Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · October 14, 2020
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 14, 2020
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, October 14, 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 – September 23, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting
2. Approval of Minutes – September 28, 2020 Special Planning Commission Meeting
Commissioner Barnett requested the draft minutes of September 23, 2020 and September 28,
2020 be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. 205 Lester Lane
Tree Removal Permit T-20-074
APN 424-17-015
Property Owner/Applicant/Appellant: Cynthia Jaen
Project Planner: Ryan Safty
Consider an Appeal of the Replacement Tree Requirement for a Tree Removal Permit on
property zoned R-1:8.
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 14, 2020
Ryan Safty, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Cynthia Jaen/Owner, Applicant, and Appellant
- The tree was considered dead by the tree service who cut it down and per Town Code does
not require replacement. The tree was also dangerous, having dropped several limbs over
her property several times. The tree service pointed out that the tree was rotted inside and
leaning toward the neighbor's property. Her appeal is reasonable. She has several trees on
her property, more than any of her neighbors. The Town Arborist and Commissioners who
visited did not knock on her door to see the property, so they all viewed the tree from the
street.
Cynthia Jaen/Owner, Applicant, and Appellant
- For her to put three trees where the removed tree was would cause an issues with power
lines running over her property, and there is no other space available on her property for
those trees.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to deny the appeal of a Replacement
Tree Requirement for a Tree Removal Permit for 205 Lester Lane.
Seconded by Commissioner Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed (6-0), Commissioner Hudes abstaining.
4. Approval of Minutes – September 23, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting
Approval of Minutes – September 28, 2020 Special Planning Commission Meeting
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Badame to approve the minutes of September
23, 2020, and September 28, 2020. Seconded by Commissioner Tavana.
VOTE: Motion passed (5-1), Commissioner Hudes dissenting and Commissioner
Burch recused.
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 14, 2020
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
Town Council met October 6, 2020 and considered:
o Planning Commission recommendations for modifications to the BMP Program
and Lighting.
o Economic recovery efforts. Town Council provided direction to staff on items
moving forward.
Town Council will meet October 20, 2020 to consider:
o An appeal of the Planning Commission decision for the North 40 modification.
o A second reading and approval of two items heard at the October 6, 2020
meeting, the BMP Program and Lighting.
o Recommendation from the Planning Commission on the Hillside Development
Standards and Guidelines.
A community workshop on community culture via Zoom will be held on October 22,
2020 at 7:00 p.m.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Conceptual Development Advisory Committee
Commissioner Barnett
- CDAC met October 14, 2020 and considered 15299 Top of the Hill Court.
General Plan Advisory Committee
Commissioner Hanssen
- GPAC met October 1, 2020 and took a second look at Public Facilities, Services, and
Infrastructure Element.
- The next meeting GPAC meeting will be on October 15, 2020 to review the next draft of the
Environment and Sustainability Element.
- GPAC will review the Land Use Element and Community Design Element in November 2020.
Commission Matters
Commissioner Hanssen
- Commissioner Burch has agreed to chair the newly formed Subcommittee on Objective
Standards.
- She requested that documents from the Commission members for review by the Planning
Commission should be submitted in advance of public hearings and adhere to the deadline
for desk items at a minimum.
- Because of the complex issues surrounding the North 40 it would be helpful to have
training for the Commission in early 2021 about the Housing Accountability Act and
changing laws, among other topics, to give everyone the same level of understanding.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 14, 2020
and correct copy of the minutes of the
October 14, 2020 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin
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Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
OCTOBER 14, 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 OCTOBER 14, 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/96811916244?pwd=M1ZLSC9PQmlhVUJOVXJmOXplNkRQdz09
Passcode: 633075.
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
OCTOBER 14, 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. 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 Minutes of the September 23, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting.
2. Approve Minutes of the September 28, 2020 Special Planning Commission Meeting.
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.)
3. Consider an Appeal of the Replacement Tree Requirement for a Tree Removal Permit on
Property Zoned R-1:8. Located at 205 Lester Lane. APN 424-17-015. Tree Removal
Permit T-20-074. Property Owner/Applicant/Appellant: Cynthia Jaen. Project Planner:
Ryan Safty.
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)
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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