Draft Minutes of the June 9, 2021 Planning Commission Meeting
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/23/2021 ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
JUNE 9, 2021
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, June 9, 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 PM
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 – May 12, 2021
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Tavana to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Suzuki.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-0 with Commissioner Thomas abstaining.
PAGE 2 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2021
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 102 Alta Heights Court
Architecture and Site Application S-20-029
APN 532-29-045
Applicant: Eric Beckstrom
Property Owner: Bo Development, LLC
Project Planner: Ryan Safty
Requesting approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence and
construction of a new single-family residence with reduced front and side setbacks on
nonconforming property zoned R-1:8.
Ryan Safty, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Eric Beckstrom, Architect/Co-owner (Applicant)
- There is a wide variety of home sizes and styles in the Loma Alta neighborhood. The current
house is tired and poorly built. The lot is challenging because it is small and oddly shaped.
They propose to build a modest Tudor style, two-story home to blend into the historic
village setting. The proposed home meets the Los Gatos square footage size and height
limits, adds only 249 square feet to the existing house footprint, and will be passively
heated. They have followed the consulting architect's recommendations. They previously
met with all the neighbors and received unanimous support.
Rajiv Parihar, 104 Alta Heights
- They live on the north side of the subject site. They are concerned regarding the massing,
bulk, and placement of the proposed home. They are also concerned that the applicant has
asked for a reduction of the side setbacks on the east and west elevations and they request
the setbacks remain at the current eight feet due to privacy concerns. They request the
proposed cantilever projection on the east side of the house be eliminated. They request
the front setback be 20 feet instead of 18 feet so vehicles can fully pull into the driveway.
They ask that the height of the proposed house be reduced due to light and view concerns.
Harvey Grasty, 106 Alta Heights Court
- He neither objects to the project nor supports it. He agreed with Mr. Parihar regarding the
front setback and the driveway. He also requested the height of the house be reduced,
saying it feels like an ominous structure given its size and how it is placed.
PAGE 3 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2021
Eric Beckstrom, Architect/Co-owner (Applicant)
- There are houses in the Loma Alta neighborhood that are taller than their proposed home,
even the one next to them. They worked hard to make the house fit the lot, and a
reduction to the side setbacks would require a full redesign of the project. The house next
door has a front setback of only 4.5 feet. Vehicles would be able to park adequately in their
design and setting the house back farther would be detrimental to the large Oak tree.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to approve an Architecture and Site
Permit for 102 Alta Heights Court. Seconded by Vice Chair Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed 6-1 with Commissioner Barnett dissenting.
OTHER BUSINESS
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• At the Planning Commission's next hearing it will participate in part of the CEQA process
for an Environmental Impact Report. The Community Development Director and Town
Attorney will put together additional information on the process for Commissioners to
review at the meeting.
• Planning Manager Sally Zarnowitz will retire from her position on June 11, 2021.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
General Plan Committee
Commissioner Hanssen
- GPC met May 26, 2021 to review the enabling documents for the General Plan Committee
as well as the application to make them more inclusive and encourage more applicants.
Conceptual Development Advisory Committee
Commissioner Barnett
- CDAC met June 9, 2021 at the Town Council's request to review and discuss the resolution
that established the Committee and the procedural policy related to it. Recommended
changes were submitted to the Policy Committee and will ultimately go to the Town
Council.
PAGE 4 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
June 9, 2021 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin