Approval of Draft Minutes of August 12, 2015DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 12, 2015
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on Wednesday,
August 12, 2015, at 7:00 PM.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Chair Burch called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Kendra Burch, Vice Chair Mary Badame, Commissioner Charles Erekson,
Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner D. Michael Kane, and Commissioner
Joanne Talesfore (via teleconference)
Absent: Commissioner Tom O’Donnell
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Kane led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 8, 2015
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Badame to approve the meeting minutes of July 8, 2015.
Seconded by Commissioner Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-0.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Desk Item for Items 2 and 3.
REQUESTED CONTINUANCES
None.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
None.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (AUDIENCE)
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
None.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. 25 E. Main Street
Architecture and Site Application S-12-102
APN 529-28-037
Property Owner: Al Mansoorian
Applicant: Bob Flury – Flury Bryant Design
Project Planner: Marni Moseley
Requesting approval to construct a new second story addition to a commercial space (I Gatti
Restaurant) for separate living quarters on property zoned C-2.
Page 2 of 6
Planning Commission Minutes August 12, 2015
Chair Burch opened the public hearing.
Marni Moseley, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Bob Flury
- Commented that the General Plan encourages functional outdoor living spaces, and if living
spaces are relegated to the rear they will be used for storage, as freeway noise and exhaust
odors will render the space unusable for living. The front of the building is the only place to put
outdoor living space that can be functional.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Flury.
Neda Mansoorian
- Commented that she represented her parents, the property owners. They took the Commission’s
comments from the last meeting very seriously and went back to the drawing board at great
expense. They have met and exchanged emails with their neighbor, who now feels that their
concerns have been addressed.
Chair Burch 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 Erekson to approve Architecture and Site Application
S-12-102 subject to the conditions of approval as noted in Exhibit 11 of the staff
report dated August 12, 2015. The required findings were made as noted in
Exhibit 2 of the staff report dated June 10, 2015, with the exception that the
hedge be removed and the wall be 6 feet in height.
Seconded by Commissioner Hanssen.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commission members discussed the matter.
The maker of the motion amended the motion to remove the hedge and have a 5 feet, 6-inch wall.
The seconder of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
VOTE: Motion ended in no action due to a tie vote.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Chair Burch reopened the public input portion of the hearing.
The Commission asked questions of the Applicant.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Chair Burch closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Page 3 of 6
Planning Commission Minutes August 12, 2015
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Erekson to approve Architecture and Site Application
S-12-102 subject to the conditions of approval as noted in Exhibit 11 of the staff
report dated August 12, 2015. The required findings were made as noted in
Exhibit 2 of the staff report dated June 10, 2015, with the exception that the
hedge be removed.
Seconded by Commissioner Hanssen.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-2 with Commissioner Talesfore and Vice Chair Badame
opposing.
Planning Manager Joel Paulson cited the appeal rights.
2. 5 Augusta Court
Architecture and Site Application S-14-125
APN 529-11-006
Property Owner: Donald P. and Rose M. Arnaudo
Applicant: Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Arnaudo
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Requesting approval to construct a new second story addition to an existing single-family
residence with reduced setbacks and to exceed the maximum allowable floor area on
property zoned RM-5:12.
Chair Burch opened the public hearing.
Jocelyn Puga, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Amy Arnaudo
- Commented that they listened to and addressed the Commission’s concerns by revising the plans
and removing 41 square feet from the top floor. In response to the consulting architect’s
concerns, they added a window and increased the porch roof slope, and instead of the planter
box they moved the garage forward to have the mid-height step-back, which remedied the
setback violation. Any of Mr. Cannon’s concerns that were not addressed were due to structural
functionality of the house. They don’t want to change the character of the house.
Nick Struthers
- Commented that he is a neighbor of the proposed project. It doesn’t make sense to penalize the
applicants because their proposed house would be the biggest in the neighborhood when
compared to the apartment complex next door.
Phil Knopf
- Commented that the previous concerns have been satisfied, and the square footage has been
reduced, yet staff still recommends denial because it would be the largest home in the
neighborhood. Five Augusta Court is the smallest of the six immediate neighboring lots. Using the
allowed floor area ratio, 5 Augusta Court will eventually become the smallest house of the six lots
as the five other lots have the potential to have larger homes.
