Item 3.Desk Item with Exhibits 14-15 - Objective Standards
PREPARED BY: SEAN MULLIN, AICP and RYAN SAFTY
Senior Planner 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: 08/24/2022
ITEM NO: 3
DESK ITEM
DATE: August 24, 2022
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Review and Recommendation of the Draft Objective Standards to the Town
Council.
REMARKS:
Exhibit 14 includes Planning Commissioner comments. Exhibit 15 includes public comment
received between 11:01 a.m., August 23, 2022, and 11:00 a.m., August 24, 2022.
EXHIBITS:
Previously received with the June 22, 2022, Staff Report:
1. Town Council Resolution 2019-053
2. Summary of feedback received during community engagement meetings
3. Draft Objective Standards
4. Public Comments received prior to 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 17, 2022
Previously received with the June 22, 2022, Addendum Report:
5. Staff response to Commissioner’s questions
6. Issues considered by the Objective Standards Subcommittee
7. Commissioner email regarding City of Palo Alto Objective Standards
Previously received with the June 22, 2022, Desk Item Report:
8. Suggested additions and modifications provided by a Planning Commissioner
Previously received with the August 24, 2022 Staff Report :
9. Revised Draft Objective Standards
10. Revised Draft Objective Standards with Redlines
11. Summary of Revisions Made and Responses to Comments Received at the Planning
Commission Hearing of June 22, 2022
12. Evaluation of Existing Developments
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: Draft Objective Standards
DATE: AUGUST 24, 2022
Previously received with the August 24, 2022 Addendum Report:
13. Planning Commissioner Comments
Received with this Desk Item Report:
14. Planning Commissioner Comments
15. Public Comment received between 11:01 a.m., August 23, 2022, and 11:00 a.m., August 24,
2022
From: Jeffrey Barnett
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2022 11:33:24 AM
To: Sean Mullin <SMullin@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: PC Hearing 8.24.22 - Objective Standards
EXTERNAL SENDER
Good morning, Sean.
I have a few questions that I would like to discuss with you in advance of tomorrow's meeting.
(1)A.1.2 Page 233: Explain how this standard applies where pedestrians must cross a car
driveway in the parking lot.
(2) 4.1 on Page 233: Would a standard preferring a rear parking structure be objective?
(3)A.6 on Page 234: This lighting rule does not include pathways adjacent to buildings. The
"key term" definition of "community recreation space" for mixed-use projects and multi-family
deverlopments does not seem to encompass these areas, and the language "other community
areas for the use of residents", in my opinion" may not apply to such pathways. Also, I do not
see a provision for lighting in parking areas. I don’t believe that these too are community
recreation spaces.
(4) 10.1c Page 236: sixty square feet is very small. My pool is almost that large, and is not
particularly big.
(5)Figure B.1.1(b) on Page 238: should this only apply to staircases that are open to view?
Is there a convenient time for us to talk about these questions? I am free from 1 to 3:30 today
and all day tomorrow.
Thanks in advance, Sean.
EXHIBIT 14
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
To Planning Commission
Item 2 August 24th Planning Commission Meeting
From: Lee Quintana
COMMENTS ON TOWN OF LOS GATOS
DRAFT OBJECTIVE STANDARDS,
AUGUST 24, 2022
GENERAL COMMENTS:
Comprehensive stand alone document: It is my understanding, from previous public discussions
of the Objective Guidelines, that the Objective Standards would be a comprehensive “stand
alone” document containing the objective standards from all relevant documents and
regulations. It is difficult to assess the Draft Objective Standards without knowing what other
objective standards also apply to “qualified projects”. At a minimum, please consider adding a
list of all objective standards contained . Consider adding a Table of all other objective
standards that would apply to multi-family and mixed-use residential projects and include
hyper-links to the individual standards.
PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
This section defines “qualifying project” and where the definition can be found in the California
Government Code. However it does not define “Objective Standards” as defined by the
Government Code. Most importantly, it does not explain how these apply to the approval
process for “qualifying projects”.
Please delete and revise the first paragraph to better define the purpose of Objective Standards,
(streamlining approval process? .
Delete and receive the second paragraph and include the following as part of that paragraph:
Gov. Code 65559.5 identifies Qualifying Housing Development Projects:
● Multi-family housing developments,
● Residential Mixed Use Housing developments with a minimum of two-thirds of
the square footage is designated for residential use,
● Supportive and transitional housing development
Delete and revise the last paragraph as follows:
A Qualifying project shall be approved through a ministerial review process when the
project complies with these Objective Site Standards as well as complying with all
existing objective development regulations in the Town,:, including but not limited to the
following:
● General Plan
● Town Code
EXHIBIT 15
●Guideline and Standards Near Streams
●Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
●Parks and Public Works Standards
●Santa Clara County Fire Department Regulations.
ORGANIZATION
The Following Objective Design Standards are organized into two primary sections:.....
KEY TERMS
Community recreation space Delete and replace with:
Community recreation space in a mixed use residential development means public
gathering spaces such as: plazas, outdoor dining, squares, pocket parks, or other
community areas for the use of the public.
-Please clarify whether this applies to non-residential and residential parts
of a mixed use residential project or just to the non-residential part.
-
-Should the Community space require a public access easement.
Community recreation space in multi-family developments means gathering spaces such
as: play areas, pool areas, patios, rooftop decks, and other community areas available
for the use of all residents.
Please clarify whether this applies to projects just with MF zoning designation or
applies to the multi-family part of a Mixed Use Residential Project
Mixed Use Residential means a development project where a variety of uses such as
office, commercial, or institutional,and residential are combined with residential use(s)in
a single building or on a single site in an integrated project.
Private recreation space above ground level means an outdoor balcony,or rooftop deck,
or similar,accessible from a single dwelling unit.
similar” = subjective. Delete or replace with more specific language
Private recreation space at ground level means a single an outdoor enclosed patio or
deck accessible from a single dwelling unit.
Objective Standard means………………………………(add language)
A .SITE STANDARDS
A.1 Pedestrian Access
1.2 & Figure A.1.1 :Is there a minimum width for the sidewalk? Or for the planting strip
A.2 Bicycle Access
2.4. 1.2 was “modified from walkway” to “pathway”. Should 2.4 also be changed to
“pathway as well?
A.3 Vehicular Access and A.4 Parking Location and Design
Figure A.3.1, A.3.1 and A4.3 need clarification
:What is the difference between aisle to aisle circulation (A3.1) and parking areas
(Figure A3.1)? Does Figure A.3.1 represent multiple parking areas (see A.4.2) or
aisle-to-aisle circulation of A.3.1.
4.3 Comment:Consider decreasing spacing between trees. Aside from aesthetic value,
the shading trees decrease radiation from the parking lot surfaces
4.4 Move 4.4 up under 4.1
A.5 Parking Structure Access
Add a standard for pedestrian access to a parking garage
A.6 Utilities
6.3 Delete and separate ground and rooftop:
6.3 Views from the street of ground level utility cabinets, mechanical equipment, trash
enclosures shall be screened from view.
a.Screening shall be provided by landscaping, fencing or a wall.
b.The screening shall be at least the same height as the utility being screened,
Comment:Should they also be screened from within a site? Or at a minimum
from common areas?
6.4 Rooftop mechanical equipment shall be screened from view from the street
a.Solar equipment is exempt from this requirement
Consider a height exemption of the area required for an elevator shaft.
A.7 Landscaping and Landscape Screening
A.7.2.c Comment:Is there a requirement for planting between the trees?
A.10. Landscaping, Private, and Community Recreation Spaces
A10.1. The following landscaped, private, and community recreation spaces shall be are
required for all qualifying projects and are shall be calculated independent of each other:
A.11 Building Placement
11.1.c. How shade is calculated needs to be more specific.
B.4 Facade Design and Articulation
4.3 Change format consistent with the rest of the document
B. BUILDING DESIGN
B.1.3.e and Figure B.1.3..e
Comment:I don’t understand this one. The illustration does not fit my
understanding of a courtyard. Is this intended to be private the private use of the
dwelling units? Is this an illustration of B.1.3 (Townhouse)
B.2.2 If the intent is to prevent full transparency into the structure, should there be a
minimum as well as a maximum?
B.3 Roof Design
Figure B.3.3 Comment: This figure looks more like the gable ilustrated in Figure.3.1 than
it looks like a dormer
B.4 Facade Design and Articulation
B.4.3 Why change in format?