Draft Mins 06.25.14DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
JUNE 25, 2014
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June
25, 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 (from during Item 1 forward),
Commissioner Mary Badame, Commissioner Charles Erekson, Commissioner Tom
O’Donnell, Commissioner Marico Sayoc, Commissioner Joanne Talesfore
Absent: Vice Chair Kendra Burch (absent through Approval of Minutes.)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Talesfore led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Desk Item for Item 3.
REQUESTED CONTINUANCES
None.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Historic Preservation Committee Matters
Commissioner O’Donnell
- The 6/25/14 HPC meeting considered three matters:
- 115-½ Wilder Avenue
- North Forty
- 327 University Avenue
Housing Element Advisory Board
Commissioner Sayoc
- The 6/12/14 Housing Element Advisory Board meeting:
- Recommended a strategy to meet the Town’s regional housing allocation numbers.
- The Board will meet next in August to finalize that recommendation and provide a
recommendation that will come to the Planning Commission next.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (AUDIENCE)
Jeff Loughridge
- Commented that there should be a moratorium on granting any new Planned Developments until
the Town’s review is complete and consensus has been reached.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 21, 2014, MAY 28, 2014, JUNE 11, 2014
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Talesfore to approve meeting minutes of May 21,
2014, May 28, 2014 and June 11, 2014
Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-0.
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Planning Commission Minutes June 25, 2014
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. 14107 Winchester Boulevard
Conditional Use Permit Application: U-14-012
APN: 406-30-015
Property Owner: Winchester Associates, LLC
Applicant: William Evon
Project Planner: Erin Walters
Requesting approval to operate a martial arts studio (Modern Taekwondo Academy) on
property zoned C-1.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to approve Consent Item #1.
Seconded by Commissioner Sayoc.
VOTE: Motion passed 7-0.
Chair Smith indicated that Vice Chair Burch had arrived at the meeting during Item 1.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 15540 El Gato Lane
Architecture and Site Application: S-14-003
APN: 523-23-021
Property Owner: Fletch and Florence Sullivan
Applicant: Chris Spaulding
Project Planner: Jennifer Savage
Requesting approval to demolish an existing single-family residence and to construct a new
single-family residence on property pre-zoned R-1:8.
Chair Smith opened the public hearing.
Jennifer Savage, Associate Planner, presented a staff report.
Fletch Sullivan
- Commented that although the Planning Commission instructed that they design their residence
as a one-story, after considering their family’s needs and meeting with their architect and
appraisers, they feel strongly that a one-story will not suit their needs and ask the Commission to
reconsider their initial application.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Sullivan.
May Pope-Handy
- Commented that she is a Los Gatos realtor. She believes the applicant lives in a transitional
neighborhood that will not be an affordable housing neighborhood.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Pope-Handy.
Francesca Sullivan
- Commented that if her family builds a two-story home it will change her life, because her family is
cramped in their present home.
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Planning Commission Minutes June 25, 2014
Florence Sullivan
- Commented that their plan for a two-story home has the full support of their nine immediate
neighbors. She requested the Commission not discriminate against them because they live in a
cluster of substandard housing at the moment.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Sullivan.
Chair Smith closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
Commission members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to deny Architecture and Site Application
S-14-003.
Seconded by Commissioner Erekson.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-3 with Chair Smith, Vice Chair Burch and Commissioner
Sayoc opposing.
Planning Manager Joel Paulson cited the appeal rights.
3. 375 Knowles Drive
Planned Development Application: PD-13-002
General Plan Amendment: GP-13-001
Environmental Impact Report: EIR-13-003
APN: 406-28-032
Property Owner: County of Santa Clara
Applicant: KT Properties
Project Planner: Suzanne Avila
Requesting approval of a General Plan Amendment from Public to Office and a Planned
Development to demolish the existing building and to construct 33 single-family residences
on property zoned O.
Chair Smith opened the public hearing.
Joel Paulson, Planning Manager, presented a staff report.
Commission members asked questions of staff.
