07 Attachment 5 - September 28, 2020 Planning Commission Addendum Report with Exhibit 13PREPARED BY: JOCELYN SHOOPMAN
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: 09/28/2020
ITEM NO: 3
ADDENDUM
DATE: September 22, 2020
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Forward a Recommendation to the Town Council for Approval of Modifications
to Chapter II. (Constraints Analysis), Chapter III. (Site Planning), and Chapter IX.
(Project Review and Approval Process) of the Hillside Development Standards
and Guidelines Regarding the Visibility Analysis, Town Wide. Applicant: Town of
Los Gatos.
REMARKS:
Exhibit 13 includes additional public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday,
September 18, 2020 and 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 22, 2020.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received with September 23, 2020 Staff Report:
1.Required Findings
2.Town Council Policy Committee July 28, 2020 Minutes
3.Town Council Policy Committee July 28, 2020 Planning Staff Report (with Attachments 1
through 6)
4.Town Council Policy Committee August 11, 2020 Minutes
5.Town Council Policy Committee August 11, 2020 Planning Staff Report (with Attachment 7)
6.Draft Modifications to Chapter II (Constraints Analysis) of the HDS&G
7.Draft Modifications to Chapter III (Site Planning) of the HDS&G
8.Chapter IX (Project Review and Approval Process) of the HDS&G
9.Ordinance 2301 Chapter 9 (Fire Prevention and Protection) of the Town Code
10.Ordinance 2303 Chapter 29, Division 2 (Tree Protection) of the Town Code
11.Town of Los Gatos, 2020, Be Wildfire Ready, <https://www.losgatosca.gov/2581/Be-
Wildfire-Ready>
12.Public comments received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 18, 2020
ATTACHMENT 5
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines Modifications
DATE: September 22, 2020
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Received with this Addendum Report:
13. Public comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, September 18, 2020 and 11:00 a.m.,
Tuesday, September 22, 2020.
From: Kathy Hemingway
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2020 5:25 PM
To: Jocelyn Shoopman <jshoopman@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Comments in Regards to the Fire Prevention Section of the Hillside Development Standards and
Guidelines
Dear Ms. Shoopman,
Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines comments for inclusion in the Planning Commission Staff
Report/Addendum/Desk Item for the meeting on September 23 regarding the fire prevention standards for
the Town of Los Gatos:
My comment is in regards to the Fire Prevention section of the Hillside Development Standards and
Guidelines. In light of the recent and ongoing fires, I believe that fire is one of the biggest concerns in the
rural, hillside areas. Just recently, the Planning Commission approved the installation of 4 fire pits on a
property in our vicinity. Two were located in the backyard of the home but the other two were spaced in
two separate areas along the hillside. At least the two in the backyard are visible by someone who might
be in the home but the other two cannot be seen from the home. The flames are around 2 feet high and
can be heard from a distance. Several times the fire pits have been left burning with no one around. I
would like to propose that fire pits not be allowed in the rural areas or at least they must be installed
within direct view and access from the home. And perhaps, for those homes with the fire pits already
installed, the ordinance should disallow use of the fire pits during the annual fire season. There is nothing
safe about fire where a combustible could find its way into the flames, catch fire, and then be blown to
catch other combustibles. And if they are out of sight, out of mind, they are even more dangerous. I
understand the appeal of sitting by the fire pit at night but unfortunately, the latest events have shone how
truly vulnerable our rural areas are to any form of fire.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my concerns,
Kathy Hemingway
14680 Shannon Road
Los Gatos, CA
EXHIBIT 13
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