Addendum and Attachment 4
MEETING DATE: 04/05/16
ITEM NO 8
:
ADDENDUM
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: APRIL 4, 2016
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: PROPERTY LOCATION: NORTH FORTY SPECIFIC PLAN AREA: PHASE 1
CONSIDER A REQUEST TO MODIFY A PREVIOUS APPROVAL OF AN
EXCEPTION TO THE STORY POLE POLICY FOR THE PHASE 1 NORTH
FORTY DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS. APNS: 424-07-024 THROUGH
027, 031 THROUGH 037, 070, 083 THROUGH 086, 090, AND 100.
REMARKS:
The attached letters (Attachment 4) were received after distribution of the staff report.
Additionally, staff received a couple of questions from a Councilmember. The questions and the
respective responses are below.
Question: Please clarify how long staff is recommending the story poles be erected.
Response: Staff recommends that the Town Council require the story poles to remain in place
for 60 days from completion. If the Town Council supports the applicant’s modification request,
the 60 days would be from the date of the Town Council decision. If the Town Council requires
additional poles to be installed, the 60 days would start from the date the poles have been
deemed complete.
Question: What is the staff's opinion regarding access concerns pertaining to the poles that were
not installed? Can a clearer map be provided that clarifies each location that requires an
exception?
PREPARED BY: JOEL PAULSON
Community Development Director
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance
_________________________________________________________________________
N:\MGR\AdminWorkFiles\2016 Council Reports\04-05-16\08 N40 Story Pole Exception\Addendum StoryPoleException Mod.FINAL.docx
Reformatted: 5/30/02
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: NORTH 40 SPECIFIC PLAN AREA PHASE 1 – STORY POLE EXCEPTION
MODIFICATION
APRIL 4, 2016
Response: Staff has requested more detailed information from the applicant regarding likely
placement of the necessary guy wires for the poles that have not been installed. We suspect that
there may be direct conflicts with driveways and once we see the detail, we will be in a better
position to explain the access issues for the existing uses along Los Gatos Boulevard. The
information being prepared by the applicant will provide a more complete representation of each
of the conflict points. Once the information is obtained and evaluated, staff will provide a more
thorough response to the Council in a desk item tomorrow.
Attachments (previously received with April 5, 2016 Staff Report):
1.Approved Story Pole Exception
2.Story Poles Not Installed
3.Letter from the applicant with the story pole exception modification request
Attachment received with this Addendum Report:
4.Public Comments received by 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 4, 2016
Distribution:
Grosvenor Americas, Don Capobres, 1 California Street, Suite 2500, San Francisco, CA 94111
,
Summerhill Homes, Wendi E. Baker 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste. 450, San Ramon, CA 94583
On Apr 2 , 2016, at 10:04 PM, Rod Teague <teaguelg @ gmail.com > wrote :
To Council Members,
My name is Rod Teague and I live on Johnson Ave. I'm writing you with my concerns about
Grosvenors request for exception to complete the story poles on the North 40. Please deny their
request. Los Gatos residents have the right to understand the full scope of Phase 1 of the
developer application . Giving Grosvenor an exception will only undermine procedure that all
residents are required to uphold.
I am currently in the process of remodeling my home. I asked the planning department for an
exception to erect story poles. I offered to provide the planning department with letters from my
neighbors stating they understood the scope of my project and that they did not need to see a
story pole rendition. I was adding a 475 square foot footprint and my new ridge line was lower
than the existing ridge line. I was far below my maximum floor-to-area ratio and the total square
footage of my home was very modest for my street. I was told that there are NO exceptions to
the story pole requirement.
I complied and provided a story poll certification but the ridge line was 4 inches short. I
requested that the planning department make an exception for the 4 inches but was told that was
not possible . I had the story poles raised and a surveyor recertification completed before I could
move forward with my project.
If Los Gatos residents are not given exception privileges why should Grosvenor , especially sinc e
this is such a highly contentious development.
