Attachment 03As for the proposed residential project outlined in the site plan, we would echo many of the
concerns from the design review (http://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentCenterNiew/15759)
conducted by the Cannon Group:
1. The II Vicinato homes along Los Gatos Blvd are taller than any nearby residential house
and will dwarf the corridor and block the last significant hillside views leading into
downtown from this direction, and the small gaps between the 6 units facing Los Gatos
Boulevard will pose a health, environment and safety hazard as outlined below.
-The II Vicinato houses fronting Los Gatos Blvd have heights of 29' 8" and
29' 11 ". In comparison, the Laurel Mews homes across the street have a height
variance from 20' to 25', with the majority in the low 20' range, and each unit
facing Los Gatos Blvd. have at least 16' courtyards between them, front doors
that do not face Los Gatos Blvd, and 10-15 feet of landscaping from the sidewalk
to where the houses begin.
-The II Vicinato houses fronting Los Gatos Blvd are also ALL boxy/rectangular
shaped with little design variance and have only a few inches gap in between the
units (See Cannon Design Report). The small gaps between the brownstone
units raises several safety, environmental and health concerns. First, the gaps
will receive little sunlight, causing a dark and damp environment that breeds mold
and rodents. The brownstone units have no significant set back from the sidewalk
and street and can easily become a depostiory for garbage and other debris that
is blown from the street. More hazardous, what is there to mitigate concerns
about a small todr;:ller/child or pet getting trapped in the gaps that run the entire
depth of the brownstone units since the buildings are only a few feet from the
sidewalk?
-Given the need for a garage/basement the homes are pushed % a floor above
grade and have HVAC on the roof so they are more like 3 floor buildings, and will
cast long shadows and darken the street making this section more dangerous for
cyclists, walkers and other commuters, especially school children and families
who walk this intersection for school.
-The Applicant calls these units "Brownstone" in reference to a type of raised
townhome common in Manhattan. The net effect of this design creates a wall that
will cast long shadows, and blocks the serene views of the hillside I cedar trees
that currently exists at this stretch of Los Gatos Blvd, Roberts Rd., and Shannon
Rd. intersections. The brownstone look is incompatible with surrounding
development, and we are concerned that the long shadows can heighten the
chances for traffic collisions, pedestrian to get hit by a car, or worst.
2. From a design perspective these home are a poor fit for the town of Los Gatos -many of
the homes in the area are American Craftsman and a block of New York City
Brownhomes is jarring and will set a precedent for others to develop bulky and massive
Big City type of homes. II Vicinato's brownstones borrow from commercial building
design by having a flat roof for Air Conditioning I HVAC with a very boxy design. The
units along Los Gatos Blvd are very repetitive with only minor color variations. Why did
the Applicant have his architect and designer deviate so drastically from the single-family
and two-story residential home style guide?
(See Los_Gatos_Resldentiai_Design_Guidelines_FINAL_rev_030911.pdf for single-family and
two-story homes).
3. Every other building in the immediate area (including commercial buildings) are set back
10-15 feet from the sidewalk with significant landscaping from the edge of sidewalk to
the front doors. The set back for the II Vicinato homes fronting Los Gatos Blvd is a mere
2-3 feet from the edge of the sidewalk to the front door. With the building fronts being so
close to the sidewalk and Los Gatos Blvd, there is not enough real estate left to
incorporate significant landscaping to soften the concrete wall created by II Vicinato's 5
brownstones and 1 comer unit.
4. Even within II Vicianto's community, the design of the development is inconsistent. The
homes facing Los Gatos Blvd. are modem looking brownstones that look like commercial
buildings with no yard, set back and significant landscaping. The homes at the rear are
more in the American Craftsman style common in Los Gatos.
5. Based on the Arborisfs Report, the plan will require eliminating 15 protected trees with 6
more listed as "debatable", including a giant cedar tree. The development only provides
minimal landscaping throughout the community, and we believe this is a bad trade-off for
the town . In regards to scenic views, the Applicant's Mitigation Report (see MND Dec.
2015) claims that the development has minimal to no impact on any hillside views, but
this is not true. The current lot provide plentiful views and angles of the hillside and tall
cedar trees for the community to enjoy, from pedestrians on the sidewalk to the
commuters on the road from various directions. Please see our supporting pictures
enclosed .
6. Regarding impacts to construction traffic, we believe the Traffic Report by Hexagon and
the Applicant's MND does not take into consideration how heavily travelled and utilized
the area is currently, and is providing insufficient noise, pollutant and overall safety
mitigations. When construction begins at Sam on a weekday, will children and families
be forced to cover their ears as an excavator roars at the intersection? 'Mlere will the
construction machines and other vehicles park? With no detailed mitigation about where
construction machines and crew will be allowed to park or store their equipment, we fear
there will be a increased chance for children, joggers, dog walkers , parents and their
strollers, to get hit by a vehicle because they have to tiptoe around construction
machines and trucks.
The scope of the construction's impacts is not accurately reported in the MND. The MND
reports on 4 schools within a ~ mile (page 18) but there are actually 7 schools within this
distance -Van Meter, Fischer, Shir Hadesh, Shannon Parent Nursery, Growing
Footprints, Cavalry Preschool and Jr K, Green Hills. Also, there are more schools within
2 miles -Mariposa Montessori, Hillbrook, Blossom Hill, Grace Preschool, Los Gatos
High, and Yavneh Day School. Each of these well regarded schools are at all time high
enrollment capacities, and the development area is a cross-section that leads to all of
these schools. Why does the Traffic Report ignore these realities with real potential
negative impacts to the community?
In summary, the Applicant's proposal is an example of an ambitious plan to squeeze 11 single
family houses into a small lot -creates a development that is not compatible with the
surrounding area, brings New York City style buildings into town, and the Applicant's MND lacks
solutions to adequately address safety, environmental and hazardous impacts, among other
negative affects. Furthermore the Applicant has not made a strong case for the zoning change.
We strongly urge the Planning Commission to reject the proposal and thank you for your time
and considerations.
Sincerely,
Barnaby James and Linda Yung
16500 Grant Bishop Lane
II Vicinato: Big city brownstone styles will creates a massive wall, dwarf
surrounding homes , erode Los Gatos small town character. The units are set too
close to the sidewalk/street and blocks the remaining hillside views along the Los
Gatos Blvd corridor.
II Vicinato is an unflattering design mess that does not belong on the
corridors leading into downtown Los Gatos. The architects describe it as
"urban village" with tall boxy buildings, flat roofs mixed with some
craftsman style homes, and other architectural elements that are foreign to
the nearby area. Ignores established residential style guides.
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Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Dear Ms Moseley,
Heather LeRoy <hleroy73@gmail.com>
Thursday, February 18, 2016 6:59 PM
Mami Moseley
Planning; Heather LeRoy
n Vicinato feedback
I understand you are accepting feedback on the "11 Vicinato" development planned on Shannon/LG Blvd. I
would like to provide some specific concerns from a close-by resident.
I have several doubts about the traffic study done in September 2015. I am not a traffic expert, but I see some
very obvious flaws in the way the study was done. The Artisan Wine Depot, which was typically open from
11AM until ~ 7PM 4 weekdays/week (closed on Mondays), had very little traffic. There was essentially no
in/out traffic in the AM rush period. In the evenings, the parking lot typically had 5-6 cars around "happy
hour," and a few more on Friday nights (just my observation from driving by every single day for two
years. The study is using the daily trips from a hypothetical car dealership to compare to 11 single family
homes . The end result states there will be fewer cars during peak AM/PM periods due to the 11 single family
homes as compared to the hypothetical car dealership. The problem is, we don't currently have a car dealership
there. We have a very infrequently visited wine depot which is closed until11AM! It is incredibly misleading
to the residents of the town to state there will be no impact to traffic.
