Desk Item with Exhibits.16509 Bonnie Lane
PREPARED BY: Ryan Safty
Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Planning Manager and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6872
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 2/23/2022
ITEM NO: 2
DESK ITEM
DATE: February 23, 2022
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider an Appeal of a Community Development Director Decision to Deny a
Fence Height Exception Request for Construction of a Six-Foot Fence Located
Within the Required Front Yard Setback on Property Zoned R-1:8. Located at
16509 Bonnie Lane. APN 532-42-013. Property Owner/Applicant/Appellant:
Pamela Kee. Project Planner: Ryan Safty.
REMARKS:
Exhibit 11 includes information from the applicant demonstrating privacy concerns. Exhibit 12
includes public comment received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, February 22, 2022, and 11:00
a.m., Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received with the February 23, 2022 Staff Report:
1. Location Map
2. Required Findings and Considerations
3. Recommended Conditions of Approval if Appeal is Approved
4. Project Description, received November 22, 2021
5. Letter of Justification, received December 21, 2021
6. Project Plans, received December 29, 2021
7. Parks and Public Works View Area Diagrams
8. Fence Height Exception Denial Letter, dated January 7, 2022
9. Appeal of Community Development Director Decision, received January 18, 2022
10. Neighborhood Letters of Support, received February 12, 2022
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: 16509 Bonnie Lane/FHE-21-013
DATE: February 23, 2022
EXHIBITS (continued):
Received with this Desk Item Report:
11. Information demonstrating privacy concerns
12. Public comment received between 11:01 a.m., Tuesday, February 22, 2022, and 11:00 a.m.,
Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
This document contains images that are a visual representation of the headlights that shine into
our home and our justification for the height of the fence we have built.
This first image is an overhead image of our street, showing a private driveway that connects to
three different residences where the headlights shine directly into our home as our neighbors
leave their residences at night, as demonstrated by the red arrow.
Fig-1: Overhead View
1
EXHIBIT 11
The second image shows the elevation of the private driveway due to the nature of the hill we
live on. As our neighbors descend their driveway there is continued elevation where their
headlights are aimed directly into our home.
Fig-2: Image of Private Driveway
2
The height at which these headlights shine into our home is demonstrated in the third image by
the red arrow. Based on the assumption that the average headlight is 24” off the ground, when
our neighbors are descending their driveway, their lights are about 4.5’ about the sidewalk on our
side of the street and shine directly into our windows. This driveway is what dictated our need
for a fence that exceeds 3’ in height. We felt that a 5” fence would partially obscure the light
while being shorter, more maintainable, more drought tolerant, and less of a fire hazard than the
previous 6+’ hedge.
Fig-3: Comparison of Private Driveway Relative to Our Residence
3
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From:Planning Comment
To:Ryan Safty
Subject:FW: 16509 Bonnie Ln
Date:Wednesday, February 23, 2022 11:04:12 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: >
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 4:36 PM
To: Planning Comment <PlanningComment@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: 16509 Bonnie Ln
EXTERNAL SENDER
I drive on Bonnie Lane and pass the property in question, and all the others on Bonnie Ln, several times a week.
In my opinion the fence being proposed should definitely be approved. It is very esthetically pleasing and is
consistent with all the other houses on the street.
There is no good reason to deny the homeowner their application.
Thank you
EXHIBIT 12
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