Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · September 11, 2019
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Matthew Hudes, Vice Chair Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Mary Badame,
Commissioner Kendra Burch, Commissioner Kathryn Janoff, and Commissioner Reza Tavana,
Absent: Commissioner Tom O'Donnell
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Tavana led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – August 14, 2019
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Town Wide - Demolition Regulations
Town Code Amendment Application A-19-007
Project Location: Town Wide
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Consider Amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding
demolition regulations.
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
Jennifer Armer, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Gary Kohlsaat
- He is encouraged by the Town's willingness to listen to professionals and modify the rules.
He has gone up against this particular rule many times and it is frustrating. The City of
Saratoga defines a wall by the framing, meaning if the house cannot be demolished the
walls could be stripped off, making it easier to do several things. He encouraged the
Commission to consider the Policy Committee's recommendation.
Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to forward a recommendation of
approval to Town Council for Town Code Amendment A-19-007 regarding
demolition regulations. Seconded by Vice Chair Hanssen.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. 400 Carlton Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-19-032
APN 424-12-098
Applicant: Gary Kohlsaat
Property Owner: T&M Properties
Requesting approval of a modification to an approved Architecture and Site application
for demolition of two existing medical office buildings and construction of a new
medical office building on property zoned O.
Sean Mullin , Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Gary Kohlsaat
- This building was approved in January 2018, however the cost overruns for the
underground parking structure are too much for his client to bear so it has been eliminated
and the project redesigned with on-grade parking with 26 parking spaces. They have
maintained the existing architectural style and this design is better overall than the first
one. This project would be better for the site, the neighborhood, and his client.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
Juliana Lockman
- Her major concern is parking in her neighborhood from multiple medical businesses and
she is worried that with the elimination of the underground parking it could get worse. She
is also concerned about safety with cars exiting the parking lot because of poor visibility.
Gary Kohlsaat
- Twelve parking spaces would be taken by staff and doctors, leaving 14 parking spaces for
their patients, which should be adequate for their needs. The driveway entrance from Jo
Drive is not on their property; it is parking for the building on the corner. The vacant space
is open space for that project and is also not their property. They are concerned about
adding landscaping screening along Jo Drive because they are close to the corner and have
to be careful not to block visibility. Currently the striping and paint on the parking lot is
worn off, but with the new building there would be new appropriate standards to help with
traffic calming.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch to approve an Architecture and Site
Application with additional conditions for 400 Carlton Avenue. Seconded
by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
4. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
• Town Council met on September 3, 2019, but there were no Planning items.
• The General Plan Advisory Committee will meet on September 19, 2019 to discuss
potential amendments to the existing General Plan regarding Highway 17.
• The Planning Commission meeting of September 25, 2019 has been cancelled.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
General Plan Advisory Committee
Commissioner Janoff
- GPAC has finished the land use input with the consultants. The next GPAC meeting is
September 19, 2019.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
September 11, 2019 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin
Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
110 EAST MAIN STREET
LOS GATOS, CA
Matthew Hudes, Chair
Melanie Hanssen, Vice Chair
Mary Badame, Commissioner
Kendra Burch, Commissioner
PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS
Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner
Tom O’Donnell, Commissioner
Reza Tavana, Commissioner
How to participate: The Town of Los Gatos strongly encourages your active participation in the
public process, which is the cornerstone of democracy. If you wish to speak to an item on the
agenda, please complete a “speaker’s card” and return it to the Staff Liaison. If you wish to speak
to an item NOT on the agenda, you may do so during the “verbal communications” period. The
time allocated to speakers may change to better facilitate the Planning Commission meeting.
Effective Proceedings: The purpose of the Planning Commission meeting is to conduct the
business of the community in an effective and efficient manner. For the benefit of the
community, the Town of Los Gatos asks that you follow the Town’s meeting guidelines while
attending Planning Commission meetings and treat everyone with respect and dignity. This is
done by following meeting guidelines set forth in State law and in the Town Code. Disruptive
conduct is not tolerated, including but not limited to: addressing the Commissioners without first
being recognized; interrupting speakers, Commissioners or Town staff; continuing to speak after
the allotted time has expired; failing to relinquish the podium when directed to do so; and
repetitiously addressing the same subject.
Deadlines for Public Comment and Presentations are as follows:
Persons wishing to make an audio/visual presentation on any agenda item must submit the
presentation electronically, either in person or via email, to the Planning Department by 1
p.m. or the Clerk’s Office no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day of the Planning Commission
meeting.
Persons wishing to submit written comments to be included in the materials provided to the
Planning Commission must provide the comments to the Planning Department as follows:
o For inclusion in the regular packet: by 11:00 a.m. the Friday before the meeting
o For inclusion in any Addendum: by 11:00 a.m. the Monday before the meeting
o For inclusion in any Desk Item: by 11:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting
Planning Commission meetings are broadcast Live on KCAT, Channel 15 (on Comcast) on the 2 nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Live and Archived Planning Commission meetings can be viewed by going to:
https://www.kcat.org/government-meetings
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING,
PLEASE CONTACT THE CLERK DEPARTMENT AT (408) 354-6834. NOTIFICATION 48 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING WILL ENABLE THE TOWN
TO MAKE REASONABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO THIS MEETING [28 CFR §35.102-35.104]
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TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
7:00 PM
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (Members of the public may address the Commission on any matter
that is not listed on the agenda. Unless additional time is authorized by the Commission, remarks
shall be limited to three minutes.)
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION) (Before the Planning Commission
acts on the consent agenda, any member of the public or Commission may request that any item
be removed from the consent agenda. At the Chair’s discretion, items removed from the consent
calendar may be considered either before or after the Public Hearings portion of the agenda)
1. Minutes of August 14, 2019
PUBLIC HEARINGS (Applicants/Appellants and their representatives may be allotted up to a total
of ten minutes maximum for opening statements. Members of the public may be allotted up to
three minutes to comment on any public hearing item. Applicants/Appellants and their
representatives may be allotted up to a total of five minutes maximum for closing
statements. Items requested/recommended for continuance are subject to the Commission’s
consent at the meeting.)
2. Town Code Amendment Application A-19-007. Project Location: Town Wide. Applicant:
Town of Los Gatos.
Consider Amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding
demolition regulations.
3. Architecture and Site Application S-19-032. Project Location: 400 Carlton Avenue.
Applicant: Gary Kohlsaat. Property Owner: T&M Properties.
Requesting approval of a modification to an approved Architecture and Site application
for demolition of two existing medical office buildings and construction of a new
medical office building on property zoned O. APN 424-12-098.
OTHER BUSINESS (Up to three minutes may be allotted to each speaker on any of the following
items.)
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS / COMMISSION MATTERS
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ADJOURNMENT (Planning Commission policy is to adjourn no later than 11:30 p.m. unless a
majority of the Planning Commission votes for an extension of time)
Writings related to an item on the Planning Commission meeting agenda distributed to members of the Commission
within 72 hours of the meeting are available for public inspection at the reference desk of the Los Gatos Town Library,
located at 100 Villa Avenue; the Community Development Department and Clerk Department, both located at 110 E.
Main Street; and are also available for review on the official Town of Los Gatos website. Copies of desk items
distributed to members of the Commission at the meeting are available for review in the Town Council Chambers.
Note: The Town of Los Gatos has adopted the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure §1094.6; litigation challenging a
decision of the Town Council must be brought within 90 days after the decision is announced unless a shorter time is
required by State or Federal law.
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