Second, the traffic study was completed prior to the opening of Orange Theory. Orange Theory is hugely
popular, particularly in the AM/PM rush periods, resulting in cars lining up and blocking traffic on both
Shannon Road and Los Gatos Blvd (waiting to tum into the Orange Theory parking lot). There is very limited
parking for Orange Theory customers. I don't know if there are plans to enlarge that area, but this is already a
huge problem for this intersection and 11 single family homes will only add to the confusion and unsafe
conditions.
A third flaw in the traffic study is ignoring the fact that Y ogasource customers are legally allowed to use the
wine depot lot for parking. While I understand Y ogasource parking is not the responsibility of the 11 Vicinato
developers, there will still be an impact to local parking and yet this is not mentioned anywhere in the
study. Yogasource customers driving around during peak AM/PM periods to find parking (w hen there isn't
much to begin with) is going to impact traffic.
My family lived on Magneson Loop for over one year (through December 2015) before we moved toW La
Chiquita. As you may know, the residents of that street lobbied to have "no right turn/no left turn" signs post ed
on the comer ofMagneson Loop and Shannon Road to eliminate the cut-through traffic. The r eason these cars
cut through is because the drivers don't want to wait for the green light to tum right onto Los Gatos
Blvd. Because of the Roberts Road offset, it takes longer than typical to rotate through the light c y cles. The
backup of cars down Shannon Rd gets long and drivers get impatient What you may not know is that the signs
posted on the corner ofMagneson are essentially ineffectiv e because there i s no policing of that comer. The
high-speed cut through traffic makes it unsafe for the many children that play in their front yards, particularly
because of how narrow the street is. The proposed development is going to incr ease the cut-through traffic on
Magneson, which I would already consi der unsafe.
1
I would also like to raise concerns about our overcrowded schools . We moved into an existing single family
home in Los Gatos in April2014. I immediately registered my 2 children for the 2014-2015 school year Gust 2
months after registration opened). Second grade at Blossom Hill was already full ( 4 classes of at least 25
students), so I spent the year with one child at Van Meter and one child at Blossom Hill. The only way I could
get both children together at Blossom Hill this year was because they opened a 5th third grade class. The
school now has over 800 students. And while the teachers and staff do a beautiful job handling that many
children, ALL the elementary children in the district feed into a single middle school and a single high
school. Adding 10 kids "here and there" will enlarge class sizes (we have a pretty good size now, let's not ruin
it!) and degrade the educational overall. This is a very serious problem already. I understand that ll Vicinato
children will attend Van Meter, just like the North 40 development. Where is the study that says this volume of
children can be accommodated for the middle and high schools? What will happen to our class sizes from
elementary through high school? The Mitigated Negative Declaration simply states that the "fees generated" by
11 Vicinato will offset the overcapacity problem. How? Will more classrooms be built and more teachers be
hired? Families in the district are already being asked to donate a minimum of$600 per student because the
property taxes simply do not covered what is needed.
The safety of walking/biking students in the mornings on Shannon Road is in question. It is already a crowded
location in the AM rush period, with novice middle schoolers on bicycles next to walkers, skateboarders, and
scooters. From the traffic study, it seems there is a proposal to add dedicated left/right turn lanes in the
westbound direction in addition to the bike lane and sidewalk. I feel this is incredibly important to preserve for
the safety of the students, but I fail to envision how all this will fit in the narrow space that currently exists.
Finally, on a more subjective note, it is hard to fathom how such a massive structure (tall and with very small
set backs from the major roads) is aesthetically going to look. It certainly doesn't lend itself to the small "town"
feel that attracts so many to Los Gatos.
I hope I've provided an objective and rational view of the proposed plans. I look forward to discussing and
hearing more at the February 24th meeting.
Sincerely,
Heather LeRoy
heather@leroy.com
408-836-2236
2
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
February 17, 2016
Att: Ms. Moseley
Town Council
Planning Commission
Eileen Werner <ewemer4@gmait.com>
Thursday, February 18, 2016 9:56 PM
Marni Moseley
Proposed Development at Los Gatos Blvd. at Shannon Rd.
Dear Ms. Moseley, Town Council & Town Planning Commission,
I am writing in regard to the proposed development at Los Gatos Blvd. at Shannon Rd. I recommend the
Planning Commission and Town Council deny this housing development. The location is entirely unsuitable for
this dense, two story housing development. Additionally, the height and structure is so "in your face" close to
the street; this type of housing does not belong in our neighborhood.
The location should remain commercial. This proposed density offers no benefit to the area. Parking is wholly
inadequate and the adjoining neighborhood should not bear the burden this development will create. This type
of development belongs in Campbell, CA. Sunnyoaks off of Winchester Blvd. is a perfect example. The street is
full of dense, tall, townhomes, one stacked up against another. Our neighborhood does not want a duplicate of
Smmyoaks. The existing business, The Wine Store, is compatible with other commercial businesses such as
Orange Theory, NC, and the Yoga Source.
The former Honda dealership is now a development chock full of houses with negligent parking. Our
neighborhood has already had to bare the brunt of dense housing. Not to mention 2,358 students that travel to
nearby schools (Fisher Middle School, Blossom Hill School & Louise Van Meter School) and the heavy load of
traffic generated predominantly from solo vehicle transportation.
Our neighborhood deserves the same level of respect one would receive living in the Glenridge area of Los
Gatos.
Thank you.
Very Truly Yours,
Eileen Werner
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
Dear Ms. Moseley,
Steve <captsteven@aol.com>
Thursday, February 18, 2016 10:01 PM
Mami Moseley
Proposed Development at Shannon Road and Los Gatos Blvd.
I am writing in opposition to the proposal development at Shannon Road & Los Gatos Blvd. for the following reasons:
1. This development is too tail and too close to the street. It would have the same feeling as our downtown.
2. This development will create another and ongoing parking issue for this area .
3. I do not believe we need this type of housing density in our single family neighborhood.
Please Do Not approve this housing development. It is best left as a commercial property as the general plan was
originally planned.
Thank you,
Steven Werner
16400 Bonnie Lane
Los Gatos
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subje ct:
Aaron Lepold <alepold@gmail.com>
Thursday, February 18, 2016 11:36 AM
Marni Moseley
II Vicinato c;tevelopment proposal
Dear Town of los Gatos Planning Commission,
RECEIVED
FEB 1 9 2016
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
We appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the II Vicinato unit development. We recently visited the
construction site and reviewed the project narrative posted on the Town of Los Gatos website. We are concerned about
several aspects of this development. First, the proposed density is too high and the setback from Los Gatos Blvd and
Shannon Rd is negligible. This results in structures that are too tall and massive for the area. Further, the architectural
style proposed is inconsistent with the aesthetics of the surrounding neighborhood.
We oppose the developer's current plan to rezone this small parcel to residential. The developer knowingly purchased
this commercial parcel with a residential project in mind. We understand that the developer is trying to maximize profit
potentia I, but that should not come at the expense of negatively impacting the existing neighborhood. If the town opts
for a residential subdivision on this site, fewer units that are less tall and with a greater setback to provide some green
space (consistent with more recently built residential developments, eg. Laurel Mews) would be preferable.
Please help us to preserve the charm and beauty of our town.
Sincerely,
Robin and Aaron Lepold
116 Calfhill Court, Los Gatos
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Marni Moseley
Planning Dept .
