Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · August 26, 2020
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 26, 2020
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
State of California Executive Order N-29-20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID19
pandemic and was conducted via Zoom. All planning commissioners and staff participated
from remote locations and all voting was conducted via roll call vote.
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.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – August 12, 2020
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hudes to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2020
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Amendments to the Town Code Regarding Outdoor Lighting and Modifications to the
Residential Design Guidelines
Town Code Amendment Application A-20-005
Location: Town Wide
Applicant: Town of Los Gatos
Staff: Jennifer Armer
Forward a Recommendation to the Town Council for Approval of Amendments to
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding Outdoor Lighting and
modifications to the Residential Design Guidelines.
Jennifer Armer, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened and closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to forward to Town Council a
recommendation of approval of Amendments to Town Code Chapter 29
regarding Outdoor Lighting and modifications to the Residential Design
Guidelines in consideration of the comments by Commissioner Hudes and
Commissioner Barnett. Seconded by Commissioner Barnett.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. Request for Modification to an existing Architecture and Site Application to Remove
Underground Parking for Construction of a Commercial Building in the North Forty
Specific Plan
Architecture and Site Application S-20-012
APN 424-56-017
Property Owner/Appt: Summerhill N40, LLC
Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman
Consider approval of a Request for modification to an existing Architecture and Site
Application (S-13-090) to remove underground parking for construction of a commercial
building (Market Hall) in the North 40 Specific Plan area.
Commissioner Burch announced that she would recuse herself from the public hearing due to
proximity of her home to the subject property.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2020
Jocelyn Shoopman, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hudes to continue the public hearing to the
meeting of September 9, 2020. Seconded by Commissioner Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
None.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Historic Preservation Committee
Commissioner Hudes
- The HPC met August 26, 2020 and considered four items:
o 445 Los Gatos Boulevard
o 411 San Benito Avenue
o 32 Walnut Avenue
o Final review of the Historic Preservation portion of the General Plan
General Plan Advisory Committee
Commissioner Hanssen
- The GPAC canceled its August 20, 2020 meeting and rescheduled to September 3, 2020
where the Committee will do a second review of the Mobility Element.
Commission Matters
Commissioner Hanssen
- It is important when doing the General Plan 20-year update to look for more opportunities
to insert objective standards which will benefit everyone because there would no longer be
questions of interpretation or opinion. It would be helpful, especially in the area of land use
and community design where there is a high need for objective standards, to have a
subcommittee that would suggest areas where objective standards would be helpful and
possible. The subject of objective standards in the General Plan will be heard at the
Planning Commission's September 9, 2020 meeting.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2020
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
August 26, 2020 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/Vicki Blandin
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Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
AUGUST 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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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AUGUST 26, 2020 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
This meeting is being conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent
with State of California Executive Order N-29-20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID-
19 pandemic. The live stream of the meeting may be viewed on television and/or online at:
https://meetings.municode.com/PublishPage/index?cid=LOSGATOS&ppid=4bc370fb-3064-
458e-a11a-78e0c0e5d161&p=0. In accordance with Executive Order N-29-20, the public
may only view the meeting on television and/or online and not in the Council Chamber.
PARTICIPATION
If you are not interested in providing oral comments real-time during the meeting, you can
view the live stream of the meeting on television (Comcast Channel 15) and/or online at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFh35XRBWer1DPx-F7vvhcg.
If you are interested in providing oral comments real-time during the meeting, you must join
the Zoom webinar at:
https://losgatosca-
gov.zoom.us/j/96935864583?pwd=QU1MaXRCMkczaDFmWGd3U2wrd3NDUT09
Passcode: 574726.
During the meeting:
When the Chair announces the item for which you wish to speak, click the “raise
hand” feature in Zoom. If you are participating by phone on the Zoom app, press *9
on your telephone keypad to raise your hand. If you are participating by calling in,
press #2 on your telephone keypad to raise your hand.
When called to speak, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes, or such other
time as the Chair may decide, consistent with the time limit for speakers at a Council
meeting.
If you are unable to participate in real-time, you may send an email to
PlanningComment@losgatosca.gov with the subject line “Public Comment Item # ” (insert
the item number relevant to your comment) or “Verbal Communications – Non Agenda
Item.” Comments will be reviewed and distributed before the meeting if received by 11:00
a.m. on the day of the meeting. All comments received will become part of the record. The
Chair has the option to modify this action on items based on comments received.
REMOTE LOCATION PARTICIPANTS
The following Planning Commissioners are listed to permit them to appear electronically or
telephonically at the Planning Commission meeting: CHAIR MELANIE HANSSEN, VICE CHAIR
JANOFF, COMMISSIONER BADAME, COMMISSIONER BARNETT, COMMISSIONER BURCH,
COMMISSIONER HUDES, AND COMMISSIONER TEVANA. All votes during the teleconferencing
session will be conducted by roll call vote.
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TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
AUGUST 26, 2020
7:00 PM
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (Members of the public may address the Commission on any matter
that is not listed on the agenda consistent with the Participation instructions contained on page
2 of this 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 consistent with the Participation instructions contained on
page 2 of this 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. Approval of Minutes of the August 12, 2020 Regular Planning Commission Meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS (Applicants/Appellants, their representatives, and members of the public may
to address the Commission on any Public Hearing item by following the Participation instructions
contained on page 2 of this agenda. 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. Forward a Recommendation to the Town Council for Approval of Amendments to
Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code Regarding Outdoor Lighting and
Modifications to the Residential Design Guidelines. Location: Town Wide. Town Code
Amendment Application A-20-005. Applicant: Town of Los Gatos.
3. Consider Approval of a Request for Modification to an Existing Architecture and Site
Application (S-13-090) to Remove Underground Parking for Construction of a
Commercial Building (Market Hall) in the North 40 Specific Plan Area. APN 424-56-017.
Architecture and Site Application S-20-012. Property Owner/Applicant: Summerhill N40,
LLC. Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman.
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS / COMMISSION MATTERS
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)
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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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