Planning Commission Agenda 12-13-2023Page 1
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING,
PLEASE CONTACT THE CLERK DEPARTMENT AT (408) 354-6834. NOTIFICATION 48 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING WILL ENABLE THE TOWN
TO MAKE REASONABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO THIS MEETING [28 CFR §35.102-35.104]
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
DECEMBER 13, 2023
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
110 EAST MAIN STREET
LOS GATOS, CA
Jeffery Barnett, Chair
Steven Raspe, Vice Chair
Susan Burnett, Commissioner
Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner
Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner
Emily Thomas, Commissioner
Vacant, Commissioner
PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS
How to participate: The Town of Los Gatos strongly encourages your active participation in the public
process, which is the cornerstone of democracy. If you wish to speak to an item on the agenda, please
follow the participation instructions on page 2 of this agenda. If you wish to speak to an item NOT on
the agenda, you may do so during the “Verbal Communications” period, by following the participation
instructions on page 2 of this agenda. The time allocated to speakers may change to better facilitate
the Planning Commission meeting.
Effective Proceedings: The purpose of the Planning Commission meeting is to conduct the business
of the community in an effective and efficient manner. For the benefit of the community, the Town
of Los Gatos asks that you follow the Town’s meeting guidelines while attending Planning Commission
meetings and treat everyone with respect and dignity. This is done by following meeting guidelines
set forth in State law and in the Town Code. Disruptive conduct is not tolerated, including but not
limited to: addressing the Commissioners without first being recognized; interrupting speakers,
Commissioners or Town staff; continuing to speak after the allotted time has expired; failing to
relinquish the podium when directed to do so; and repetitiously addressing th e same subject.
Deadlines for Public Comment and Presentations are as follows:
• Persons wishing to make an audio/visual presentation on any agenda item must submit the
presentation electronically, either in person or via email, to the Planning Department by 1 p.m.
or the Clerk’s Office no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day of the Planning Commission meeting.
• Persons wishing to submit written comments to be included in the materials provided to the
Planning Commission must provide the comments to the Planning Department as follows:
o For inclusion in the regular packet: by 11:00 a.m. the Friday before the meeting
o For inclusion in any Addendum: by 11:00 a.m. the day before the meeting
o For inclusion in any Desk Item: by 11:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting
Planning Commission meetings are broadcast Live on KCAT, Channel 15 (on Comcast) on the 2 nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Live and Archived Planning Commission meetings can be viewed by going to:
www.LosGatosCA.gov/TownYouTube
Page 2
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
DECEMBER 13, 2023
110 EAST MAIN STREET AND TELECONFERENCE
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
LOS GATOS, CA
7:00 PM
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This is a hybrid/in-person meeting and will be held in-person at the Town Council Chambers at 110
E. Main Street and virtually through the Zoom webinar application (log-in information provided
below). Members of the public may provide public comments for agenda items in -person or virtually
through the Zoom webinar by following the instructions listed below. The live stream of the
meeting may be viewed on television and/or online at www.LosGatosCA.gov/TownYouTube.
PARTICIPATION
To provide oral comments in real-time during the meeting:
• Zoom webinar: Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to join:
https://losgatosca-gov.zoom.us/j/89443683218?pwd=OEIzY05VWmp2b0xSVHlUS0FVaUJVUT09.
• Passcode: 533005. You can also type in 894 4368 3218 in the “Join a Meeting” page on the
Zoom website at https://zoom.us/join.
o When the Chair announces the item for which you wish to speak, click the “raise hand”
feature in Zoom. If you are participating by phone on the Zoom app, press *9 on your
telephone keypad to raise your hand.
• Join by telephone: Join by Telephone: Dial: USA 877 336 1839 US Toll-free or 636 651 0008 US
Toll. Conference code: 686100
o If you are participating by calling in, press #2 on your telephone keypad to raise your hand.
• In-Person: If you wish to speak during the meeting, please complete a “speaker’s card” located
on the back of the chamber benches and return it to the Vice Chair. If you wish to speak to an
item on the agenda, please list the item number. If you wish to speak on an item NOT on the
agenda, please list the subject and you may speak during the “Verbal Communications” period.
The time allocated to speakers may change to better facilitate the Planning Commission
meeting.
When called to speak, you may be asked to provide your full name and your town/city of residence.