Town of Los Gatos
Marni
Gita Murthy <gitmu@yahoo.com>
Friday, February 19, 2016 8:53 AM
Marni Moseley
II Vicinato development
we would like to express our disapproval of the housing development "rl
vicinato" at the corner of shannon and Los Gatos Blvd.
when the property was purchased it was zoned for commercial or Office
space and therefore changing it now to residential does not seem right .
Also, the number of houses proposed there increases the density in that
area.
It will also put additional strain on the schools.
The height, spacing and number of houses for a relatively small lot looks
out of place with the surrounding area.
Los Gatos is losing its feel of a small town .
Thanks
Gita Murthy
117 Hilow Ct.
1
From: Tammy Pryor [mailtD:tammyeoryor@Qmail.com]
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:51 AM
To: Planning
Subject: New LG Housing Shannon and LG Blvd
Dear Planning Commission,
Regarding the new housing proposed on the comer of Shannon and LG Blvd. the story poles are ex.tremely close to Los
Gatos Blvd. My estimation is that they are positioned 2 ft off of the sidewalk. Driving past Blue Bird and Laurel Mews
and the other new development on the comer of LGBL VD and Blossom Hill, the setbacks are more like 10. feet. A 2 ft
setback resembles city development and is not consistc:nt with our town. I'm sure the town code calls for setbacks larger
than this. I object to this building so close to our streets. This is not how we want our town to look.
I also heard that there are only 10 guest parlcing spaces. I wonder if the townhouses going to have one parking spot or two?
One a one acre lot, I can't believe that they will have parking for 22 cars. There is definitely going to be parking overflow
that will go into the neighboring streets and cause additional congestion. Please don't forget that Yoga.Source uses that
parking lot as do parents picking their children up from Fisher. Parking is already a big issue at the Orange Theory lot. All
these cars are going to be displaced and cause additional traffic and parking issues.
I saved the largest complaint for last, the impacted schools. The schools have been impacted for at least 8 years. I know
this because when I was new to Los Gatos, 8 years ago, I was welcomed with the message that my two children, one year
apart, had to go to two different schools, neither of which was my neighborhood school. My life was made extremely
difficult by breaking up my kids like that. Eight years later, I have learned that a new young family living close to
Blossom Hill School was told that there was no room for their daughter and they were directing her to Lex.ington. This
situation is insane. In other states. that would be illegal! I believe that every family deserves a spot in their neighborhood
school.
Additionally, Fisher and the High School are not a dumping ground for as many students as we can pack in. Where will
we stop? 2500 students at the as? 3,000 students? What type of community are we building here? What makes towns like
Los Gatos special is careful zoning and planning. Please take your job seriously and help us to figure out this problem.
Tammy
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
Hello-
Alayna Aghazarian <alayna@me.com>
Friday, February 19, 2016 12:00 PM
Marni Moseley
Property Development -Los Gatos Blvd and Shannon Road
Recently, I have noticed the story poles on the corner of Los Gatos Blvd and Shannon Road. r have seen drawings that
show a proposed development of homes in this location that will be built without much of a setback and will also be 2-
storied. I am emalling you today to let you know I am against this development moving forward.
As a home-owner in Los Gatos with a child that attends Fisher Middle School, I drive by this location daily. The current
plan of building 2-storied homes, so close together and so close to pedestri an walkways is not in character with Los
Gatos and will set a precedent for the North 40 if allowed. I ask that you request a new plan from the developer that
will build homes more in-line with the current standards in Los Gatos. I also request a new traffic study that will account
for the North 40 development, the development of the recent homes built across Los Gatos Blvd and the townhomes
built on Blossom Hill across from the Starbucks . Please have these studies include the 8-9am and 2-3pm time frames.
Thank you for your consideration,
Alayna Aghazarian
123 Vista Del Monte, LG 95030
408-250-1946
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Mr. Mosley,
I will make this brief.
Cynthia Buse <cbuse123@yahoo.com>
Friday, February 19, 201612:11 PM
Marni Moseley
los Gatos Town Development
Please do your part to stop, or at least curb, the crowded and over development of our once beautiful small town. It
breaks my heart to see open spaces and small businesses disappear because of sheer greed.
My family has been here in los Gatos on the same properties since 1930.
While controlled growth can be bennificlal to Los Gatos, to allow 3 story "brown stone" buildings right to the sidewalk is
an eyesore and sad addition. I'm referring to the lGBivd@ Shannon Road plan.
I will not even address the cared for, and productive walnut orchard referred to as the back 40. How can our town
support the very last producing orchard? All the air cleansing trees and wild creatures who call it home!
I plan on attending all the town development meetings along with multitudes of supporters who insist on Los Gatos
being a special town to live in.
Sincerely yours,
Cynthia Buse
Sent from my iPad
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
To Town of LG Government,
Suzanne cochran <smb.cochran@gmail.com>
Friday, February 19, 2016 1:14 PM
Marni Moseley
Shannon Rd I LG Blvd -Not in Keeping
The current proposal can't not be accepted by the town. The size and scope will have a negative impact on the town.
Two story high bldg pushed right up to the Blvd kills the mountain views. Just take a look at the orange fencing
representing the roof line. Recommend less houses w ith single story pushed back from the street.
Regards,
Suzanne Cochran
60 Rogers Road
LG 95030
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Fishers < maefisher@aol.com >
Friday, February 19, 2016 1:32 PM
Mami Moseley
16212 Los Gatos Boulevard (Wine Depot) project
We wish to add our vote of NO, please please NO I to further high density housing on small lots in our town.
Comments from our non-Los Gatan friends have ranged from, "How can they do this?" "Don't they care what your town
looks like?" ''The traffic on Los Gatos Blvd is already horrible. What are they thinking?" ''Los Gatos has lost its small town
feel." They actually pity us now. This may not be what the Town was going for but it i s what we have gotten.
Has anybody from the Town driven Los Gatos Blvd lately? Or just look at a traffic map online. It's usually red, right
around Blossom Hill Road down to Highway 9. (We forgive the high schoolers out for lunch -we were them back in the
day.) We don't have enough resources as it is to add so many more people in such a small location. Not to mention
changing zoning from commercial to residential. Let's keep it commercial.
If we must have houses there, it looks like a maximum of five, with appropriate setbacks and decent yard sizes, would be
acceptable. No more.
Come on I Keep Las Gatos, well, Los Gatos.
Bruce and Mary Fisher
Nino Way, Los Gatos
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subjed:
Eleanor Grams <elegrams@hotmail.com>
Friday, February 19, 2016 2:41 PM
Marni Moseley
II Vicinato Housing Development
This is email is to outline my objection to the 11 Vicinato housing development at the comer of Shannon Road
and Los Gatos Blvd. As one can see from the story poles and the artist rendition, this development is totally out
of sync with the neighborhood ... just as Laurel Mews is across the street. The height of these homes blocks the
beautiful view of the hills, encroaches practically onto the current sidewalk, and looms over the single family
homes nearby.
This intersection is already overloaded with traffic ... not only with Hill brook, Van Meter, Fisher and Blossom
Hill school traffic, but also Green Hills preschool, the preschool at the Presbyterian church, the childhood center
at Shir Hadash , and the clientele at Orange Theory and Yoga Source. Both these latter businesses seem to have
been approved without considering traffic and parking and have far more customers than parking places at their
business sites.
A number of years ago we and our fellow neighbors on Shannon Road and side streets off Shannon lobbied for
no parking signs along Shannon Road on weekdays. As you know, there are no sidewalks on parts of Shannon
and pedestrians must step into the traffic lane when cars are parked alongside the road, including children
walking to school. People from Yoga Source and Orange Theory park on Shannon Road ... sometimes right
underneath the no parking signs ... with impunity. I have never seen the Los Gatos Police Department or the
sheriff's department ticket cars for illegal parking. This will only get worse with the dense residential housing
proposed at this intersection. There are not enough parking spaces within a housing development of this size to
accommodate families with more than two cars and their visitors. They will simply add to the parking woes and
the dangerous traffic conditions we in the neighborhood already have to deal with.
I hope the committee will NOT approve this inappropriate housing development in our neighborhood. Surely a
small office building or a business with an appropriate number of parking spaces would be a better fit for this
site ... or a reasonable number of homes for the lot size.
Eleanor Grams
16426 Peacock Lane
Los Gatos 95032
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
HiMami,
Linda Caplinger <caplinger@gmail.com>
Friday, February 19, 2016 5:32 PM
Marni Moseley
Proposed Construction at Artisan Wine Depot location
You're probably getting an onslaught of email about the proposed 11 or 12 unit residential site on LG Blvd.
I feel this is a TERRIBLE IDEA.
I've lived in LG since 2000 and I've seen many changes, but this one goes against our small town feel and
brings in a look/feel that is cramped and feels like Santana Row (I've seen the proposed designs). It's urban. We
are NOT urban.
This is Los Gatos. Not Santana Row. It also increases density close to a school where we already have traffic
problems. And ......... .it kills the hill views . See the attached image where I've darkened the lines of the orange
netting.
Please do NOT let these folks change this from commercial to residential if this is what residential means.
Single story on comers, larger lots sizes. Hold designs to what you impose of us with homes. My tiny house on
the comer of University and Boyer has a 4400SF lot. That is ridiculous (nonconformingly) tiny. How on earth
would anyone accept smaller and taller?
Please reject this.
Thanks in advance,
Linda Caplinger
Resident & Homeowner at :
243 Jones Road 95030 and
326 University Ave. 95030
1
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Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Marni,
melissamiller24 < melissamiller24@gmail.com >
Friday, February 19, 2016 5:45 PM
Mami Moseley
16212 los Gatos Blvd
I am writing you about 16212 los Gatos Boulevard. I normally do not object to any new buildings in Los Gatos (I love
new exciting developments that better our town), but I am completely shocked to hear that 11 homes might be going
into this site. Not only is that going to cause more traffic in the area, but it simply.does not fit in. The reason we love Los
Gatos so much is because it's charm and beautiful views and openness.
I am so grateful to call los Gatos my home. I recently purchased a home in Los Gatos after leaving Los Gatos for a year
and a half to live in Willow Glen. I cannot tell you enough how much I missed the upscale and small town feel of los
Gatos. This type of development is something you would see in San Jose.
Please please please keep our beautiful city less impacted, beautiful, and unique.
Sincerely,
Melissa Miller
Sent from my iPhone
1
Subject: D Vicinato Project.
RECEIVED
'--·-; 2 0 2016 From: Bridget Garza <lazbridget@gmail.com>
To: mmoseley@losgatos.gov TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
Dear Ms Moseley, I am writing to express my concern about the proposed
monster project being proposed on the comer of Los Gatos Blvd. and Shannon
Road. The building is much taller than any of the surrounding buildings, in
fact taller tlian any building within the downtown area. It appears to be
three stories high. It comes right up to the sidewalk, leaving little or no
area for landscaping. We have lived in this area for over forty years, and
must expect greater density in housing, but this is excessive considering
the traffic problems that already exists in this area of town. Traffic is
backed up on a daily bases on Los Gatos Blvd. and the surrounding streets,
especially during schools opening and closing hours. Please, Planning
Commission do not approve this project,
Bridget and Lazaro Garza
16951 Mitchell Ave.
Los Gatos
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject
Dear Marni Moseley,
julie sheehan <julessheehan@gmail.com>
Saturday, February 20, 2016 9:48 AM
Mami Moseley
16212 Los Gatos Boulevard
I am writing to lodge an objection to the development at 16212 Los Gatos Boulevard. The project is simply too
dense for that comer. Squeezing 11 houses into such a small lot seems to break a myriad of Los Gatos planning
rules, and as someone who has abided by stringent planning regulations during our three remodels is quite
shocking (why are my setbacks so large when you can apparently build up to the sidewalk??). I am seriously
concerned about impact on already congested roads, and schools. Please consider reducing the number of
houses planned and stop this madness.
Julie Sheehan, Kennedy Road
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Carol Tinsley <cjt97@yahoo.com>
Saturday, February 20, 2016 10:16 AM
Marni Moseley; Council; Planning
Rick Tinsley
Proposed Construction at current Artisan Wine Depot location (corner of Shannon and
Los Gatos Blvd .)
Dear Ms. Moseley, the Los Gatos Planning Commission, and the Los Gatos Town Council:
We oppose in the strongest possible terms the proposed construction of 11 residences at the comer of Shannon
Road and Los Gatos Blvd. and request that you reject the plan. Our opposition is based on the following
concerns:
1. Density of Housing on the Site and Surrounding Area on the East Side: We respectfully request that the
Planning Commission consider the housing density in the immediate area. With three new high density
developments within a half mile radius of this site over the past few years, the character of our Town is being
drastically altered and by extension, the value of the homes on the east side are being diluted.
2. Traffic/Safety: The homes will obstruct visibility on a dangerous and busy diagonal intersection where
hundreds of school kids make their way to and from school every school day. The traffic in the stretch of Los
Gatos Blvd. from Highway 9 to Blossom Hill is already severely impacted multiple times a day, and we have
another massive housing development in theN. 40 at Lark Ave. that has to be considered. That intersection is
already congested and we personally witnessed a student hit on his bicycle (thankfully not badly injured) at the
Artisan driveway on Shannon and this is with the now current fairly open visibility on the comer. It is obvious
that visibility will be negatively impacted, putting children, cyclists and motorists at risk.
3. Zoning: This property has been zoned commercial all these years, why change that? The property is already
serving three needs in our community: (a) a successful and local owned and run business, (b) a shared parking
facility with Y ogaSource, and (c) a defacto satellite lot for parents picking up their children from Fisher Middle
School which greatly alleviates congestion and improves safety for our children.
4. Aesthetics: The height and proposed set-back completely blocks the views of the surrounding hillsides from
Los Gatos Blvd.
We cannot object more strenuously to this development and respectfully request you reject the project as it is a
detriment to our Town for the above mentioned reasons.
Sincerely,
Rick and Carol Tinsley
16555 S. Kennedy Road
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-458-0734 Carol
650-823-3831 Rick
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Judi Manzi <judimanzi@yahoo.com>
Saturday, February 20, 2016 1:42 PM
Mami Moseley
High density housing
I am against the curr~nt project proposed In Los gatos blvd.
please understand how this increases cars and traffic near two elementary schools . I love that the wine shop area be
rezoned residential but only for one house . The house should reflect the craftsman type town we are. The planning
boa rd insists that this is how we maintain the character elsewhere i n Los gatos neighborhoods why the double standard
here?
Sent from my iPhone
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Sub jed:
Dear Planning Commission,
Kristiann Monti <kristiannm@comcast.net>
Saturday, February 20, 2016 2:37 PM
Marni Moseley
los Gatos II Vicinato project
I wish to express my concern for the proposed residential project for 16212 Los Gatos Blvd. I have lived off
Shannon Road in Los Gatos since 1997. I feel I have a good understanding for this particular intersection as I
use it more than half a dozen times daily-taking kids to school and sports activities, attending town events,
shopping ...
From a resident's point of view, the following items listed in the project's proposal stir up considerable alarm:
Minimal set back ,from the road and sidewalks
Removal of trees
High density that is not consistent with neighborhood surroundings
Significant increase in traffic in area that is heavily used by walking/biking students
Tunnel-like feeling on the road that will result from the height of the proposed homes
Unappealing design
"Home" schools for these houses are already overflowing
I respectfully request that the Commission deny this proposal. The land use change in this location, form
commercial to residential, is not in the best interest for the town, nor its residents.
