Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · February 26, 2020
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Melanie Hanssen, Vice Chair Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner Mary Badame,
Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner Kendra Burch, Commissioner Matthew Hudes,
and Commissioner Reza Tavana.
Absent: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Hudes 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 – January 8, 2020
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hudes to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar, as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Barnett.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Recommend a Preferred Land Use Alternative Framework for the General Plan Update
to the Town Council
Jennifer Armer, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Rick Rust, Mintier Harnish, provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Opened Public Comment.
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2020
Kimberly Bryan
- She is alarmed at the delta she sees between the current Town and the potential buildings
that were put forth with Plan C. Housing choices such as duplexes, fourplexes, tiny houses,
etc., are a much better fit for Los Gatos to find more areas in Town to accommodate these
structures. She encouraged the Planning Commission to support Option B and see what
happens with property owners being able to have secondary units on their properties.
Lee Fagot
- Going to 45 feet downtown with retail at the bottom and housing above makes sense. The
argument on both sides regarding the project at Los Gatos Boulevard and Shannon Road
shows the importance of finding the right heights and setbacks that would provide
guidance for future developers and to keep the look and feel of Los Gatos.
Jan Murray
- She lives near a development at Union Avenue and Blossom Hill that the Planning
Commission recommended against and the Town Council overrode that recommendation.
Those homes do not meet the mass, bulk, height, and character of the Town and are
elevated. Good intentions get modified when the developers come in and offer incentives
to deviate.
Emerald Hathaway
- Los Gatos is a beautiful Town and she feels badly when she reads they are going to try to
change the Town into four-story buildings along Los Gatos Boulevard, because it doesn't
make any sense. It should be easy to add 2,000 dwellings without putting in four-story
buildings because Los Gatos is not designed for that, and while the Town wants diversity
they do not want to destroy the Town in trying to be so diverse.
Mark Grimes
- He has read about the number of additional cars that would be added based on the
assumption that more people would start to use public transportation and asked what
factors were used to come up with that assumption?
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch to recommend Land Use Alternative C as
included in Exhibit 11. Seconded by Vice Chair Janoff.
Commissioner Barnett requested the motion be amended to footnote in the motion that
further review, analysis, and modification is anticipated.
The Maker of the Motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2020
The Seconder of the Motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. Forward a Recommendation to the Town Council for Approval of the Amendments to
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code Regarding Family Daycare Home
Regulations, Town Wide.
Town Code Amendment Application A-20-002
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Diego Mora, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch to forward a recommendation to Town
Council for approval of Town Code Amendment Application A-20-002,
amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code
regarding family daycare home regulations. Seconded by Commissioner
Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
4. Forward a Recommendation to the Town Council for Approval of the Amendments to
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code Regarding Accessory Dwelling
Units, Town Wide.
Town Code Amendment Application A-20-001
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Sally Zarnowitz, Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Jennifer Kretschmer, AIA
- She addressed the decision to not allow ADUs in front of primarily residences because the
state requires cities and towns to allow existing buildings to be converted into ADUs. In Los
Gatos there are many older homes small enough to be considered an ADU, and rather than
see those smaller homes demolished in order to build a larger home and then put an ADU
in the back she proposed the existing structure to be allowed to be a detached ADU in front
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2020
of a primary residence. She said the current amendments allow for setbacks of 4 feet, but
3 feet would still comply with building codes with space to go around the structure and
therefore leave more open space in the yards of properties if the detached ADU is pushed
all the way toward the back of the property and still allows for preventative fire measures.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to forward a recommendation to
Town Council for approval of Town Code Amendment Application A-20-
001, approval of the amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of
the Town Code required to conform to the new State law regarding
Accessory Dwelling Units, subject to changes as recommended by
Commissioner Barnett. Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch based on the diagram shown by staff, to
forward a recommendation to Town Council to adopt the options to
allow a junior ADU with an attached ADU or to allow a junior ADU within
a detached ADU or accessory structure, and note the conversation
regarding configuration of square footage. Seconded by Commissioner
Tavana.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hudes to forward a recommendation to Town
Council to not adopt the option to allow the creation of ADUs in front of
historic resources. Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch to forward a recommendation to Town
Council to not adopt the option to allow attached ADU minimum rear and
side setbacks of 4 feet. Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2020
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Burch to forward a recommendation to Town
Council to not adopt the option to allow the addition of an ADU to an
existing second story of a primary dwelling that is an historic resource.
Seconded by Commissioner Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
5. Report from the Director of Community Development
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
Town Council met February 18, 2020: adopted the streamlining modifications previously
considered by the Planning Commission; discussed vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and will
work with Fehr & Peers who will come up with substantial evidence to create the
Town's own VMT metrics because it is unlikely the Town could meet the state's
recommended threshold.
Reach codes adopted by the Council went into effect February 21, 2020, after being
approved by the California Energy Commission.
The General Plan Advisory Committee will meet twice monthly to look at individual
elements beginning March 5, 2020 when it will consider the Open Space Parks, and
Recreation Element.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Historic Preservation Committee
Commissioner Hudes
- The HPC met February 26, 2020 and considered three items:
o 251 Littlefield Lane
o 15946 Cerro Vista Drive
o 253 West Main Street
o 15946 Cerro Vista Drive
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2020
Conceptual Development Advisory Committee
Community Development Director Paulson
- The CDAC meet February 12, 2020 and considered one item:
o 16195 George Street, looking at four detached condos.
Commission Matters
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:51 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
February 26, 2020 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin
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Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
110 EAST MAIN STREET
LOS GATOS, CA
Melanie Hanssen, Chair
Kathryn Janoff, Vice Chair
Mary Badame, Commissioner
Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner
PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS
Kendra Burch, Commissioner
Matthew Hudes, 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
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
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. Approve Planning Commission Minutes of January 8, 2020.
PUBLIC HEARINGS (Applicants/Appellants and their representatives may be allotted up to a total
of five 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 three minutes maximum for closing
statements. Items requested/recommended for continuance are subject to the Commission’s
consent at the meeting.)
2. Recommend a Preferred Land Use Alternative Framework for the General Plan Update
to the Town Council.
3. Forward a recommendation to the Town Council for approval of the amendments to
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding family daycare home
regulations, Town Wide. Town Code Amendment Application A-20-002. Applicant:
Town of Los Gatos.
4. Forward a recommendation to the Town Council for approval of the amendments to
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding accessory dwelling units,
Town Wide. Town Code Amendment Application
A-20-001. Applicant: Town of Los Gatos.
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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