Item 2 - Staff Report.Hillside Fences
PREPARED BY: SEAN MULLIN, AICP
Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Planning Manager and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/08/2019 ITEM NO: 2
DATE: MAY 2, 2019 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: TOWN CODE AMENDMENT APPLICATION A-19-001. PROJECT LOCATION:
TOWN WIDE. APPLICANT: TOWN OF LOS GATOS. CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 29 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE TOWN CODE REGARDING FENCES, HEDGES, AND WALLS, INCLUDING REGULATIONS FOR THE HILLSIDE AREA OF TOWN.
REMARKS:
Several community members have requested that the item be continued to the May 22, 2019
Planning Commission meeting so that they may be in attendance.
Staff has prepared a revised draft of the Ordinance in response to the following direction
received from the Planning Commission at the April 10, 2019 meeting:
• Include an intent section outlining the intentions of the fence regulations;
• Include a definitions sections to clarify specific terms used in the draft Ordinance;
• Require perimeter fencing in the hillside area to be wildlife friendly;
• Prohibit solid fencing in the hillside area;
• Restrict fencing from riparian corridors;
• Allow maintenance and/or replacement of historic stone or river rock walls;
• Include a section outline penalties for unlawful construction of a fence;
• Provide a process for property owners to request an exception to the fence regulations
in recognition of the unique character of many of the Town’s properties.
The revised draft is being forwarded to the Planning Commission and made available to the
public as Exhibit 20 to this report to allow additional time for review prior to the May 22, 2019
meeting. The revisions are illustrated in underline font.
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EXHIBITS:
Previously received with the March 13, 2019 Staff Report:
1. Hillside Area Map
2. Findings
3. Draft Ordinance
4. Ordinance Priorities Memorandum dated February 12, 2017, from Robert Shultz, Town
Attorney
5. Ordinance 2278, adopted December 18, 2018
6. Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines pertaining to fences
7. November 15, 2018 Town Council Policy Committee staff memorandum and synopsis
8. December 20, 2018 Town Council Policy Committee staff memorandum and synopsis
9. Examples of fence design and materials discussed in the draft Ordinance
10. General Plan Policies and Actions pertaining to fences, wildlife habitats, and migration
corridors
11. Neighboring Jurisdictions Fencing Regulations
12. Public Comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2019
Previously received with the March 12, 2019 Addendum Report:
13. Public comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2019, from which a page was
inadvertently omitted in Exhibit 12 (three pages)
14. Public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2019 and 11:00 a.m.,
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 (one page)
Previously received with the March 13, 2019 Desk Item Report:
15. Public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, March 12, 2019 and 11:00 a.m.,
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 (four pages)
Previously received with the April 10, 2019 Staff Report:
16. Working draft Ordinance prepared by Commissioners Janoff and Hanssen, received
April 4, 2019
17. Public comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2019
Previously received with the April 9, 2019 Addendum Report:
18. Public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2019 and 11:00 a.m.,
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Previously received with the April 10, 2019 Desk Item Report:
19. Public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, 2019 and 11:00 a.m.,
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: CONSIDER AMENDMENTS THE TOWN CODE REGARDING FENCES, HEDGES, AND WALLS. TOWN CODE AMENDMENT/A-19-001 MAY 2, 2019
N:\DEV\PC REPORTS\2019\Fences Amendments 05-08-19 - CONT.docx
Received with this Staff Report:
20. Revised Draft Ordinance
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Intentionally
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