Staff Report
PREPARED BY: SALLY ZARNOWITZ
Planning Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Town Attorney, Community Development Department Director, and
Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/02/2017
ITEM NO: 10
DATE: APRIL 26, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH
CANNON DESIGN GROUP TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS ARCHITECTURAL
CONSULTANT TO THE TOWN.
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to execute an agreement with Cannon Design Group to provide
services as Architectural Consultant to the Town.
BACKGROUND:
In January 2002, the Town Council approved a contract with Larry Cannon of Cannon Design
Group to serve as Architectural Consultant to the Town. Since that time, the architectural
review process has become a successful component of the planning process. The Architectural
Consultant serves in an advisory capacity to staff, the Planning Commission, and Town Council
through the Town’s development review process. All applications requiring design review are
forwarded to the Architectural Consultant for architecture and site design review. The
Architectural Consultant provides input on how designs meet or require enhancement to meet
the Town’s community design standards and applicable guidelines. These recommendations
are then presented to the applicant through staff, can be incorporated as conditions of
approval or through plan revisions, and can serve to inform the staff recommendation,
depending on the complexity and significance of the recommendations.
The Town distributed a Request for Proposal in February 2017 and received one proposal from
Cannon Design Group (Attachment 1). Staff determined that Cannon Design Group is qualified
to serve as the Architectural Consultant to the Town, based on the quality of the proposal and
past services provided.
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SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANT
DATE: APRIL 26, 2017
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DISCUSSION:
The Architectural Consultant serves in a similar capacity to other Town development peer
review consultants such as arborist, geotechnical, and environmental consultants. Typical tasks
that the Architectural Consultant may provide include the following:
Architecture and site design peer review and critique for development applications,
including residential and non-residential additions, remodels, and new buildings;
Evaluation of architecture and site design for neighborhood compatibility and compliance
with applicable design standards and guidelines, specific plans, and the General Plan;
Development of design recommendations and preparation of reports summarizing
findings and recommendations;
Consultation with staff and/or applicants to discuss recommend ations or project specific
issues;
Special studies or projects, including, but not limited to: preparation of a checklist for
content of architectural plans for application packets; and
Attendance at public meetings as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Cannon Design Group was determined to be the best candidate to continue serving as the
Town’s architecture consultant for the following reasons:
Extensive experience and specialization providing architecture and site design peer review
and preparing design guidelines;
Successful provision of architectural review services to the Town since 2002;
Strong use of graphics to make reports user-friendly and easy to understand;
Larry Cannon, principal, is both a registered architect and a certified planner ;
Good understanding of the Town’s codes, policies, and design guidelines (contributing
author of the Commercial and Residential Design Guidelines); and
Experience with historic preservation.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Council authorize the Town Manager to execute an agreement with
Cannon Design Group to serve as Architectural Consultant under the supervision of the Director
of Community Development.
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SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANT
DATE: APRIL 26, 2017
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FISCAL IMPACT:
Architectural review for development proposals are paid for by the project applicant. The
typical consultant review deposit for a single-family home is $2,000. The actual cost is based on
the scope of work and the consultant’s fee schedule (see Attachment 1, Exhibit A). An
administrative fee of 10 percent is also charged by the Town. The purpose of the
administrative fee is to reimburse the Town’s cost of administering the peer review.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Cannon Design Group Response to RFP (includes Exhibit A)
2. Draft Agreement with Cannon Design Group
Distribution:
Larry L. Cannon, Cannon Design Group, 700 Larkspur Landing Cr., Ste. 199, Larkspur, CA 94939