Attachment 13Sally Zarnowitz
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Hi Sally,
Leslie Morley <lmorley@se renogroup.com>
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 12:23 AM
Sally Zarnowitz
Changes to ordinance for Accessory Units
accessory units Los Gatos.docx
It m ay be too late to s ubmit comments but I would li ke you to have them in case it is not too l ate. My comments
are in the attachment.
Best regards,
Les fi e Morley
Se reno Group Real Estate
408.656.7100
BRE# 00588456
ATIACHMENT 1 3
1
These are my ideas about the change for accessory dwellings.
I am in favor of more housing in Los Gatos and housing that may serve people who
cannot afford to buy property in this valley.
1. I like the idea that the town may be more generous with the FAR for people
adding znct accessory units. 1 hope the ordinance will allow for some flexibil i ty for
town approval at DRC level. Some properties due to trees, landscaping,
configuration, or slope may be able to handle more square footage without creating
more mass that would diminish the neighborhood appeal. I think the town should
have some discretionary power to make case-by-case approvals with guidelines.
2 . I think a homeowner should always have the right to rent out their own home if
they want to, even if they have a tenant in a secondary dwelling. I would not want to
leave my home vacant for a long period of time if I needed to be elsewhere for a
time. Leaving the main home vacant would be cost prohibitive for many and it may
lead to vandalism.
3 . The argument that if the owner resides on the property the renters of the
accessory unit will be better neighbors is shameful. I believe most owners were
renters at one time. I believe most people are careful who they rent to and want to
have happy neighbors.
4. I like the suggestion of allowing units above a garage to save land coverage in
neighborhoods that have two story homes. Perhaps having units partially below
grade or over garages would be a place to allow even additional FAR beyond
whatever is allowed. Many properties are close or at their max on FAR's. I hope the
town can be creative in their decisions and decide with guidelines, but flexibility.
Perhaps the FAR can be land coverage, or an accessory unit can be an added
percentage of the maximum FAR not to exceed certain land coverage.
Leslie Morley
60 Central Ave.
Los Gatos
408 656-7100