Drafted Minutes of the February 10, 2021 Meeting
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/24/2021
ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
FEBRUARY 10, 2021
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
State of California Executive Order N-29-20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID19
pandemic and was conducted via Zoom. All planning commissioners and staff participated
from remote locations and all voting was conducted via roll call vote.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Kathryn Janoff , Vice Chair Kendra Burch, Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett,
Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Jeffrey Suzuki, Commissioner Reza Tavana, and
Commissioner Emily Thomas.
Absent: None.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – January 13, 2021
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Tavana.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 2 OF 4
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 10, 2021
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 62 Ellenwood Avenue
APN 510-20-068
Applicant: Lisa Nichols, Arcanum Architecture, Inc.
Property Owners: Lisa and Case Swenson
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Requesting Approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence, construction
of a new single-family residence, removal of a large protected tree, and site
improvements requiring a Grading Permit on property zoned R-1:12.
Continued from the December 9, 2020 Planning Commission meeting.
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
New Commissioners Suzuki and Thomas stated for the record that they had reviewed the
previous video regarding 62 Ellenwood Avenue from the December 9, 2020 Planning
Commission meeting and have knowledge of the entire record.
Opened Public Comment.
Tim Chappelle, Arcanum Architecture
- At the last hearing they discussed compatibility with the neighborhood, narrowing the
driveway width, and the fence height. There had been concerns that the design was too
modern for the neighborhood, so they changed the architecture to a charming Northern
California cottage with softer, all natural materials, looking more like a traditional home.
They also reduced the driveway width from 18 feet to 14 feet and made the fence more
rustic and neighborhood friendly with wood.
John Merten, Studio Green
- They have introduced layers in the planting and moved the fence back and softened the
materials in response to comments regarding making it more historically appropriate and
more natural.
Mark Beck, 60 Ellenwood Avenue
- They liked the original design, but think the new changes are spectacular and the design is
even better than before. They support the project 100 percent and ask the Commission to
approve it.
Kate Chimenti
- They live across the street from the project. The applicant has told them they will mitigate
the parking problems due to construction and asked for reassurance that there will not be
vehicles parked in front of their home.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 10, 2021
Lee Quintana
- The Fence Ordinance was recently passed with a new requirement of the 3 -foot height in
the front and she is concerned about why the fence ca n't be moved back so it is still in
compliance with the Fence Ordinance, and if it is a security problem then giving the
exception would void the provision of the Fence Ordinance.
Mark Beck, 60 Ellenwood Avenue
- The applicant has agreed to pull their fence back, but his and other neighbors' fences are in
a line and most are higher than what the applicants are asking for. To pull the fence back
even farther from the property line would make their street line look funny . They asked for
the project to be approved, but without the fence being pulled back any farther.
Tim Chappelle, Arcanum Architecture
- Because of the property's pie shape they believe they would be able to heavily park the
front, because they have a lot of street frontage, and mitigate any neighborhood concerns
regarding parking.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch to approve an application for demolition
of an existing single-family residence, construction of a new single-family
residence, removal of a large protected tree, and site improvements
requiring a Grading Permit on property zoned R-1:12 for 62 Ellenwood
Avenue, with the fence relocated to reduce the height of the existing
fence. Seconded by Commissioner Hanssen.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Chair Janoff announced that she had made the following committee assignments :
• Commissioner Hanssen – Conceptual Development Advisory Committee, General Plan
Committee
• Commissioner Tavana – Conceptual Development Advisory Committee
• Commissioner Barnett – Conceptual Development Advisory Committee
• Commissioner Thomas – General Plan Committee
• Commissioner Suzuki – Historic Preservation Committee
• Vice Chair Burch – Historic Preservation Committee
• Chair Janoff – General Plan Committee
PAGE 4 OF 4
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 10, 2021
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• Welcomed new Commissioners Suzuki and Thomas who were appointed on January 19,
2021.
• The Town Council held a Strategic Priorities session on January 26, 2021. Additional
information will be forwarded soon to all commissions regarding the outcome of those
discussions.
• A joint Planning Commission/Town Council study session will be held on February 23,
2021 with a panel dealing with economic development topics.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
General Plan Advisory Committee
Commissioner Hanssen
- The General Plan Advisory Committee met January 7, 2021, January 21, 2021 and February
4, 2021 with the focus on updating the General Plan. The Committee completed review of
the initial draft of the Land Use Element. The initial draft of the Community Design Element
will be reviewed at the next meeting on February 18, 2021. The Committee will then move
on to the revised initial draft of the Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice Element.
- Thanked Commissioner Burch for her service for the past two years on the General Plan
Committee and welcomed Commissioner Thomas to the General Plan Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
February 10, 2021 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin