Planned Development Overlay Zonetown uF MEETING DATE: 11/04/14
ITEM NO. O
toy s'A`ps COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: OCTOBER 24, 2014
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL co
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONE
A. CONSIDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING THE PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONE AND
B. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A STUDY COMMITTEE.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Consider Planning Commission's recommendations to the Town Council regarding the
Planned Development Overlay Zone, and
2. Adopt a resolution appointing a Study Committee.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Council may choose to identify a different composition for the suggested Study
Committee. For example, the Committee could consist of the General Plan Committee plus
additional community members identified by Council, or it could consist of the original
Planned Development (PD) Ad Hoc Committee with additional members; or
2. The Council may choose to determine that additional study is not necessary, direct staff to
prepare the necessary ordinance(s) and General Plan amendment(s) to implement the
recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee, and refer the ordinance(s) and amendment(s) to
the General Plan Committee for formal review followed by the required public hearings
before the Planning Commission and Town Council; or.
3. Continue the matter to a date certain with specific direction.
PREPARED BY: LAUREL R. PREVETTI /�
Assistant Town Manager / irector of Community Development
Reviewed by: N/A Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney -WIA Finance
N:\DEV\TC REPORTS\2014TIannedDe elopments.I 1- 4- 14.doe Reformatted: 5/30/02
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONE
OCTOBER 24, 2014
BACKGROUND:
On June 2, 2014, the Town Council reviewed the Ad Hoc Committee's proposed amendments to the
PD Overlay Zone section of the Town Code. The Council referred the Ad Hoc Committee proposal
to the Planning Commission to facilitate public input, review the Ad Hoc Committee's
recommendation, and consider appropriate next steps such as formal referral to the General Plan
Committee or other recommendation(s) for Council's consideration. Attachment 1 contains the staff
report to the Commission, including the Ad Hoc Committee's recommendations and the verbatim
minutes of the June 2, 2014 Council meeting.
DISCUSSION:
On October 8, 2014, the Planning Commission accepted testimony from the public and reviewed the
Town Council referral. Over 7,000 households, property owners, and businesses received apostcard
notice by mail in advance of the meeting. A Town -wide postcard was sent due to the dispersed
distribution of existing Planned Developments throughout the Town. In addition, all applicants'with
pending Planned Development (PD) applications were informed of the meeting.
The Commission received correspondence and testimony from several developers, property owners,
and residents who voiced opinions about the Town's PD process and suggested revisions. The
developers commented that the existing Planned Development Overlay was a valuable tool that did
not need to be changed; PDs should remain available for a variety of projects in Los Gatos; and PDs
provide the flexibility to build mixed use developments and respond to market demand for new
housing products. Comments from residents included concerns that the PD is used to circumvent the
General Plan; the Ad Hoc Committee recommendations are a good start; the PD Overlay could be
improved further; and a workshop setting would have been better than a Planning Commission
meeting for this discussion. The specific comments of each presenter are contained in the approved
Minutes of the October 8, 2014 Planning Commission meeting in Attachment 3.
After receiving the public testimony, the unanimous consensus of the Planning Commission was that
further study is needed before the Town should consider revising the PD regulations. Specific issues
or questions might include:
Clarify the problems with PDs;
Review the last few years of PDs to identify any particular problems (such as use and height
changes); and
Consider the questions raised in Mr. Robson's letter to the Planning Commission (see
Attachment 2, Desk Item to the Planning Commission):
The Commission voted unanimously to recommend that Council consider the formation of a
committee to do further research to decide whether or not to pursue the course suggested by the
Town Council's Ad Hoc Committee or consider improving the present PD Ordinance, and whether
there has been any violation of the spirit of the PD Ordinance. The Commission suggested that the
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONE
OCTOBER 24, 2014
Committee should include representation from the Planning Commission, General Plan Committee,
Historic Preservation Committee, development community, and the general public.
If Council agrees that this approach should be considered, the draft resolution (Attachment 4) would
establish the recommended Study Committee for a fixed term, determine its composition, and define
its purpose.
CONCLUSION:
Adoption of the draft resolution would facilitate the recommendations of the Planning Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impacts are anticipated with the creation of a committee to study the Town PD process. It
is anticipated that if a committee is appointed by Council that staff resources for the regular General
Plan Committee or Housing Element Advisory Board meetings will be shifted to assist with the
suggested review.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The consideration of the Planning Commission's recommendations and/or the adoption of a
resolution establishing a Town committee are not projects under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA).
Attachments:
1. October 8, 2014 Planning Commission Staff Report
2. October 8, 2014 Planning Commission Desk Item Report
3. October 3, 2014 Planning Commission Draft Meeting Minutes
4. Draft Resolution with Exhibit A: Planned Development Study Committee
5. Correspondence dated 10/27/14 from J. Epstein
LRP:EO:cg
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