Thank you,
Kristiann Monti
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ms. Moseley,
Janet <janety.ehrhardt96@gmail.com>
Saturday, February 20, 2016 8:53 PM
Marni Moseley
Shannon Road and LG Blvd site
I wish to protest the application at this property.
The narrow setbacks for LG Blvd cannot be allowed .. .it will make the street feel like a tunnel. What was allowed on the
Honda site should not have been ... it set a dangerous precedent.
The density of this property is very inappropriate for this neighborhood.
I object to such high density; access will be a real problem at such a busy intersection. It presents a dangerous situation.
Janet Ehrhardt
62 Fillmer Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
patty posada <patty@cainterpreters.com>
Sunday, February 21, 2016 8:33 AM
Marni Moseley
High density-row houses in LGB
I live on Shannon Rd. and I'm also concerned about the increased traffic this new development will cause on my street.
Sent from my iPhone
Patricia Posada
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Karen Foster <lcjfoster@comcast.net>
Sunday, February 21, 2016 1:32 PM
Mami Moseley; Planning
Development at Shannon Rd and LG Blvd, Artisan Wine Depot
Dear Ms. Moseley, the Los Gatos Planning Commission, and the Los Gatos Town Co1mcil:
More housing? When is it going to stop? The intersection of Shannon Rd and Los Gatos Blvd is overly
congested as it is, nearly all day long.
Not to mention, when the kids are coming home from school between 2:00 and 3:00, it is at a high congestion
level, setting the scene for
many dangerous situations. This ridiculous development process in the Town of Los Gatos is spiraling out of
control.
It is okay to say 'N011 to the developers. That lot is zoned commercial, it should remain commercial.
We ·strongly oppose the proposed construction of the 11 residences on the comer of Shannon Road and
Los Gatos Blvd.
Please rethink your options and reject the plan for the below reasons:
I. The Density of Housing in the immediate and swrounding areas on the East Side is already too high.
2. Traffic/Safety-please consider the safety of the current residents and the outlandish traffic conditions we
are already facing at that intersection.
3. Zoning -Keep it zoned commercial. It's simple!
4. Aesthetics -The height and size of the proposed structure will impede the view of the surrounding hills .
The size and density will make the comer even more dangerous for traffic flow, and the kids crossing
the intersection.
Please reconsider this project and think of the people in the town you are representing instead of
considering the desires
of outside developen.
We need to protect what is left of our town. We are very lucky to live here but unfortunately, not
everyone can live here!
We need to put a stop to the current frenzied development running rampant through our town.
Keep it simple, say 'No' to the developers and say 'Yes' to your residents. Let's keep our town a town we
are proud to call home.
Sincerely,
Karen Foster
Karen and Joel Foster
175 Vista del Monte
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-356-7677
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
Babette Goldstein Ito <babettegoldstein@yahoo.com>
Sunday, February 21, 2016 3:52 PM
Mami Moseley
No on the Artisan Wine Depot lot development
HI Mami • I live in Los Gatos and see the story poles on LG Blvd outlining a major housing development. I am opposed to this site as is. Please take
my comments into consideration. The. development is too tall and too close to the street. Please help stop the madness of overdevelopment I am
confused how these developers get their way, overcrowd our resources, cause massive traffic and then cash out and leave??
Our schools and roads can't take anymore. I am voting NO on this development. Thank you for your consideration. Who else can I talk to???
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Ms. Moseley,
Martha Wills <mtswills@gmail.com>
Sunday, February 21, 2016 4:13 PM
Marni Moseley
16212 Los Gatos Boulevard development
I would like to express my concern about the proposed development at 16212 Los Gatos Boulevard
as evidenced by the story poles currently in place . I am distressed to read that 11 single-family
homes, ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 square feet each, are planned for this .94 acre site.
Uke many LG residents, I am concerned about the negative impact on both traffic and local schools
that 11 new homes would create. Regarding traffic, one need only drive this section of LG Boulevard
during school drop-off and pick-up hours to be convinced that traffic is heavy enough at those times.
Adding 11 new homes at this particularly busy intersection is the wrong direction to take.
Furthermore, It is well known that families are willing to pay high prices for homes within the Los
Gatos school district because they are convinced of the value of the education that Los Gatos schools
provide. It is extremely likely that a vast majority of the new residents in these proposed 11 houses
would have children attending local public schools, which are already at capacity. Add this project to
the housing planned for the North 40 area (not to mention the recently completely Laurel Mews) and
it becomes difficult to see how so much new development could be a good Idea for the community In
general and Los Gatos Boulevard in particular.
I strongly urge town authorities to reject this development as currently planned.
Sincerely,
Martha Wills
229 Vista del Monte
Los Gatos
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
Charles Wade <cwade13@yahoo .com>
Sunday, February 21, 2016 7:14 PM
Marni Moseley
16212 Los Gatos Blvd
I have read the plan the developers submitted to the town and the evaluation by
Cannon. I've lived in Los Gatos 35 years, and I pass through the Los Gatos
Blvd/Shannon Road intersection many times per week.
I'm strongly opposed to this plan: the density is too high, the fit with the local neighbors
is terrible, the space between buildings is almost zero, and the increase in traffic at the
Intersection (already a stop and go flow during most of the day) will have an impact on
the nearby school.
Finally, while it may not be a major factor, I'm very suspicious of a developer who just
happens to have the poles up during a time when the school is on break and a big
portion of the community is on holiday.
Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
Charles G. Wade
136 Mary Way, 95032
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
peter.vaughan@yahoo.com
Sunday, February 21, 2016 7:25 PM
Marni Moseley
Feedback on proposed development comer of los gatos blvd and Shannon rd (Artisan
Wine Depot)
As a resident of Los Gatos I am writing to you to voice my disapproval of the planned development at this
location.
Specifically:
1. Part of the charm and attractiveness of our town comes from homes set back from the street and
being of single story construction. There have been several recent deviations from this (such as the
development opposite) and it just doesn't fit. I understand the desire from developers because it nets
far more money for them but it detracts from the rest of the neighborhood and town.
2. Two stories blocks view of hill
3. Traffic-already very busy in that location a further 11 homes will add to the problem
I would be in favor of fewer single story homes.
I would like to ask specially if the story poles are correctly located as they appear set farther back from the
side walk. The artist renderings seem to show the edge of the buildings closer than this. If the poles are not
located correctly then the developer and town planners are being disingenuous in providing the community
the necessary information to make an informed decision and give correct feedback.
Regards
Peter and Michelle Vaughan
118 Blueberry Hill Dr
Los Gatos
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Subject:
Hello,
Christine Clevenger <ckclev@yahoo.com>
Sunday, February 21, 2016 9:49 PM
Mami Moseley
More high denisty housing requested at LG Blvd and Shannon?
I'm a neighbor on Kennedy Rd. I understand that another high density housing development has been proposed by a developer for the
intersection ofLG Blvd and Shannon. I am not opposed to converting this space from commercial to residential. But it would be
much, much better to do it in keeping with the Shannon neighborhood, which means that that lot would fit maybe 2 homes on lots that
should be of similar size to neighbors on Shannon.
It's the high density residential building that I strongly believe we have enough of in Los Gatos already. Especially with the new high
density housing that was built at Caldwell and LG Blvd a few years ago and more recently at the NW comer of Blossom Hill and LG
Blvd.
Any new building at Shannon and LG Blvd should be in keeping with the existing nature of our community, or our community will
lose it's wonderful residential nature altogether.
