Approval of Draft Minutes of December 10, 2014DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
DECEMBER 10, 2014
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on Wednesday,
December 10, 2014, at 7:00 PM.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Margaret Smith, Vice Chair Kendra Burch, Commissioner Mary Badame,
Commissioner Charles Erekson, Commissioner Tom O’Donnell, and
Commissioner Joanne Talesfore
Absent: Vice Chair Kendra Burch was absent through Requested Continuances.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Erekson led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 12, 2014
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to approve the meeting minutes of
November 12, 2014.
Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0-1, Commissioner Burch absent.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Desk Item for Items 5 and 6.
REQUESTED CONTINUANCES
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Talesfore to continue the public hearing for Item 6,
258 Union Avenue, to January 28, 2015.
Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-0-1, Commissioner Burch absent.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Conceptual Development Advisory Committee
Commissioner Talesfore
- The 12/10/14 CDAC meeting considered one matter:
- 15215 Shannon Road
Housing Element Advisory Board
Commissioner Erekson
- Since the last HEAB meeting:
- Continued to work on the development of the Board’s Housing Element recommendations to the
Planning Commission.
Commissioner Burch arrived at 7:13 p.m.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Adopt Proposed Meeting Schedule for 2015
2. 14090 Blossom Hill Road
Conditional Use Permit: U-14-020
APN: 527-32-031
Property Owner: Blossom Hill Investment Company
Applicant: Laurie Jimenez
Project Planner: Marni Moseley
Requesting approval to conduct group arts and crafts classes on property zoned C -1.
3. 16250 Los Gatos Boulevard
Conditional Use Permit: U-14-019
APN: 532-06-057
Property Owner: Marshall Smith
Applicant: Kendall Riding
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Requesting approval for a new fitness studio (Orangetheory Fitness) with group classes on
property zoned C-1.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Erekson to approve Consent Items #1, #2 and #3.
Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-0.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (AUDIENCE)
None.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. 15600 and 15650 Los Gatos Boulevard
Planned Development Application: PD-11-005
Negative Declaration: ND-11-007
APN: 424-14-028 and 036
Property Owner: Longs Drug Stores California, LLC
Applicant: Landmark Retail Group
Project Planner: Jennifer Savage
Requesting approval to change the zone from CH to CH:PD, to demolish existing commercial
buildings, to construct new commercial buildings, and to allow a 24 -hour super drugstore
(CVS). No significant environmental impacts have been identified as a result of this project
and a Mitigated Negative Declaration is recommended.
Chair Smith opened the public hearing.
Jennifer Savage, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Commission mem bers asked questions of staff.
Howard Spunt
- Commented that he is the developer of the project and that they had met with the neighborhood
and the major issues were building placement, massing, architecture, traffic, and hours. They
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Planning Commission Minutes December 10, 2014
have redesigned the building and reduced the mass as well as other changes to acommodate the
neighbors.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Spunt.
Tony Silva
- Commented that he is the architect of the project and spoke about the plaza, lighting,
landscaping, setbacks, style of architecture, and screening.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Silva.
Stephen LaBonge
- Commented that he is the Regional Director of Real Estate for CVS and answered questions
regarding the Minute Clinic.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. LaBonge.
Vicki Cramer
- Commented that she was happy to see the site had been cleaned up and appreciated the
neighborhood meeting she attended, and asked that the Commission be given updated drawings.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Cramer.
Joseph Gemignani
- Commented that he is pleased with the changes made to the building, but he does not like the
red brick. He thinks the building should be articulated to provide interest for those traveling down
Los Gatos Boulevard.
Richard Sandigo
- Commented that he would like to see the hours reduced and the store closed on Sunday, or at
least reduced hours on Sunday. He was not in favor of the drive-through window or the red brick.
John Zavoshy
- Commented that he owns the property that borders the development and that he is concerned
about security. He said he would like the 8-foot wall to be textured and suggested species of
trees to replace the magnolias that are in poor health.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Zavoshy.
Julie Mercik
- Commented that she is not in favor of the drive-through window and is concerned about extra
traffic that the project would bring, and that she prefers the stone front to the red brick.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Mercik.
