14 Desk Item - 520 Santa Rosa Drive
DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DISCUSSION: MEETING DATE: 10/4/04 ITEM NO. 14 DESK ITEM COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT October 4, 2004 TOWN MANAGER CONSIDER AN APPEAL OF A PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION
DENYING APPROVAL TO CONSTRUCT A NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON PROPERTY ZONED APN 527-56-010. ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION S-04-055. PROPERTY LOCATION: 520 SANTA ROSA
DRIVE PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: JOHN JAHAN AND MAC SABERI APPELLANT: MAC SABERI Council member Wasserman raised a questions about the size of the house as described in the Project Summary
section of the Council Report. The report indicates that 416 sq. ft. of the garage is included in the size ofthe house bringing the total house size to 8,537 sq. ft. The 928 sq. ft.
cellar is included in that floor area calculation. If the cellar area is deducted, the house size is 7,609 sq. ft. Also, the attached letter was received after the report was completed.
Attachments: 1-5. Previously submitted 6. Letter from neighbor received on September 30, 2004 (l l page). N:\DEV\Judie\projects\Santa Rosa\desk item.wpd PREPARED BY: BUD N.
LORTZ DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Reviewed Assistant Town Manager __Clerk Finance Development Revised: 10/4/04
3:23 pm Reformatted: 5/30102
Town Council 110 E Main Street POBox 949 Los Gatos, CA 95031 Ref: 520 Santa Rosa Drive Architecture and Site Application S-04-055 o2004 The Town Council is holding a public hearing on
Monday, October 4,2004 to consider an appeal of a Planning Commission decision denying approval to construct a new single family residence on property zoned HR -2 liz. APN 527-56-010.
We are the owners of the home at 530 Santa Rosa Drive next to the proposed project. Unf0l1unately we are not able to attend the hearing but wanted to let you know our view with regard
to this project. We have reviewed the architectural drawings of the proposed single family residence and found that the new residence is massive and intrusive. The plans show a two story
house with 7200 sqft: plus garage and cellar. Even though the proposed structure is on a large lot most of the acreage is on a steep hill. The lot at the street level is very narrow
with the house taking up the whole width ofthe lot. Both stories are above street level and exceed the height restrictions. The applicant claims that similar plans were approved in 1986
but he seems to ignore that the hillside building requirements and codes have changed. We attended the meeting of the Planning Commission where this project was discussed and rejected.
Their decision to deny the approval for construction was based on strong recommendations from the Planning Department which did review the application in detail. The objections and recommendations
ofthe Planning Department were based on the fact that the applicant ignored the hillside building regulations. In addition, the Planning Commission directed the Planning Department to
also consider ridge line requirements because Santa Rosa Drive at that point is a ridge line. The project as proposed -ignoring hillside building regulations, ignoring the recommendations
of the Planning Department -is unsuited for this site. We very much support the decision of the Planning Commission and we urge the Town Council to back the Planning Commission on this
this issue. Alex & Suzy Leup 530 Santa Rosa Drive Los Gatos, CA 95032 ATTACHMENT 6