Attachment 29 - Public CommentFrom: Sandra Livinghouse
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 12:30 PM
To: Rob Rennie <RRennie@losgatosca.gov>; Maria Ristow <MRistow@losgatosca.gov>; Mary Badame
<MBadame@losgatosca.gov>; Marico Sayoc <MSayoc@losgatosca.gov>; Matthew Hudes
<MHudes@losgatosca.gov>; Clerk <Clerk@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Please do not approve 2040 Plan As-Is
EXTERNAL SENDER
June 28, 2022
Dear Town Council members,
In the June 30th Town Council meeting, please do not:
• Approve the recommendation for up-zoning our entire town, which would allow for almost
double the residential units we have currently.
• Approve planning for almost 4,000 units, far in excess of the RHNA numbers required by the
State of CA.
Please do:
--Reject this proposal and plan to adopt the recommendation/requirements from the state ONLY, which
requires the town to zone enough residential land to enable the development of 1,993 units plus a 15%
buffer over the next 8 years for the 6th RHNA cycle. Los Gatos can then evaluate appropriately for the
next RHNA cycle later, a logical course that every other town is taking.
Thank you,
Sandra Livinghouse
ATTACHMENT 29
From: Jeff Loughridge
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 9:08:11 PM
To: Shelley Neis <sneis@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: June 30th Los Gatos Town Council meeting
EXTERNAL SENDER
Councilmembers,
The town council was and is elected to serve Los Gatos, elected by Los Gatos residents. California state
officials are elected and or appointed by a completely different constituency. Again, Los Gatos town
council are elected by town residents to serve Los Gatos. Not the state.
The above information should contain enough data for the members of our town council to be able to
deal with the latest ABAG 1993 affordable housing number. But somehow you are struggling.
At this point in the lengthy process, one can only assume that you you are struggling because you
temporarily forgot who you serve. You weren’t elected to RESHAPE our town. You were elected to
maintain and possibly improve on the charm that most, if not all, residents count on. You were elected
to represent each and every resident of Los Gatos. Not necessarily with your own personal opinion but
with actions that ensure what’s best for town residents. You are even responsible for representing the
percentage of residents who didn’t vote for you.
I’m not going to start quoting some of the numbers being tossed around. Suffice it to say that adding
one, just one, additional housing number to what the state requires would not serve the town residents
who you represent.
Town growth has been a sensitive topic for residents for as long as I’ve lived here. Not once have I heard
ANYONE express an opinion supporting significant growth. The proposed growth projected in the 2040
GP is beyond unrealistic. Even expert opinions suggest approximately only a third of what is proposed. In
the past I have passionately fought side by side with each of you to do what we could do to control and
reduce this growth. We did some great work together in the past which is why I’m doubly disappointed
in having to write this.
In 2020 when Los Gatos put the Term Limits and Finance Commission initiatives on the ballot, the
Council said they were opposed, citing, “no one really wanted the Term Limits and even fewer cared
about the Finance Commission”. Residents responded; 85% voting FOR Term Limits and 57% voting FOR
the Finance Commission. These two votes show how out of touch the Council was then and
unfortunately is now. Never more so than NOW, on the topic of growth.
Changing the zoning throughout town to allow this unprecedented growth in additional housing even
though our normal growth doesn’t support it is totally irresponsible. Future Los Gatos generations will
have no LOS GATOS SMALL TOWN CHARM to even fight for. It will be gone. That would be your legacy
and how you’d be remembered as Town Council members.
Please reconsider rezoning any more land than is ABSOLUTELY necessary for the state’s requirement.
It might seem difficult to back track your personal positions to a more sensible solution but the town
residents are counting on that extra effort.
Please do the right thing.
I wholeheartedly oppose this 2040 GP.
Jeff Loughridge
44 year resident
Former Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
Former Housing Element Advisory Commission
From: Cameron Tulee
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 10:19 AM
To: Rob Rennie <RRennie@losgatosca.gov>; Maria Ristow <MRistow@losgatosca.gov>; Mary Badame
<MBadame@losgatosca.gov>; Marico Sayoc <MSayoc@losgatosca.gov>; Matthew Hudes
<MHudes@losgatosca.gov>; Town Manager <Manager@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: General Plan housing target comments
EXTERNAL SENDER
To Los Gatos Town Manager and Honorable Council Members,
I'd like to comment on the proposed General Plan update and the extra affordable housing units
proposed by the Planning Commission, beyond what the State mandates. I disagree with that approach
for multiple reasons:
1. Looking at past history we've been unable to get to the targets as they were at the time, much
less exceed them. So why then, should we set targets even higher than what's required? Even
if we modify the target back down to the minimum the State requires, we can always over
achieve and build more than the target (if we somehow find the places to do so). If that were
the case, rather than being short of the plan we could actually be ahead of the plan, for a
change.
2. The need to build, build, build, I understand it but disagree. Our Town has the character it has
because we haven't (for the most part) done excessive building in the past. The proposal, if
approved as is, could change us and the character - basically from a Town to a City. Why not
change our name while we're at it to "The City of Los Gatos" ? OK, that my be taking it a little
too far, but it's to make a point - let's not destroy our Town character.
3. Related to #2 is water - we are in a severe drought, but it very well could be the new normal as
many models indicate. Given this, are we sure all this new housing targeted can be supported
by our water supply? I am very doubtful. So again, why set a housing target beyond what is
required?
Thanks for considering my thoughts, and thanks for all you do to serve us here in the Town of Los Gatos,
Cameron Tulee
College Terrace, Los Gatos
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