09-14-22 Minutes - PC
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
Government Code Section 54953, as Amended by Assembly Bill 361, in response to the state
of emergency relating to COVID-19 and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by
suspending or waiving specified provisions in the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code §
54950 et seq.). Consistent with AB 361 and Town of Los Gatos Resolution 2021 -044, 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 Melanie Hanssen, Vice Chair Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner Kylie Clark,
Commissioner Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner Steve Raspe, 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 – August 24, 2022
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Thomas to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Tavana.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously with Vice Chair Barnett recused.
PAGE 2 OF 3
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 755 Blossom Hill Road
Fence height Exception Application FHE-21-003
APN 523-04-043
Applicant: Nina Guralnic
Property Owner: David and Ilana Kohanchi
Project Planner: Savannah Van Akin
Consider an Appeal of a Community Development Director decision to deny a fence
height exception request for construction of six-foot tall fencing located within the
required front yard setback and construction of a vehicular gate with reduced setbacks
on property zoned R-1:10.
Chair Hanssen indicated that the applicant had requested that Item 2, 755 Blossom Hill Road,
be continued to the Planning Commission meeting of November 9, 2022.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Raspe to continue the public hearing for 755
Blossom Hill Road to a date certain of November 9, 2022. Seconded by
Vice Chair Barnett.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. Review and Recommendation of the Draft Objective Standards to the Town Council
Ryan Safty, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Lee Quintana
- The architects say the illustrations are line drawings, however, the line drawings provided
in the draft standards are hard for lay people to understand and they appear to favor very
boxy construction. Palo Alto uses line drawings only for illustrating the standard that is
being stated, not an entire building, so it is more neutral toward architecture and mass and
scale. Photos are helpful for the general public to understand and I suggest a collage page
with different buildings that meet the intent of the standards. I’m confused on the private
and common open space and landscaping. If landscaping doesn’t count for the common
space, and there is landscaping in that space, how does that work? There seems to be a
dichotomy of opinion among the architects regarding the size of private and common open
space. I think the architects want more leeway to appeal to the high end of the housing
market, and the other architect is addressing his remarks to smaller units, which is the
intent of this process.
PAGE 3 OF 3
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Janoff to recommend the Objective Standards
Draft to the Town Council with the changes and recommendations made
by the Planning Commission. Seconded by Commissioner Tavana.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Jennifer Armer, Planning Manager
• The initial public review draft of the Housing Element has been released and is available
for public comment for a 30-day period ending at 5:00 p.m. on September 27, 2022.
Written comments are invited, and there will be an opportunity for verbal comments at
the September 15, 2022 HEAB meeting at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
• The process to institute a permanent Senate Bill 9 Ordinance is moving ahead. An initial
draft will be available online by the end of the week, and community meeting via Zoom
will be held on September 21, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. The ordinance draft, with any
comments received at the community meeting, will be brought to the Planning
Commission for consideration at its September 28, 2022 meeting.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:58 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
September 14, 2022 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin