hirshman.
Applicant: Grosvenor USA Limited
Project Planner: Marni Moseley
Continued from 3/30/16
Requesting approval for the construction of a new multi-use, multi-story development consisting
of 320 residential units, which will include 50 affordable senior units; approximately 66,000 square
feet of commercial floor area, which will include a market hall; on-site and off-site improvements;
and a vesting tentative map.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Erekson to continue Item 6 to a date
uncertain.
Seconded by Commissioner O’Donnell
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0.
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Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2016
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Historic Preservation Committee
Vice Chair Kane
- The 4/27/16 HPC meeting considered five matters:
- 135 Johnson Avenue
- 54 Los Gatos Boulevard
- 334 Los Gatos Boulevard
- 16982 Kennedy Road
- 94 Hernandez Avenue
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (AUDIENCE)
Roy Moses
- Commented that the community needs clarification on what is taking place with the North 40, and
asked the Commission to be diligent in addressing all the issues, the impacts to the community,
traffic, schools, and density of the project.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Moses.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
7. 126 Clover Way
Architecture and Site Application S-15-059
APN 532-15-005
Property Owner: Michael T. Paige
Applicant: Eugene H. Sakai
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Requesting approval to demolish an existing single-family residence and to construct a new
single-family residence on property zoned R-1:10.
Chair Badame opened the public hearing.
Jocelyn Puga, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
Michael Paige
- Commented that they tried to keep the home consistent with the size, scale and scope of the
neighborhood. The metal roof appealed to them because the home is more contemporary. The
Town’s consulting architect has stated the roof is most consistent with that style of home. This
type of roof is used by seven homes and structures within 3,000 feet of their home.
Eugene Sakai
- Commented that it was disheartening to have worked with staff for almost a year on the floor area
ratio, and then to have the end result be a recommendation for denial. Their project meets the
FAR standards, has the support design-wise of the Town’s consulting architect, and satisfies all
the other technical considerations from staff.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Paige and Mr. Sakai.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Michael Paige
- Commented that the homes by which his proposed home is being judged are homes that were
built in the 1960s and have never been rebuilt. In their design they tried to include square footage
in areas that would not affect the neighbors, and from unusable parts of the lot in the back, so
although the house is large, the size and scale is consistent with the neighbors, who have
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Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2016
unanimously embraced the design. The current house is red brick, which is inconsistent with the
neighborhood.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Paige.
Chair Badame closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Commission members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to deny Architecture and Site
Application S-15-059, on the basis that it does not comply with
residential design guidelines.
Seconded by Commissioner Erekson.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0
Community Development Director Joel Paulson cited the appeal rights.
Chair Badame indicated that she would recuse herself from Item 8 due to a perceived conflict of
interest with her business being within 500 feet of the subject site.
8. 212-216 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Conditional Use Permit Application U-16-001
Architecture and Site Application S-16-002
APN 529-04-085
Property Owner: McCarthy Santa Cruz Ave, LLC
Applicant: Soul Cycle c/o Luba Senatorova
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Requesting approval of exterior modifications to an existing commercial building and approval
for a new fitness studio (Soul Cycle) with group exercise classes on property zoned C-2.
Vice Chair Kane opened the public hearing.
Jocelyn Puga, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Alan Cooke
- Commented that Soul Cycle has been looking for a location in Los Gatos for several years. They
are excited to bring their brand to Los Gatos and think they will do very well here. Soul Cycle
offers 45-minute indoor spinning classes. They b elieve their façade and proposed renovation will
add a level of diversity consistent with the Town’s guidelines.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Cooke.
Maria Ristow
- Commented that the Town does not have a realistic way to deal with fitness studios. The Town
needs to look at a different parking formula. The applicant’s business would get 19 spaces for up
to 57 participants, which will not work. She suggested setting conditions and having six-month
follow-ups.
Ed Morimoto
- Commented that he was familiar with Soul Cycles while living in New York and has only positive
things to say about it as far as a business for Los Gatos. Considering how many people in Los
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Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2016
Gatos wear fitness clothing in the downtown, it is difficult to say this business would not be in
character with the downtown.
Lee Quintana
- Commented that her concern is how the Town would monitor the parking solution, and if the
solution does not work, what happens to the business?
Joey McCarthy
- Commented that the parking is three stalls per bike, not one per 300 bikes. The parking is
calculated by bike rather than by square foot. They are using some of their excess parking that
they have in the District to increase the number of bicycles, and that is how the number of
required parking stalls is calculated per the rules of the downtown. The Soul Cycle use is perfect
for this building, because of the onsite parking they have that is not attainable anywhere else in
the downtown, and they have parking stalls in the parking district.
Alan Cooke
- Commented that they have done their best to abide by the guidelines and codes, and are
providing parking above and beyond what a retail tenant would be required to provide in that
location. Their customers will arrive at the studio via a number of methods other than an
automobile.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Cooke.
Vice Chair Kane closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commission members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to continue the public hearing for
212-216 N. Santa Cruz Avenue to a date uncertain.
Vice Chair Kane reopened the public input portion of the hearing.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Cooke.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Vice Chair Kane closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
The motion failed for lack of a second.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to deny Conditional Use Permit
Application U-16-001 and Architecture and Site Application S-16-002 on
the basis that it is not a retail use, it is not consistent with the General
Plan’s desire of retail uses, and various required findings could not be
made.
Seconded by Commissioner Erekson.
VOTE: Motion passed 3-1 with Commissioner Hudes opposing.
Community Development Director Joel Paulson cited the appeal rights.
Chair Badame rejoined the meeting.
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Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2016
9. 307 W. Main Street
Architecture and Site Application S-16-009
APN 510-45-083
Property Owner: Dane and Lori Howard
Applicant: Jay Plett, Architect
Project Planner: Susie Pineda
Requesting approval to construct a second story addition to an existing single-family
residence and to exceed the maximum allowable floor area on property zoned R-1D:LHP.
Chair Badame opened the public hearing.
Joel Paulson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Jay Plett
- Commented that they have worked with staff from the beginning to bring forth a project that is
sensible and fits into the neighborhood.
Dane Howard
- Commented that he believes they have been properly guided through the process. The minimal
addition will be approximately 295 square feet, but it will make a big difference in their lives, as it
will be a home office.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Howard.
Chair Badame closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Erekson to approve Architecture and Site
Application S-16-009 subject to the conditions of approval as noted in
Exhibit 3 of the staff report dated April 27, 2016, and the development
plans contained in Exhibit 9. The required findings were made as noted
in Exhibit 2 of the staff report dated April 27, 2016.
Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-1 with Vice Chair Kane opposing.
Community Development Director Joel Paulson cited the appeal rights.
OTHER BUSINESS
10. Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Matt Morley, Parks and Public Works Director, presented the staff report.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commission members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to recommend Town Council
approval of the five-year Capital Improvement Program as submitted to
the Planning Commission.
Seconded by Vice Chair Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0
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Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2016
11. Report from Community Development Director, Joel Paulson
• Town Council met 4/19/16; considered and denied the Il Vicinato project; the North 40
story pole exception modification was denied, and a joint study session with the Town
Council, Planning Commission and the school boards was requested to look at existing
documents, and provide information and answer questions regarding the North 40 Specific
Plan.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
12. Commission Matters
• None.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:21 pm.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
___________________________________________
Mary Badame, Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND ATTEST:
_____________________________
Joel Paulson
Community Development Director