Addendum
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER ARMER
Senior Planner
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: 03/20/2018
ITEM NO: 11
ADDENDUM
DATE: MARCH 19, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION S-15-056, CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT APPLICATION U-15-009, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
EIR-16-001. PROJECT LOCATION: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY.
PROPERTY OWNER: CWA REALTY. APPLICANT/APPELLANT: LP
ACQUISITIONS, LLC.
CONSIDER AN APPEAL OF A PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION DENYING A
REQUEST TO DEMOLISH THREE EXISTING OFFICE BUILDINGS AND
CONSTRUCT A NEW, TWO-STORY OFFICE BUILDING WITH UNDERGROUND
PARKING ON PROPERTY ZONED CH. APN 529-23-018.
REMARKS:
In response to questions from Council Members, staff has prepared the following information.
Where are all these incoming cars going? How big is the office complex at the end of Alberto
Way or how many cars does ITE say they are bringing in in the AM peak?
The existing office buildings at the far end of Alberto Way (475-485 Alberto Way) are
approximately 56,000 square feet in combined floor area. The following traffic data may
provide some additional context for understanding the current inbound traffic conditions on
Alberto Way in the AM peak hour:
• 38 inbound trips (during the AM peak hour) were counted at the driveway to the
existing 475-485 Alberto Way office buildings in 2016. Note: This count was conducted
when the buildings were not fully occupied (due to significant internal renovations).
• 56 inbound trips (during the AM peak hour) are estimated by the current version of ITE
trip generation manual for 475-485 Alberto Way (56,000 square feet of office building).
•
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SUBJECT: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY/S-15-056, U-15-009, AND EIR-16-001
MARCH 19, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\03-20-18\10 Alberto Way Appeal\Addendum.docx 3/19/2018 4:38 PM
REMARKS (Continued):
• 80 total inbound trips (during the AM peak hour) were counted on Alberto Way as part
of the traffic impact analysis for the proposed 401-409 Alberto Way project from May
2015 (when 401-409 Alberto Way was still occupied).
Please provide the relevant code section, policy, etc., which provides the definition, if any, of
1. "Infill" (not how it should be done, the definition of what it is).
2. "Viewshed"
3. "Scenic Vista"
“Infill” is not explicitly defined in the Town’s General Plan or Town Code . However, Resolution
1993-62, the Town’s Development Policy for In-Fill Projects, states that the undeveloped land
within the Town is predominantly infill parcels. Additional information is available online here:
http://www.losgatosca.gov/documentcenter/view/7720.
The definition of an Infill Site within State Public Resources Code Section 21061.3 (CEQA) is:
§ 21061.3. INFILL SITE
“Infill site” means a site in an urbanized area that meets either of the following criteria:
(a) The site has not been previously developed for urban uses and both of the following
apply:
(1) The site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban
uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are
developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins
parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.
(2) No parcel within the site has been created within the past 10 years unle ss the parcel
was created as a result of the plan of a redevelopment agency.
(b) The site has been previously developed for qualified urban uses.
Neither “Viewshed” nor “Scenic Vista” is explicitly defined in the Town’s General Plan or Town
Code, however, in the General Plan both are used predominately in reference to development
of the hillsides, not development which would block views of the hillsides. The visibility analysis
section of the Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines (Chapter II), while not applicable
to projects outside the Hillside Area, like the Alberto Way project, provides guidance on the
views that the Town Council has given priority to, specifically the following Viewing Areas:
1. Blossom Hill Road/Los Gatos Boulevard
2. Los Gatos - Almaden Road/Selinda Way (across from Leigh High School)
3. Hwy 17 overcrossing/Los Gatos - Saratoga Road (Highway 9)
4. Main Street/Bayview Avenue
5. Other location(s) as deemed appropriate by the Community Development Director
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SUBJECT: 401-409 ALBERTO WAY/S-15-056, U-15-009, AND EIR-16-001
MARCH 19, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\03-20-18\10 Alberto Way Appeal\Addendum.docx 3/19/2018 4:38 PM
REMARKS (Continued):
The ridgelines that are designated as significant ridgelines in the Hillside Development
Standards and Guidelines (Chapter II) include Aztec Ridge and the ridge between Blossom Hill
Road and Shannon Road.
Attachment 18 contains additional public comments received after distribution of the staff
report.
Attachments previously received with March 20, 2018 Staff Report:
1. December 13, 2017 Planning Commission Staff Report (with Exhibits 3-14)
2. December 13, 2017 Planning Commission Addendum Report (with Exhibits 15-16)
3. December 13, 2017 Planning Commission Addendum B Report (with Exhibits 17 -20)
4. December 13, 2017 Planning Commission Desk Item Report (with Exhibit 21)
5. December 13, 2017 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes (107 pages)
6. January 10, 2018 Planning Commission Staff Report (with Exhibits 22-24)
7. January 10, 2018 Planning Commission Addendum Report (with Exhibit 25)
8. January 10, 2018 Planning Commission Desk Item Report (with Exhibit 26)
9. January 10, 2018 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes (70 pages)
10. February 14, 2018 Planning Commission Staff Report (with Exhibits 27-28)
11. February 14, 2018 Planning Commission Desk Item Report (with Exhibit 29)
12. February 14, 2018 Planning Commission Verbatim Minutes (43 pages)
13. Appeal of the Planning Commission decision, received February 23, 2018
14. Public Comments received 11:01 a.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2018 to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
15. Draft Resolution to deny the appeal and deny the project
16. Draft Resolution to grant the appeal and remand the project to the Planning Comm ission
17. Draft Resolution to grant the appeal and approve the project (includes Exhibits A, B, and C)
Attachments received with this Addendum:
18. Public Comments received 11:01 a.m., Thursday, March 15, 2018 to 11:00 a.m., Monday,
March 19, 2018
Distribution:
Shane Arters, LP Acquisitions, LLC, 535 Middlefield Road, Ste. 190, Menlo Park, CA 94025