Thank you for your consideration,
Rod Teague
Sent from my iPad
ATTACHMENT 4
On Apr 3, 2016 , at 1 :56 PM , Barbara Dodson <btdodson@aol.com> wrote:
Dear Mayor Spector, Vice Mayor Sayoc, and Council Members Rennie, Leonardis, and Jensen:
I am opposed to any waiver for story poles on the North 40 property. I recognize that the story poles for
which the developer is requesting a waiver may be difficult to place and may inconvenience businesses
along Los Gatos Boulevard . However, the developers' drawings of North 40 buildings along the
Boulevard suggest that these new buildings would be extremely close to the Boulevard with inadequate
setbacks . I think it is critical that we see the location, height, and mass of these build i ngs before any
approvals can be considered.
Thank you as always for your hard work and service to the community .
Sincerely,
Barbara Dodson
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Marni-
Hello.
John Despars <jdespars123@gmail.com>
Sunday , April 03 , 2016 7:28 PM
Marni Moseley
Story pole exception
I'm concerned about the north 40 guidelines. I'm a 22 yr homeowner in Los gatos and I have had to follow every town
guideline for every remodel we have done to improve our 50+ year old home
When we chose to add on and placed our story poles and they were slightly off and we had to rebuild them. (.We were
adding 1,000 sq feet to our home). Wow!
Why would the town make an exception for such a large project? If this is accurate why? I have sat silently too long.
Shame on our town. Strangers are getting privileges that locals are not receiving at all. Please let, me know how we
can help our town remain a town. Thanks
John Despars
267 Iangridge rd
Los gatos ca 95032
Sent from my iPad
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Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Holton , Dean < DHolton@norman -wright.com >
Monday, April 04, 2016 9:47AM
Marni Moseley
BSpector; Marice Sayee; Rob Rennie; Steven Leonardis; Marcia Jensen
Letter of Concern -North 40 Project -No Story Pole Exemption!
Hello Ms. Moseley and Civic Leaders,
This email is to express concern regarding the North 40 Development. I normally do not write emails like this but I felt
compelled after once again sitting in traffic on highway 17, Lark Ave ., and Los Gatos Blvd . trying to get to my East Los
Gatos home . I am diametrically opposed to the North 40 project as it is currently planned.
I feel that this development should be very closely monitored and I am in favor of a phasing in approach that would
allow the city to see impact before scaling up to the full development process . Obviously I have concerns about the
increased level of traffic that will be created. It is already nearly impossible to get through the area on a typical
weekend without having to sit in bumper to bumper traffic. There is always the concern that emergency vehicles won 't
be able to get through the massive congestion that already exists in that area. Holiday and summer weekends find the
street traffic even more unbearable . If the North 40 is committed to having the Los Gatos "feel" then they are definitely
making traffic the new comfort zone for our residents . In addition, the impact to our schools with all 320 homes being
within the school boundaries is also a concern . Our schools are already bursting at the seams and with the teacher
shortage that is also occurring in the state of California, we will be at risk of beginning to provide sub-par educational
experiences . As it is now, parents are being asked to supplement the budget to give teachers what they need and
provide high quality programs for the students . We have always been so proud of our quaint , safe and charming
town. As that town becomes a big city , I am less enamored with its' charm and less hopeful that it is a place my kids will
want to come back to after college. Please consider a phasing approach to this development and be aware of the
concerns and pleas from the community to try to keep our town from growing into a commercial mecca where
merchant capital is what matters more than open space, safe schools and a clo s e knit community.
I would also ask that you do not allow any exemptions for installing story poles . This is a basic requirement and
should not bypassed .
Regards
Dean Holton-Account Executive
Norman S. Wright -Precision Environmental & Power Division
dholton@norman-wright.com ·
~Liebert ' Exclusive Representat ive s of Liebert Products and Serv i ces
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