Lee Quintana
- Commented that the Planning Commission should specifically outline the uses included in the
PD, specifically the Minute Clinic. She does not believe the design of the structure captures Los
Gatos’s unique character.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Quintana.
Julianne Savage
- Commented that this type of store is too large for the site and would add more traffic. There are a
number of drugstores already and the Town does not need more. She is also concerned about
loitering in the plaza.
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Tammy Gore
- Commented that she and her neighbors did not receive meeting notifications. She atten ded the
neighborhood meeting and was pleased that the developer and architect listened to the
neighbors, however, there was a strong opinion against the drive-through.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Gore.
Carleen Schomberg
- Commented that if the project were built she would like it to be smaller in scale in keeping with
the small town feel. She is also concerned about the double left turn.
Rhodie Firth
- Commented that she has many concerns about the project, including the mass of the building,
the lack of need for a large drugstore in Town, and obstruction of views from Los Gatos
Boulevard.
Howard Spunt
- Commented that they are looking to the Commission for direction, but they are willing to reduce
the hours, utilize a single left-hand turn instead of a modified double, and have a stone front
instead of brick. He added the drive-through window is important to the pharmacy and would
generate very little traffic.
Tony Silva
- Commented that the height of the building is consistent with surrounding buildings and that some
of the trees have to be removed to install drainage features required by California law.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Silva.
Chair Smith closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commission members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to continue Planned Development
Application PD-11-005 to a date certain and to direct the Applicant to return with
more detailed plans to address the issues of the bicycle lane, reduced hours,
impact of dual left lane, stone versus brick, limitations to the drive -through
window, definition of a Minute Clinic, the layout, secondary retail, and removal of
trees.
Vice Chair Burch requested the motion be amended to include another neighborhood
outreach meeting with notification extended to 1,000 feet to reach more of the impacted
neighborhoods.
Commissioner O’Donnell accepted the requested amendment to the motion.
Commissioner Talesfore requested the motion be amended to include consideration of
lowering the building height or pushing the top floor back, and that the Applicant provide
a photo simulation of the project.
Commissioner O’Donnell declined to accept the requested amendment to the motion.
Seconded by Commissioner Erekson.
Commission members discussed the matter.
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Commission members asked questions of staff.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-1 with Commissioner Erekson opposing.
Planning Manager Paulson indicated the date certain for the next hearing would be February 11, 2015.
5. 106 East Main Street
Conditional Use Permit: U-13-017
APN: 529-34-108
Property Owner: Town of Los Gatos
Applicant: Museums of Los Gatos
Project Planner: Jennifer Savage
Requesting approval to operate a museum (Museums of Los Gatos) on property zoned
C-1:PD.
Chair Smith opened the public hearing.
Commissioner O’Donnell indicated he would recuse himself from participating in the hearing
because he lives within 500 feet of the subject property.
Chair Smith indicated she would recuse herself from participating in the hearing because she
lives within 500 feet of the subject property and that Vice-Chair Burch would chair the remainder
of the meeting.
Jennifer Savage, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Jeffrey Janoff
- Commented that he is the Board President of Museums of Los Gatos. He clarifed when ther e is
an event, such as Music in the Park, the museum would be interested in collaborating with that
event to draw visitors into the museum and they would not want to be excluded from being open
at that same time.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Janoff.
Vice Chair Burch closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission
for deliberation.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Talesfore to recommend that the Council approve
Conditional Use Permit Application U-13-017 subject to the conditions of
approval as noted in Exhibit 3 of the staff report dated December 10, 2014. The
required findings were made as noted in Exhibit 2 of the staff report dated
December 10, 2014.
Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-0.
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
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NEW OTHER BUSINESS
1. Report from Community Development Director, Laurel Prevetti
Town Council met in early December; said farewell for former Council Members
and welcomed new Members; approved a styrofoam container ban; and approved
maintaining a carry out bag charge of ten cents.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 10:28 pm.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
___________________________________________
Margaret Smith, Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND ATTEST:
_____________________________
Joel Paulson
Planning Manager