Thank you ,
Christine Clevenger
16952 Kennedy Rd. LG
1
Marni Moseley
From: mkwhite24@comcast.net
Sent:
To:
Sunday, February 21, 2016 9:58 PM
Mami Moseley; Council; Planning
Subject: Fwd: Proposed Construction at current Artisan Wine Depot location (corner of Shannon
and Los Gatos Blvd.)
Dear Ms. Moseley, the Los Gatos Planning Commission, and the Los Gatos Town Council:
As a resident of East los Gatos, I could not agree more with the statements made below by Rick
Tinsley.
I feel like the trend towards high-density housing is detrimental to the character of the town, adds to
the already horrible traffic on Los Gatos Blvd, and is creating over-crowding of our schools.
PLEASE REJECT THIS PROPOSED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT!
Best,
Michael White
136 Vista Del Monte
Los Gatos, 95030
--Forwarded Message ----
From: Carol Tinsley <cjt97@yahoo.com>
To: "MMoseley@losgatosca .gov" <MMoselev@Josgatosca.gov>; "council@losgatosca.gov"
<council@losgatosca.gov>; "planning@losgatosca.gov" <planning@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: Rick Tinsley <mt97@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2016 10:15 AM
Subject: Proposed Construction at current Artisan Wine Depot location (corner of Shannon and los
Gatos Blvd.)
Dear Ms. Moseley, the Los Gatos Planning Commission, and the Los Gatos Town Council:
We oppose in the strongest possible terms the proposed construction of 11 residences at the comer of Shannon
Road and Los Gatos Blvd. and request that you reject the plan. Our opposition is based on the following
concerns:
1. Density of Housing on the Site and Surrounding Area on the East Side: We respectfully request that the
Planning Commission consider the housing density in the immediate area. With three new high density
developments within a half mile radius of this site over the past few years, the character of our Town is being
drastically altered and by extension, the value of the homes on the east side are being diluted.
2. Traffic/Safety: The homes will obstruct visibility on a dangerous and busy diagonal intersection where
hundreds of school kids make their way to and from school every school day. The traffic in the stretch of Los
Gatos Blvd. from Highway 9 to Blossom Hill is already severely impacted multiple times a day, and we have
another massive housing development in theN. 40 at Lark Ave. that has to be considered. That intersection is
already congested and we personally witnessed a student hit on his bicycle (thankfully not badly injured) at the
1
Artisan driveway on Shannon and this is with the now current fairly open visibility on the comer. It is obvious
that visibility will be negatively impacted, putting children, cyclists and motorists at risk.
3. Zoning: This property has been zoned commercial all these years, why change that? The property is
already serving three needs in our community: (a) a successful and local owned and run business, (b) a shared
parking facility with Y ogaSource, and (c) a defacto satellite lot for parents picking up their children from Fisher
Middle School which greatly alleviates congestion and improves safety for our children.
4. Aesthetics: The height and proposed set-back completely blocks the views of the surrounding hillsides
from Los Gatos Blvd.
We cannot object more strenuously to this development and respectfully request you reject the project as it is a
detriment to our Town for the above mentioned reasons.
Sincerely,
Rick and Carol Tinsley
16555 S . Kennedy Road
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-458-0734 Carol
650-823-3831 Rick
2
Susan and Rad Hampton
16736 Shannon Road
Los Gatos, CA 95032
February 21, 2016
Town of los Gatos
Town Council and Planning Department
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Re: Opposition to the "II Vicinato" project, 16212 Los Gatos Blvd .
To whom it may concern:
RECEIVED
FEB 2 2 2016
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
We are writing to express our opposition to the "II Vicinaton project for the following reasons:
1. Overall design and style of the project Is out of character with our neighborhood:
a. There Is virtually no setback of the buildings.
b. There is an abrupt design change from Shannon Road to los Gatos Blvd.
c. The height of the buildings will be much taller than the adjacent homes and will loom
over them and the street.
2. Safety, Parking, and Traffic Issues:
a. The proposed singular driveway access to the site Is on Shannon Road within 100 yards
of an already congested and dangerous offset intersection.
b. Since this will be the only access to and from the site, it is very likely to cause a backup
of traffic on Shannon Road and add to the already serious traffic safety problems at this
intersection.
c. There are many school children who walk or ride bicycles down Shannon road who must
already navigate the narrow bicycle lanes and sidewalks .
d. Sidewalks stop on Shannon Road within 100 yards of the site and already are a safety
issue for children, other pedestrians, and bicycles.
e. Although there are either red zones or no parking from 7:00AM to 6:00 PM in this area
of Shannon Road there is no control on the parking violations which results in many cars
parked in these areas.
f . In addition to Artisan Wine Depot, Yoga Source currently rents a portion ofthe over 60
parking spaces on the site and they have allowed use by Fisher Middle School parents
for pickup of their children . This parking and traffic will end up in our neighborhood.
g. Most homes in los Gatos have at least two cars therefore the anticipated 27 occupants
of the 11 units ttlemse!ves may be In need of additional parking. Add to that the fact
that there Is no parking for visitors or service vehicles; we will have yet more cars on the
streets.
h. The overflow parking from Orange Theory Fitness was either not taken into account or
misrepresented to the town and has already created a significant problem in the area.
i. Overflow and employee parking also use Calvary Church parking lot adjacent to our
home starting at 4:00AM in the morning until around 10:00 PM .
3. There will be a huge impact to Shannon Road and the surrounding neighborhood during
demolition and construction .
4. Our quality of life will be severely diminished with the dust, truck idling, pollution, excavation
equipment, construction noise, and additional traffic.
In closing, should the town decide to allow the project to move forward, we would like to see the
following be required to mitigate the impact to our neighborhood:
1. Require the developer to redesign the project to include:
a. Moving the driveway access to the site to Los Gatos Boulevard with no driveway on
Shannon Road .
b. Significantly increase the setback of all units.
c. Decrease the height of the units.
d. Decrease the number of units.
e. Increase the parking within the site.
f. Change the style of the entire project to be in keeping with the neighborhood.
2. Enforce the construction hours to weekdays between 8:00AM and 4:00PM.
3. Require the developer to maintain safe construction fencing to protect the children in the area .
4. Enforce the parking restrictions in the area.
5. Enforce the noise, dust, and pollution restrictions.
6. Keep construction access for construction vehicles, sand and gravel trucks, concrete, deliveries
off of Shannon Road .
7. Require the developer to arrange for off-sight parking for all the construction workers and
transport them to and from the site daily.
Respectfully,
Susan and Rad Hampton
Town of Los Gatos Planning Commission
Re. 16212 Los Gatos Blvd. Vicinato Subdivision Project
Dear Planning Commissioners:
RECEIVED
FEB 2 2 2016
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
We urge you to reject this proposal outright. The proposed h igh-density
development on this comet is very wrong for many reasons, some of which we
would like to enumerate.
1) Ideally, this property should·remain a commercial enterprise as it sits in a
commercial district and the traffic impact when kids are heading to school
would be much less.
2) Assuming that the town planners disagree with our first point, a much lower
density project would be more in keeping with the existing neighborhood
and have a less disastrous impact on the traffic gridlock on this comer.
3) There have been many in-fill housing projects completed in East Los Gatos
over the last decade where several new homes cluster on a short cul-de-sac.
Even with decreased setbacks allowed for such projects, no more than 4 or 5
homes should be built on less than one acre.
4) Six of the proposed 11 homes, those bordering Los Gatos Blvd., are hardly
"'single family homes," but rather look like condominiums or even
apartments in San Jose. The two-story mass, literally a couple of feet from
the sidewalk is a terrible precedent for the town of Los Gatos.
