Item 3 - Exhibit 19 - Project Information Sheet provided by Parks and Public Works DeptParks and Public Works Department • Engineering Division • 41 Miles Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030
408.399.5771 • www.losgatosca.gov • www.facebook.com/losgatosca
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS
PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET
Engineering Division
July 1, 2019
ITEM: 16 Chestnut Avenue; APN: 510-40-012
Architecture and Site Application S-17-047
Requesting approval for demolition of an existing pre-1941 single-family residence and
construction of a single-family residence on property zoned R-1:12.
PROPERTY OWNER: Kim Roper
APPLICANT: Bess Wiersema, Studio 3 Design
Q:Why has the applicant appealed the approval granted by the Development Review
Committee?
A: The applicant and the property owners have appealed the approval with the request to
remove Condition of Approval 59:
DRIVEWAY APPROACH: The Owner or Applicant shall install one (1) Town standard residential
driveway approach. The driveway shall meet the Town’s Engineering Design Standards and be
located a minimum of 50 feet from an intersection corner per Section 2.21. The new driveway
approach shall be constructed per Town Standard Plans and must be completed and accepted by
the Town before a Certificate of Occupancy for any new building can be issued. New concrete
shall be free of stamps, logos, names, graffiti, etc. Any concrete identified that is displaying a
stamp or equal shall be removed and replaced at the Contractor’s sole expense and no additional
compensation shall be allowed therefore.
This Condition specifically references the Town’s Engineering Standards. Section 2.21A of
said document reads:
Corner clearances from access points for all uses fronting a non-arterial or non-collector road
shall be a minimum of 50 feet.
With the construction of the proposed new single-family residence, the applicant and
property owners desire to keep the existing driveway in its current location at the
southwestern corner of the intersection of Chestnut and Hernandez Avenues with property
frontage along Chestnut Avenue with the dimension of approximately 200 feet.
Q: Why should the new driveway be constructed in the location identified in Condition of
Approval 59?
A: The Town’s Engineering Design Standards are developed to meet standard engineering
practice regarding safety. Intersection corners are an extension of legal crosswalks as
indicated in the Vehicle Code, and, as a result, pedestrians use intersection corners in order
to cross streets. An intersection corner is typically reserved for pedestrian access and ADA
ramps. It should not be occupied by a driveway and used for vehicle access. A driver
backing out of the driveway at an intersection corner is likely to have blind view of
pedestrians and turning vehicles at said intersection. Placing, or, in this case, allowing a
driveway to remain at an intersection corner could create conflicts and unsafe conditions
EXHIBIT 19
Parks and Public Works Department • Engineering Division • 41 Miles Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030
408.399.5771 • www.losgatosca.gov • www.facebook.com/losgatosca
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS
for both pedestrians and vehicles. In addition, a vehicle backing out of a driveway at an
intersection corner would need to back up into and subsequently make a 3- point turn in
the middle of the intersection, with a blind view of intersection traffic and pedestrians.
Standard engineering practice does not allow this due to safety concerns.
Additionally, the existing conditions, foliage and geometry of the intersection create a
safety concern for vehicles exiting the driveway headfirst in the attempt to see oncoming
eastbound Hernandez Avenue traffic.
The appellant mentions in
their letter of justification
that the relocation of the
driveway “will negatively
impact the existing Oak and
alter the existing grade,
which would require the
existing Oak to be removed.”
It should be noted that the
Town Consulting Arborist
Recommendations, included
on page T-1 of the project
plans, states “All paver
Figure 2: driveway section detail as included on sheet C6 of the
project plans
installation within 50 feet should be above the existing soil surface with only minor
Figure 3: Typical permeable paver detail. (C.3 Stormwater Handbook,
Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program, 2016)
scarification to even
out the grade under
the existing asphalt.”
The plans propose
permeable pavers in
the location of the
existing asphalt, which
require specific
subbase materials in
order to allow
infiltration of
stormwater into soils,
which contrasts with
the existing aggregate
base as referenced in
the project plans on
sheet C6 (see Figure 2
above and Figure 3 at
left).
Parks and Public Works Department • Engineering Division • 41 Miles Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030
408.399.5771 • www.losgatosca.gov • www.facebook.com/losgatosca
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS
Lastly, per Condition of Approval 34, all public improvements, including the driveway
approach, shall be made according to the latest adopted Town Standard Plans, Standard
Specifications and Engineering Design Standards.
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