Item 1 - 09.11.19 Draft Minutes
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/09/2019 ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Matthew Hudes, Vice Chair Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Mary Badame,
Commissioner Kendra Burch, Commissioner Kathryn Janoff, and Commissioner Reza Tavana,
Absent: Commissioner Tom O'Donnell
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Tavana led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – August 14, 2019
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Town Wide - Demolition Regulations
Town Code Amendment Application A-19-007
Project Location: Town Wide
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
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Consider Amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding
demolition regulations.
Jennifer Armer, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Gary Kohlsaat
- He is encouraged by the Town's willingness to listen to professionals and modify the rules.
He has gone up against this particular rule many times and it is frustrating. The City of
Saratoga defines a wall by the framing, meaning if the house cannot be demolished the
walls could be stripped off, making it easier to do several things. He encouraged the
Commission to consider the Policy Committee's recommendation.
Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to forward a recommendation of
approval to Town Council for Town Code Amendment A-19-007 regarding
demolition regulations. Seconded by Vice Chair Hanssen.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. 400 Carlton Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-19-032
APN 424-12-098
Applicant: Gary Kohlsaat
Property Owner: T&M Properties
Requesting approval of a modification to an approved Architecture and Site application
for demolition of two existing medical office buildings and construction of a new
medical office building on property zoned O.
Sean Mullin , Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Gary Kohlsaat
- This building was approved in January 2018, however the cost overruns for the
underground parking structure are too much for his client to bear so it has been eliminated
and the project redesigned with on-grade parking with 26 parking spaces. They have
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maintained the existing architectural style and this design is better overall than the first
one. This project would be better for the site, the neighborhood, and his client.
Juliana Lockman
- Her major concern is parking in her neighborhood from multiple medical businesses and
she is worried that with the elimination of the underground parking it could get worse. She
is also concerned about safety with cars exiting the parking lot because of poor visibility.
Gary Kohlsaat
- Twelve parking spaces would be taken by staff and doctors, leaving 14 parking spaces for
their patients, which should be adequate for their needs. The driveway entrance from Jo
Drive is not on their property; it is parking for the building on the corner. The vacant space
is open space for that project and is also not their property. They are concerned about
adding landscaping screening along Jo Drive because they are close to the corner and have
to be careful not to block visibility. Currently the striping and paint on the parking lot is
worn off, but with the new building there would be new appropriate standards to help with
traffic calming.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch to approve an Architecture and Site
Application with additional conditions for 400 Carlton Avenue. Seconded
by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
4. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• Town Council met on September 3, 2019, but there were no Planning items.
• The General Plan Advisory Committee will meet on September 19, 2019 to discuss
potential amendments to the existing General Plan regarding Highway 17.
• The Planning Commission meeting of September 25, 2019 has been cancelled.
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SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
General Plan Advisory Committee
Commissioner Janoff
- GPAC has finished the land use input with the consultants. The next GPAC meeting is
September 19, 2019.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
September 11, 2019 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
Vicki Blandin