Mark Tersini
- Commented that after the May 14, 2014 meeting they met with the consulting architect and their
own architect, their civil engineer and Town staff. They made several key changes, including
moving setbacks along Capri to provide as much as 15’ of setback; reduced all three -story homes
to two-story, which had a substantial impact on the project density; and added a second common
open space.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Tersini.
Jeff Loughridge
- Commented that he wondered if a Planned Development is the best use of the land. The
proposed development has too many units to allow proper traffic circulation as well as providing
open space, setbacks and parking. The development asks for too many exceptions and should
be denied in its present form.
Page 4 of 5
Planning Commission Minutes June 25, 2014
Lee Quintana
- Commented that the project looks reasonable at first, except if the .83 acres that go to the private
circulation is taken out it’s 12-plus units per acre rather than 8.8, which increases the FAR.
Whether the project is two or three stories, it is too intense. Bot h density and intensity need to be
considered. The project does not have maximum open space or excellence in architectural or site
design.
Commission members asked questions of Ms. Quintana.
Mark Tersini
- Commented that the project is a housing type that is desired by working couples who may work at
the upcoming Albright Way project. It is in a fantastic location with shopping, recreation and
medical nearby. This is an opportunity to provide needed housing in the community to
accommodate the Bay Area’s job growth.
Commission members asked questions of Tersini.
Paul Reed
- Commented that he is the landscape architect. With respect to the Town architect’s suggestion to
upgrade the fences, they are not tied into one particular fence yet, but he suggested a semi-
transparent stain, which is easier to maintain than paint.
Donald Ruthroff
- Commented that he is the architect. They do not see a problem addressing the Town Architect’s
suggestions.
Commission members asked questions of Mr. Ruthroff.
Commission members asked questions of Tersini.
Chair Smith closed the public input portion of the hearing and returned to the Commission for
deliberation.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell to recommend to the Town Council
approval of Planned Development Application PD-13-002; that the EIR be
certified as shown in Exhibit 1; that the Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Plan as
shown in Exhibit 4 be approved; that the proposed residential land use will
require the Town Council Resolution 211-063 as shown in Exhibit 7 be amended
or rescinded; that the required finding for community benefit be as discussed by
the applicant at the hearing; that the required finding for consistency with the
General Plan as shown in Exhibit 5 would be approved; the required finding for
the General Plan Amendment from Public to Office Professional as shown in
Exhibit 5 be approved; and adoption of the resolution for the General Plan
Application GP-13-001 as shown in Exhibit 10 be approved; find that the General
Plan Amendment is consistent with the existing goals and policies of the General
Plan and its corresponding elements as shown in Exhibit 6; and recommending
the Town Council’s resolution is consistent.
Seconded by Commissioner Erekson.
Chair Smith requested that the specific requirements that Mr. Tersini agreed to during the meeting
be added to the motion.
The maker of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
The seconder of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
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Planning Commission Minutes June 25, 2014
Commission members discussed the motion.
VOTE: Motion failed 4-3 with Vice Chair Burch and Commissioners Badame,
Sayoc and Talesfore opposing.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to recommend to the Town Council denial of
Planned Development Application PD-13-002, and General Plan Amendment
GP-13-001 based on finding that the zone change is not consistent with the
General Plan and that the General Plan Amendment is not consistent with the
goals an policies of the General Plan and it’s corresponding elements for the
reasons stated during the Commission’s discussion.
Seconded by Vice Chair Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-3 with Chair Smith and Commissioners Erekson and
O’Donnell opposing.
NEW OTHER BUSINESS
4. Report from Community Development Director, Laurel Prevetti
• Town Council met 6/2/14; clarified the requirements for a quorum.
• Town Council met 6/16/14; considered modifications to the resolution regarding
the consulting architect; approved the Conditional Use Permit for the Inn of Los
Gatos for a high-quality restaurant; approved for publication the Electric Vehicle
Ordinance.
• The July 9, 2014 Planning Commission meeting will be cancelled. The next
regularly scheduled meeting is July 23, 2014.
5. Commission Matters
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:47pm.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
___________________________________________
/s/ Margaret Smith, Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND ATTEST:
_____________________________
/s/ Joel Paulson
Planning Manager