06 Staff Report.Outdoor Lighting
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER ARMER, AICP
Senior Planner
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/06/2020
ITEM NO: 6
DATE: September 28, 2020
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consider Approval of Amendments and Introduce the Draft Ordinance by
Title Only to Amend Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code
Regarding Outdoor Lighting and Modifications to the Residential Design
Guidelines, Town-Wide. Town Code Amendment Application A-20-005.
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider approval of amendments and introduce the draft Ordinance by title only to amend
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding outdoor lighting and modifications
to the Residential Design Guidelines (Attachments 2 and 3).
BACKGROUND:
On October 22, 2019, the Town Council Policy Committee discussed Town Code Section
29.10.09015, which limits outdoor lighting and prohibits “shoestring lights.” The Policy
Committee passed a motion to temporarily suspend the prohibition of shoestring lighting, while
the Town considered new lighting regulations for different zones throughout Town, as
described in the meeting minutes (Attachment 4, Exhibit 2).
On November 25, 2019 and January 28, 2020, the Town Council Policy Committee discussed
and provided direction on potential outdoor lighting regulation modifications in order to better
reflect the current interest in decorative string lighting while limiting light impacts on
neighbors, as described in the meeting minutes (Attachment 4, Exhibits 3 and 4).
On July 28, 2020, the Town Council Policy Committee discussed the matter and recommended
the modifications to the Town Code and Residential Design Guidelines for Planning Commission
and Town Council consideration.
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SUBJECT: Amendments of Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code Regarding
Outdoor Lighting and Modifications to the Residential Design Guidelines.
DATE: September 28, 2020
DISCUSSION:
On August 26, 2020, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed Town Code amendments
regarding outdoor lighting and the modifications to the Residential Design Guidelines
(Attachment 2 and 3). The discussion by the Planning Commission included a recommendation
that in addition to the modifications to Town Code and the Residential Design Guidelines
recommended by the Policy Committee, the Town Council also consider adding light regulations
based on a numerical measurement of type or intensity of the light, and adding a definition of
“decorative lighting.” Staff can bring these back under a separate amendment, if directed by
Council.
The Planning Commission had no recommendations for modifications to the draft Ordinance
language and modifications to the Residential Design Guidelines and forwarded a
recommendation of approval to the Town Council. Attachment 5 contains the verbatim
minutes for the Planning Commission meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council:
1. Make the finding that there is no possibility that this project will have a significant
impact on the environment; therefore, the project is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act [Section 15061 (b) (3)] (Attachment 1);
2. Make the required finding that the amendments to Chapter 29 of the Town Code
regarding outdoor lighting are consistent with the General Plan (Attachment 1); and
3. Make the required finding that the modifications to the Residential Design Guidelines
are consistent with the General Plan (Attachment 1);
4. Adopt a Resolution to modify the Residential Design Guidelines (Attachment 2), with
any specific changes identified and agreed upon by the majority of the Town Council;
and
5. Introduce the Ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos effecting the amendments of the
Town Code regarding outdoor lighting A-20-005 (Attachment 3), by title only, with
any specific changes identified and agreed upon by the majority of the Town Council.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternatively, the Council may:
1. Continue this item to a date certain with specific direction to staff;
2. Refer the item back to the Planning Commission with specific direction; or
3. Take no action, leaving the Town Code unchanged.
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: Amendments of Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code Regarding
Outdoor Lighting and Modifications to the Residential Design Guidelines.
DATE: September 28, 2020
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The project is Categorically Exempt pursuant to the adopted Guidelines for the Implementation
of the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed amendments to the Town Code will have
a significant effect on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Required Findings
2. Draft Resolution
3. Draft Ordinance
4. August 26, 2020 Planning Commission Staff Report with Exhibits 1 through 8
5. August 26, 2020 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes