Staff Report 485 monterey°w N MEETING DATE: 11/03/15
C Wll
ITEM NO:
cos GA g COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: OCTOBER 23, 2015
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL ,l
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ZONE CHANGE APPLICATION Z -15 -001. PROJECT LOCATION: 485 MONTEREY
AVENUE. PROPERTY OWNER: BLACK REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS, LLC.
APPLICANT: MICHAEL BLACK
CONSIDER A REQUEST TO REZONE A PROPERTY FROM O TO R -1D. APN 410-
16 -026.
RECOMMENDATION:
After opening and closing the public hearing, and asking the Clerk Administrator to read the title
of the proposed ordinance, it is recommended that the Town Council:
1. Move to introduce an Ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos effecting a zone change from O to
R -1D for the property located at 485 Monterey Avenue (Attachment 5 Draft Ordinance) and
make the required findings that the zone change is consistent with the General Plan and its
Elements and that the zone change is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (Section 21083.3); and
2. Move to waive the reading of the Ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
The applicant is proposing to rezone a 9,000 square foot parcel from O (Office) to R -1D (Single- Family
Residential, Downtown). The property is bordered by properties with R -1 D and O zoning designations.
Properties along Monterey Avenue and Andrews Street, including the subject parcel, have a General
Plan Designation of Medium Density Residential (5 -12 units per acre). The subject parcel contains a
single -story medical office building built in the 1960's.
PREPARED BY: JOEL PAULSON
Planning Manager
Reviewed by:
Town Manager Town Attorney
N: \DEV\TC REPORTS\2015Wonterey485_TC 11- 03- 15.doc
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: 485 MONTEREY AVENUE /Z -15 -001
OCTOBER 23, 2015
DISCUSSION:
A. Project Summary
The applicant is requesting to rezone one parcel from O to R -1D. The applicant has concurrently
applied for an Architecture and Site Application to demolish the medical office and construct a
new single - family dwelling. At the October 14, 2015 Planning Commission meeting, Planning
Commission continued the Architecture and Site Application to the November 11, 2015 hearing
date and directed the applicant to address architecture and site design. Approval of the
Architecture and Site Application will be dependent upon the approval of the zone change
application.
The subject office zoned parcel is surrounded to the north, south and west by R -1D zoned parcels
and residential uses (see Exhibit 7 of the Attachment 3). Three of the office zoned parcels have
Conditional Use Permits for residential uses and contain two -story single- family residences. The
existing office use is among the surrounding residential parcels. There are office zoned parcels
located to the south of the subject property with office uses. The proposed zone change would
down zone the use and be compatible with the neighborhood. The zone change would bring the
property in conformance with the General Plan Land Use Designation as discussed in the report
to the Planning Commission (Attachment 3).
B. Planning Commission
On October 14, 2015, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the zone change.
Verbatim minutes of the Planning Commission meeting are provided in Attachment 2.
CONCLUSION:
The zone change would be beneficial to the neighborhood since development of a single - family
residence on the subject property would enhance the surrounding residential neighborhood and, with the
zone change, match the setbacks required on the adjacent properties. In addition, replacing the existing
office uses with a single - family residence would reduce the traffic impacts and parking requirements.
The proposed zone change complies with the goals and polices within the General Plan. The zone
change with the recommended condition of approval (Attachment 5) would make the property consistent
with the proposed zoning and existing General Plan Land Use designation. The Planning Commission
and staff recommend Town Council approve the zone change application.
ALTERNATIVE:
Instead of the action recommended, the Council may deny the Zone Change Application (motion
required).
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: 485 MONTEREY AVENUE /Z -15 -001
OCTOBER 23, 2015
PUBLIC COMMENT:
To date the Town has received two written public comments regarding the subject application. Both
public comments are in support of the rezone application (see Attachment 3, Exhibit 14 and Attachment
4, Exhibit 18).
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is a project as defined under CEQA but is statutorily exempt under Section 21083.3. A Notice of
Exemption will not be filed.
Attachments:
1. Required Findings
2. October 14, 2015 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes
3. October 14, 2015 Planning Commission Staff Report (does not include Exhibits 15, 16, and 17 -
Neighborhood Streetscape, and Development Plans)
4. October 14, 2015 Planning Commission Desk Item
5. Draft Ordinance (including Exhibit A)
Distribution:
cc: Michael Black, Black Real Estate Investments LLC, 15651 Glen Una Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Elizabeth Wiersema, Studio Three Design, 1585 The Alameda Suite 200, San Jose, CA 95126