Chair Burch closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Page 4 of 6
Planning Commission Minutes August 12, 2015
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Talesfore to approve Architecture and Site
Application S-14-125 subject to the required findings made as noted in Exhibit 9
of the staff report dated August 12, 2015.
Seconded by Vice Chair Badame.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-0.
Planning Manager Joel Paulson cited the appeal rights.
4. 60½ Rogers Street (taken out of order)
Architecture and Site Application S-15-048
APN 529-33-003
Property Owner: Clark and Suzanne Cochran
Applicant: Terence Szewczyk
Project Planner: Jennifer Savage
Requesting approval to eliminate a detached second dwelling unit on property zoned R-1:20.
Chair Burch opened the public hearing.
Jennifer Savage, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Suzanne Cochran
- Commented that their goal is to reduce the “paper” label of a secondary dwelling unit on their
property, the final step of an already approved lot merger.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Cochran.
Lee Quintana
- Commented that if the secondary unit label is removed from the structure, wouldn’t that make the
rental of that unit inconsistent with Town Code?
Chair Burch closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Badame to approve Architecture and Site Application S-
15-048 subject to the conditions of approval as noted in Exhibit 3 of the staff
report dated August 12, 2015. The required findings were made as noted in
Exhibit 2 of the staff report dated August 12, 2015.
Seconded by Commissioner Kane.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-0.
Planning Manager Joel Paulson cited the appeal rights.
3. 16350 Blackberry Hill Road
Architecture and Site Application S-14-067
APN 532-26-085
Property Owner: Lily Sarafan and Amir Ghorbani
Applicant: Malika Junaid
Project Planner: Jocelyn Puga
Page 5 of 6
Planning Commission Minutes August 12, 2015
Requesting approval to exceed the maximum floor area and maximum building height for an
addition to a single-family residence on property zoned HR-2½.
Chair Burch opened the public hearing.
Jocelyn Puga, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
Lily Sarafan
- Commented that the property is not appropriate for starting a family or for her elderly father.
Malika Junaid
- Commented that two of their proposed additions are under the existing roof, which will not be
changed. They are enclosing existing porches, which is the only way to add bedrooms to the
upper floor without tearing too much into the existing house. The family room addition is off the
kitchen to avoid bringing the kitchen into the house, which would necessitate much more
remodeling. They are trying to maintain the architectural style of the house.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Junaid and Ms. Sarafan.
Dan Phillips
- Commented that he is a neighbor to the subject property. He looked at the property when he was
in the market to buy his home, but it was clear something like the proposed plan would need to be
done. He believes the proposed design is ingenious and will have minimal impact on the property.
Shirley Smith
- Commented that the applicants are wonderful neighbors and the proposed house design would
not pose a hardship for her. She supports their project.
Malika Junaid
- Commented that they have worked to ensure the privacy of the neighbors. They have met all the
findings to help support this project.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Junaid and Ms. Sarafan.
Chair Burch closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Chair Burch reopened the public input portion of the hearing.
The Commission asked questions of the applicant.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Chair Burch closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Commission members discussed the matter.
Page 6 of 6
Planning Commission Minutes August 12, 2015
MOTION: Motion by Chair Burch to continue the public hearing for Architecture and Site
Application S-14-067 to the meeting of September 9, 2015 with direction to
comply with the Hillside Guidelines and Standards and reconfigure the project as
necessary to meet the FAR and square footage requirements, and have no
additional visibility from viewing platforms.
Seconded by Vice Chair Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-0.
NEW OTHER BUSINESS
5. Report from Community Development Director, Laurel Prevetti
• Town Council met 8/4/15; considered and approved the adoption of the North 40 Zoning
Ordinance; heard and approved an appeal for 657 University Avenue.
6. Commission Matters
• Chair Burch asked for case studies of when Town Council decisions differ from that
recommended by the Planning Commission.
• Commissioner Kane said he did not want to do exceptions, and requested clarification
that exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis. He also requested staff or the
chair make a list of items that the applicant should provide in time for the public hearing
(e.g., materials board, CAD drawings, etc.).
• Commissioner Hanssen said she would like to have drawings when an alternative would
result in a material change to the plan. She also asked if progress had been made to
form a planned development group in conjunction with the General Plan Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 10:03 pm.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
___________________________________________
Kendra Burch, Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND ATTEST:
_____________________________
Joel Paulson
Planning Manager