This identifying information is optional and not a requirement for participation. Please limit your
comments to three (3) minutes, or such other time as the Chair may decide, consistent with the time
limit for speakers at a Council meeting. If you wish to speak to an item or items on the Consent
Calendar, please state which item number(s) you are commenting on at the beginning of your time.
If you are unable to participate in real-time, you may email to Planning@losgatosca.gov the subject
line “Public Comment Item #__” (insert the item number relevant to your comment) or “Verbal
Communications – Non-Agenda Item.” Comments received by 11:00 a.m. the day of the meeting will
be reviewed and distributed before the meeting. All comments received will become part of the
record.
Page 3
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
DECEMBER 13, 2023
7:00 PM
MEETING CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (Members of the public may address the Commission on any matter that
is not listed on the agenda. Unless additional time is authorized by the Commission, remarks shall be
limited to three minutes.)
CONSENT ITEMS (Items appearing on the Consent Items are considered routine Town business and
may be approved by one motion. Any member of the Commission may request to have an item
removed from the Consent Items for comment and action. Members of the public may provide input
on any or multiple Consent Item(s) when the Chair asks for public comments on the Consent Items. If
you wish to comment, please follow the Participation Instructions contained on Page 2 of this agenda.
If an item is removed, the Chair has the sole discretion to determine when the item will be heard.)
1. Draft Minutes of the October 25, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting
2. Draft Minutes of the November 8, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting
OTHER BUSINESS (Up to three minutes may be allotted to each speaker on any of the following items.)
3. Open a Public Hearing for a Request for Approval for Demolition of an Existing Single-Family
Residence and Construction of a New Single-Family Residence with Reduced Setbacks on
Non-Conforming Property Zoned R-1D and Continue the Matter to January 10,
2024. Located at 212 Thurston Street. APN 410-15-039. Architecture and Site Application S-
23-009. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines, Section 15303(a): New Construction or Conversion of Small
Structures. PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: Meleah Guillardo. PROJECT PLANNER: Maria
Chavarin.
4. Draft 2024 Planning Commission Meeting Calendar
PUBLIC HEARINGS (Applicants/Appellants and their representatives may be allotted up to a total of
five minutes maximum for opening statements. Members of the public may be allotted up to three
minutes to comment on any public hearing item. Applicants/Appellants and their representatives may
be allotted up to a total of three minutes maximum for closing statements. Items
requested/recommended for continuance are subject to the Commission’s consent at the meeting.)
5. Consider an Appeal of a Community Development Director Decision to Deny a Fence Height
Exception Request for a Constructed Eight-Foot Fence Located in the Rear Yard on Property
Zoned R-1:10. Located at 224 Old Adobe Road. APN 407-09-029. The Project is
Categorically Exempt Pursuant to the Adopted Guidelines for the Implementation of the
California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of
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Small Structures and Section 15301: Existing Facilities. PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT:
Vinodha Bala. PROJECT PLANNER: Savannah Van Akin.
6. Annual Review of an Approved Conditional Use Permit for an Existing Private School
(Hillbrook School) on Property Zoned HR-1. Located at 300 Marchmont Drive. APNs 532-10-
01 and 532-11-011. Conditional Use Permit Application U-12-002. Applicant/Property
Owner: Mark Silver/Hillbrook School. Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman.
7. Requesting Approval for Reduced Front Yard Setbacks on a Non-Conforming Property Zoned
R-1:8. Located at 517 San Benito Avenue. APN 410-18-018. Architecture and Site
Application S-23-024. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303:
New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. Property Owner: Candace Zaheri.
Applicant: John Gutknecht. Project Planner: Ryan Safty.
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS / COMMISSION MATTERS
ADJOURNMENT (Planning Commission policy is to adjourn no later than 11:30 p.m. unless a
majority of the Planning Commission votes for an extension of time)
Writings related to an item on the Planning Commission meeting agenda distributed to members of the Commission within
72 hours of the meeting are available for public inspection at the reference desk of the Los Gatos Town Library, located at 100
Villa Avenue; the Community Development Department and Clerk Department, both located at 110 E. Main Street; and are
also available for review on the official Town of Los Gatos website. Copies of desk items distributed to members of the
Commission at the meeting are available for review in the Town Council Chambers.
Note: The Town of Los Gatos has adopted the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure §1094.6; litigation challenging a decision
of the Town Council must be brought within 90 days after the decision is announced unless a shorter time is required by State
or Federal law.