Staff Report.246 Almendra Ave
PREPARED BY: Ryan Safty
Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/20/2021 ITEM NO: 11
DATE: April 14, 2021
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consider a Request for Approval for a Zone Change from O:LHP (Office with a
Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) to R-1D:LHP (Single-Family
Residential Downtown with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay)
for Property Located at 246 Almendra Avenue. APN: 510-14-019. Zone
Change Application Z-20-001. Property Owner: Gary Filizetti. Applicant: Brett
Brenkwitz.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request for approval for a zone change from O:LHP (Office with a Landmark and
Historic Preservation Overlay) to R-1D:LHP (Single-Family Residential Downtown with a
Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) for property located at 246 Almendra Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
The subject parcel is located on the northern side of Almendra Avenue, one property east of
the Almendra Avenue and Tait Avenue intersection (Attachment 1, Exhibit 1). The parcel is
located within the Almond Grove Historic District, but is not listed as a contributor to the
Almond Grove Historic District as there are no buildings on the parcel. The parcel is currently
developed as a parking lot serving as overflow parking for the restaurant at 235 Los Gatos-
Saratoga Road to the north.
The applicant is requesting approval of a zone change from O:LHP to R-1D:LHP to allow for the
future construction of a new single-family residence (Attachment 1, Exhibit 4). The Landmark
and Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (LHP) would remain if the application is approved. No
construction is proposed at this time.
PAGE 2 OF 4 SUBJECT: 246 Almendra Avenue/Z-20-001 DATE: April 14, 2021
DISCUSSION:
A. Planning Commission
At its March 10, 2021 meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the application and
recommended approval of the zone change to the Town Council (Attachments 1-2).
B. Zone Change
The applicant is proposing a zone change from O:LHP to R-1D:LHP. The proposed zoning
would be consistent with the existing General Plan Land Use designation (as discussed
below). Any future development proposed on the parcel would require approval of an
Architecture and Site Application with review by the Historic Preservation Committee. The
7,000-square foot parcel complies with the minimum lot size for a single-family dwelling in
the R-1D Zone of 5,000 square feet, and a residential use is a principally permitted use
within the R-1D Zone.
The subject parcel is currently developed as an overflow parking lot for the adjacent
restaurant to the north, with 18 parking spaces. Approval of the restaurant use on the
adjacent parcel was not predicated on these 18 parking spaces. A total of 11 parking spaces
will be maintained on the adjacent parcel (Attachment 1, Exhibit 5), which exceeds the
current parking requirement of nine spaces for the 2,660-square foot restaurant.
The subject parcel is bounded by parcels with a C-2 zoning designation to the north, O:LHP
to the south, R-1D:LHP to the east, and both O:LHP and R-1D:LHP to the west (Attachment
1, Exhibit 1).
C. General Plan
The proposed R-1D:LHP zoning would conform with the existing General Plan Land Use
designation of Medium Density Residential. Pursuant to the General Plan, “The Medium
Density Residential designation provides for multiple-family residential, duplex, and/or
small single-family homes.”
The subject parcel is surrounded by parcels with a Medium Density Residential General Plan
Land Use designation to the south, west, and east (Attachment 1, Exhibit 1). The restaurant
to the north has a Central Business District Land Use designation.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Written notice of the Town Council hearing was sent to property owners and tenants within
300 feet of the subject property. At the time of this report’s preparation, the Town has not
received any public comment.
PAGE 3 OF 4 SUBJECT: 246 Almendra Avenue/Z-20-001 DATE: April 14, 2021
CONCLUSION:
A. Summary
The proposed zone change would be consistent with the existing General Plan Land Use
designation and the existing pattern of land uses and zones surrounding the parcel
(Attachment 1, Exhibit 1).
B. Recommendation
Based on the analysis above and the recommendation of the Planning Commission, staff
recommends that the Town Council consider the existing General Plan Land Use
designations and existing zoning designations surrounding the subject parcel and approve
the zone change. If the Town Council finds merit with the proposed amendment, it should:
1. Make the required finding that there is no possibility that this project will have a
significant impact on the environment; therefore, the project is not subject to the
California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15061 (b)(3) (Attachment 3);
2. Make the required finding that the proposed zone change is consistent with the General
Plan and its Elements in that the proposed zoning is consistent with the existing General
Plan Land Use designation (Attachment 3); and
3. Introduce an Ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos effecting a zone change from O:LHP
(Office with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) to R-1D:LHP (Single-Family
Residential Downtown with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) for the
property located at 246 Almendra Avenue (Attachment 4), by title only, with any specific
changes identified and agreed upon by the majority of the Town Council.
C. Alternatives
Alternatively, the Town Council could:
1. Continue the matter to a date certain with specific direction;
2. Remand the application to the Planning Commission with specific direction; or
3. Deny the application.
COORDINATION:
The Community Development Department coordinated with the Parks and Public Works
Department, the Santa Clara County Fire Department, and the Town Attorney’s Office in the
review of the proposed project.
PAGE 4 OF 4 SUBJECT: 246 Almendra Avenue/Z-20-001 DATE: April 14, 2021
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The project is Categorically Exempt pursuant to the adopted Guidelines for the Implementation
of the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed amendment to the Town Code will have
a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments:
1. March 10, 2021 Planning Commission Staff Report with Exhibits 1-5
2. March 10, 2021 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes
3. Draft Findings
4. Draft Ordinance for the Zone Change, with Exhibit A