5) This intersection is busy, confusing (for many), and dangerous for the kids
heading to Fisher and Vail Meter. The high-density housing tract built across
the street was unfortunate and has certainly made the int ersection more
congested. This project is even worse.
6) Projects of this nature are not in the long-term best interest of the Town, and
are certainly not welcome by the Shannon Road neighborhood.
Please do not give these developers approval for this inappropriate and ill-
conceived project.
Sincerely,
Dan and Mary-Lynne Bainbridge (Los Gatos natives -1954, Shannon Road -1964)
Eva n and Rya n Ba fnbridge (Lo s Gatos natives -1986, 1990)
February 19,2016
Re: 16212 Los Gatos Boulevard
PD-14-00 1
Members of the Los Gatos Planning Commission:
RECEIVED
F ~="8 2 2 2016
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
I find it interesting the Town Council approved the shortening of the time for the story poles and
flagging on this project as it would impact the parking for Yoga Source.
If this project is approved, what will happen to those cars that now use this area for Yoga Source
parking?
I do not want to imply that this property be maintained as parking for Yoga Source. But this project
will severely impact the street parking in this area.
My other concern with this project; a few month ago the Los Gatos Elementary School District
approached the Town Council to raise the school impact fee on developers. The schools are now over
capacity and the district is in need of another school. One of the reasons cited for the increased
enrollment was the conversion of commercial property to residential, Blue Bird Land (Caldwell ave.).
the Honda Dealership, Swanson Ford and others. Now another commercial property is proposed to be
converted to residential, further impact on the schools.
Regards
Phil Knopf
(408) 354-1046
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
To whom it may concern,
Sue Gasto n <suepgaston@gmail.com>
Monday, February 22, 2016 5:19 AM
Mami Moseley
Story poles on Los Gatos Blvd
We just bought a house on Pine Ave off of Los Gatos Blvd 5 months ago, ·moving from the East Coast. We had no idea of
this construction plan right down the street from us and if we had, we might of bought elsewhere.
The few months we have been here, we can't even imagine add ing more construction to this area, especially with an
elementary school right across the street. The poles themselves are awful let alone dense housing.
I've read a lot about this project lately due to the story poles and what I find interesting besides a town like Los Gatos
would ever approve of such an atrocious site is that no else who has lived here much longer than us knew about any of
this, if this has been out there for awhile and discussed at town meetings, why is it that the neighbors know nothing
about this?
As you can see this is an email to show that we do not support this construction in our new town we call home.
Sincerely,
Sue Gaston
Sent from my !Phone
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Marni Moseley
From:
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Cc:
Subject:
Shannon Susick <ssusick@comcas t.net>
Monday, February 22, 2016 6:25 AM
Marni Moseley
Planning
16212 los Gatos Boulevard "il Vicinato"
Good Morning Marni & Commissioners,
The planned project at 16212 los Gatos Boulevard and the application to change the zoning to CH :PD should be denied
for multiple reasons.
There are issues with the design as noted in the Cannon Design Group Report from 8/26/2014 and there are numerous
concerns with the Traffic Report and the Mitigated Negative Declaration posted on the town's website including:
1. Aesthetics-
a. Scenic Vistas ARE impacted. Every day the sunrise can be viewed from this portion of los Gatos
Boulevard and Shannon road to the east. The project will eliminate these views.
b. The design and appeal do not conform to the surrounding neighborhood; if residential must be built a
variance should be required with a rezonlns to R-8 with 3 homes at most Including proper setbacks
and driveways
c. The scope and intensity of the project is not in sync with rest of the Shannon Road neighborhood.
d. Tree Removal; it takes years for trees to reach maturity-alliS trees are to be removed?
2. Planned Developments-
a. The recent Planned Development committee spent an enormous amount of time developing new and
current standards-they must be followed.
3. Planning & Cumulative Effects-
a. The Town's Planning COmmission MUST look at the entire scope of proposed developments; not just
individual ones.
b. The cumulative effect of allowing PO zoning has had a negative effect on traffic, schools, density with
developments such as Laurel Mews, Bluebird Lane & other ongoing & pending projects.
4. Traffic & Schools-
a. The severity of traffic Issues in our town and on Los Gatos Boulevard in particular CAN NOT be dismissed
with dated and subject traffic and population statements such as those in the above captioned reports.
b. The intersection of Shannon Road and Los Gatos Blvd. has been adversely impacted by the development
at Laurel Mews, Orange Fitness Theory, increases in enrollment at private and public schools, adjacent
commercial space and developments to the east such as Guadalupe Mines Road in San Jose where all
those children are attending Los Gatos Schools & using Shannon Road for access .
c. There is no right tum on a red light west bound from Shannon road and there Is traffic calming in effect
for the adjacent Magneson Loop. This intersection receives a tremendous amount of bicycle, auto and
pedestrian traffic at present; intensification of traffic Is not advisable and will adversely affect the
town's residents.
d . Recent green bike lanes will be affected by this & other developments. Queues on Los Gatos Blvd and
Shannon road are already excessive.
e. The statement that there wili be 2.39 persons per dwelling appears to be an understatement In light of
the population of recent developments.
f . The statement that there will be 8-12 new students might be an understatement, but regardless our
schools are above c:-.apacity.
1
g. Trip generation statements for this prior auto dealership are misleading as it was used for parking for
the dealerships & for used cars with minimal auto traffic and salespersons often walking across the
Boulevard. The idea that 11 homes would have 8 trips during the peak morning hours appears to be a
typographical error.
5. General Plan
a. The Vision Statements are specific to that makes Los Gatos Special and the Role of the General Plan in
Achieving the Vision.
b. Vision Statement (VIS-3) states "Residents expect all new development to fit into the fabric of the
community" il Vicinato does not.
In conclusion, there is NO SUPPORT from the community or the General Plan for this project as proposed. The current
use at 16212 Los Gatos Boulevard as the successful Artisan Wine Depot with minimal impact and additional parking for
Yoga Source demonstrate the utility of this site and that the current zoning and that as when it last transferred is
viable. Additional uses might be joint parking or leasing from the Los Gatos School District or Hlllbrook School, which
currently has a bus pick up in the middle of the crosswalk/intersection at Shannon and Shady View Lane & other areas In
this neighborhood. If a zoning change must be granted and it must be residential, then a variance to R-8 to conform to
the surrounding neighborhood is supported by General Plan vs. the requested PO overlay which has an adverse effect on
current residents and a negative cumulative effect on the entire Town of Los Gatos.
Thank you so much for your time,
Shannon Susick
{lffi8} 316-9559
2
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Sharon Gies <sgiesl217@aol.com>
Monday, February 22, 2016 6:32 AM
Scott Plautz
Subject: Re: 16212 los Gatos Blvd
Mr. Plautz,
I have sent my comments and concerns to the town.
Thankfully, I do not back up to the project, but ifl did, I would be dismayed by the invasion of privacy created
by the height and size of the buildings. The impact seems to be mainly on the first two houses on the Loop,
excluding the duplex on the comer.
Re the driveway, we were told, it is located so far forward (toward the boulevard) because when it was further
back on Shannon, fire trucks would have difficulty maneuvering. If the project were not so dense, perhaps this
could be resolved in a different way within the property itself, allowing the driveway to be at the furthest spot
away from the intersection. It is a very busy intersection a few times a day, and the further away from the
comer the driveway is, the better. The concern regarding cars coming through Magneson Loop to circle back
to Shannon to access the property without crossing a lane of traffic is still real. Picture cars turning onto
Shannon from Los Gatos Boulevard and having to, in a short amount of time, try to tum left into the driveway
and you will see the problem. What is the possibility of rearranging the houses on the property so that the
access is only from Los Gatos Boulevard? It could even possibly loop through to Shannon, being an egress
only on the Shannon side. At one point, there was one house designed to have this Los Gatos Boulevard
access . This would move the traffic away from the comer, preclude the need for cars having to drive down
Magneson Loop to go around to Shannon, and would move the houses further away from the two homes on
Magneson that back up to the project, impacting them less.
You did not address the issue of the size of the houses, but perhaps we are simply at opposite poles
philosophically on this . I simply do not see the need for such large homes enviromnentally, economically, nor
necessity wise.
Thank you for your attention to my thoughts. I hope you will seriou.~;~ly consider my concerns.
Sharon Gies
Sent from Sharon's iPad
On Feb 21, 2016, at 11:36 PM, Scott Plautz <scott@stem·development.com> wrote:
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for the feedback and your perspective regarding our project. As you mentioned, your
thoughts are clear, and appreciated!
Thank you for supporting the proposal for residential in this location. We have completed nearly
4 years of studies to include land use, environmental impact, 1raffic, etc tor this site and the data
supports residential as the least impact regarding the traffic concerns you mentioned.
'Vhich revision o f the plans are you referencing, the ingress/egress (driv eway) has been relocated
as far from the intersection as possible ... and, we are doing some work on the intersection to
1
increase the flow of traffic, reduce the stacking of cars down Shannon Road, improve the
pedestrian walkway and the bike path.
If you don't mind me asking, what's your address on Magneson Loop? Are you able to see the
proposed homes from your property?
Please let me know if you'd like to discuss further prior to the Planning Commision meeting.
If you haven't done so already, please send your thoughts to our town planner, Mami Moseley at
MMoseley@losgatosca.gov
Please reference your support for residential on this site and your areas of concern.
Thanks again, I respect and appreciate the feedback!
Sincerely
Scott Plautz
President
STEM Sustainable Development
408-655-2326
On Feb 21 , 2016 3:53PM, "Sharon Gies" <sgies1217@aol.com> wrote:
I have lived on Magneson Loop for 46 years. I am for residential being on the Shannon-Los
Gatos Blvd comer. However, I am opposed to your proposed project for the following reasons:
Too large (high) and imposing.
Too dense ... that many houses on .8 of an acre?
Houses too many square feet ... what about the concept of minimal housing that saves costs and
energy? We raised three children in an 1100 square foot house. It was fine .
The entrance on Shannon is too close to LG Blvd. it will cause traffic problems, and people will
drive down Magneson Loop, go around the block to Shannon to enter the property without
having to cross a lane of traffic.
I understand the economics of wanting to make money, but one does not have to make an
excessive amount at the expense of the above concerns. Put fewer, smaller houses there, and you
will,still have a profit, but it will not have such a negative impact on the neighborhood.
Thanks for reading this . I do not need to talk with you ... my thoughts here are clear.
Sharon Gies
Sent from Sharon's iPad
2
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
Ta:
Subject:
Dear Marni,
kcduggins@gmail.com
Monday, February 22, 2016 6:40 AM
Mami Moseley
Development Projects
I have been a resident of Los Gatos for over 30 years and before that grew up within 5 miles of Los Gatos proper. Over
the course of SO+ years, I have seen many changes to our little town which I can say have mostly been improvements.
My husband and I live off Kennedy Rd. and the traffic and congestion have increased exponentially over the last 10
years. I can't see how adding more dense residential projects can be of betterment to our town. We are already at max
capacity in our schools, we CANNOT widen Los Gatos Blvd, and our police force is strained. Los Gatos has always been
desirable because of the reputation of Its schools as well as it1s small town community feeling. We are slowly losing
both. I have suggested before that maybe building another school or 2 would better serve our community, although it
probably doesn't financially line the pockets of the citiy's coffers. The North 40 project would be a perfect place to
consider a school with maybe some condos as well. Since the property was originally held for years by the Yuki's~ the
school could be named after them. I am just throwing an idea out and maybe it has already been considered, but I just
don't see how adding high density housing or a big box retail space can add to the betterment of our town. The same
goes for the project being considered at the corner of Shannon and Los Gatos Blvd. During the summer, it took me over
an hour to get home when I was only 5 miles away. After experiencing this, I decided that all my shopping and eating
out would be done outside of Los Gatos. This is a travesty for our merchants. Remember, any decision made has a
ripple effect. Please, when considering these projects, consider the long term and short term effects that it has on
everyone. Thank you so much for your consideration and service.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Duggins
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ms. Moseley,
jennifer@grewals.org
Monday, February 22, 2016 8:12 AM
Marni Moseley
development at Shannon Road and Los Gatos Blvd.
I know you have received many communications about the proposed development at the corner of Shannon Road and
Los Gatos Blvd. Many of the sentiments I have been following on Nextdoor and most I support and agree with, if not
completely, enough to say that we are certainly of the same basic thought on the development.
Because of that I don't feel the need to reiterate in great detail all of the issues with the lack of setback, over
development of the lot, lack of continuity of design with the existing neighborhood, the requested height exemption
blocking the mountain views, the congestion that a development of this magnitude will bring to an already overly
congested intersection.
I would just like to say that using a PO to bring all of this to another area of our Town is not something I support and I
would hope that the Town's governing bodies would not support it either.
Best to you,
Jennifer Grewal
103 Walnut Hill Court, Los Gatos 95032
1
Marni Moseley
From:
Sent
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Dear Ms. Moseley,
Jim Hori <jhori@svb.com>
Monday, February 22, 2016 9:55 AM
Marni Moseley
Kai
16212 los Gatos Blvd Development
Please accept this email as a letter voicing our concern over the proposed development at 16212 Los Gatos Blvd. As
longtime los Gatos residents, with our residence within close proximity to the project, we are completely opposed to
the project as proposed. There are a number of issues, but the two we would like to focus on are:
Traffic is already a problem on Shannon Road and only getting worse. This is especially bad during the rush hour and
school start/end hours. The addition of Orangetheory Fitness and Yoga Source has created more congestion resulting in
traffic and parking problems. By having only one entrance and exit (onto Shannon Road) designed in the development,
safety; which should be first and foremost, is going to be compromised. The traffic report does not adequately address
these concerns.
The design and layout of the project are not consistent with the Town's plans. The setbacks, height of the homes,
density, and design are completely out of line with the Town's look and feel. It simply does not fit with the residential
design of los Gatos.
We feel that consideration of a commercial business serving the residents of los Gatos would be a suitable alternative.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jim and Kari Hori
16358 Robie Lane
Los Gatos, CA. 95032
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RECEIVED
FEB 2 2 2016
From: Sharon Watts [mailto:sharon@peony.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2016 10:22 PM
To: Council
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
Subject: Proposed High Density Housing Development at Los Gatos Blvd & Shannon
Los Gatos Mayor and Council,
As a four generation Los Gatos family, we strongly disapprove of the proposed high
density
housing development at the comer of Los Gatos Blvd & Shannon Road.
That intersection is extremely busy with 3 nearby schools, student morning drop off
and afternoon pick up happening at the same time daily.
The proposed high density 11 dwellings plus their likely 22 -28+ cars
maneuvering in and out at that already busy intersection will be
a mess!
Add to that-unit parking overflow, delivery vehicles, guest parking will also be
parked at the intersection.
Folks living in this proposed development will be right on the edge of this busy street
with street signals directly outside their window
and no privacy to open a streetside window not to mention the car exhaust an open
window will expose them to!
Stop allowing greedy developers to ruin the charm of Los Gatos!!
DO NOT ALLOW THIS IDGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT TO PROCEED!!!
STOP TIDS PROJECT!!!
In appreciation,
Sharon and Corky Watts
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