Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · March 10, 2021
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MARCH 10, 2021
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 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 Kathryn Janoff , Vice Chair Kendra Burch, Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett,
Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Jeffrey Suzuki, Commissioner Reza Tavana, and
Commissioner Emily Thomas
Absent: None.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – February 24, 2021
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Barnett to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Tavana.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
PAGE 2 OF 4
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 10, 2021
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 246 Almendra Avenue
Zone Change Application Z-20-001
APN 510-14-019
Applicant: Brett Brenkwitz
Property Owner: Gary Filizetti
Project Planner: Ryan Safty
Consider a Request for Approval for a Zone Change from O:LHP (Office with a Landmark
and Historic Preservation Overlay) to R-1D:LHP (Single-Family Residential Downtown
with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay).
Ryan Safty, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Brett Brenkwitz (Applicant/Architect)
- They wish to build a single-family dwelling with possibly a detached garage in the back of
the lot with an ADU over it. The parking currently on the lot is not being counted or needed
for the adjacent structures, including the diner, so this is a good fit to change the zoning
and introduce a new single-family dwelling in this eclectic neighborhood, provide housing
for the Town, and eliminate a not aesthetically pleasing parking lot.
Jeff Pratt, 242 Almendra Avenue
- He lives next door to the subject site and supports the project, which he believes would be
very good for the neighborhood and would look much better than the current parking lot.
Brett Brenkwitz (Applicant/Architect)
- He agreed with Mr. Pratt that the house would be preferable aesthetically compared to the
parking lot in terms of the streetscape.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to forward to Town Council a
recommendation of approval for a zone change for 246 Almendra
Avenue. Seconded by Vice Chair Burch.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 10, 2021
OTHER BUSINESS
None.
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
The Town is close to entering into an agreement with a consultant to assist the Town in
preparing objective standards using grant funding to offset costs for that work. If the
subcommittee of planning commissioners looking into objective standards has any
information it should be forwarded to staff who will forward it to the consultant.
The General Plan Update Advisory Committee has looked at some objective standards in
the Community Design Element and most of those will end up moving into either the
Zoning Code or other policy documents.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Conceptual Development Advisory Committee
Commissioner Barnett
- The CDAC met on March 10, 2021; elected Commissioner Barnett as the new chair and
Council Member Badame as vice chair; discussed a requested lot line adjustment and lot
split to create two parcels from one property at 16466 Bonnie Lane.
General Plan Update Advisory Committee
Commissioner Hanssen
- GPAC met on March 4, 2021; continued discussion of the Community Design Element that
was continued to a third meeting to be held March 18, 2021. The Committee one more
Element to go through before getting back the Land Use Element. Ultimately there will be a
complete draft that will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and Town Council later
this year.
- Objective standards: When the Town Council set the direction for the General Plan update
they gave direction to look for additional objective standards. The Community Design
Element contains quite a few new objective standards proposed by the consultants and
they recommended moving them into the Code and possibly the residential and
commercial design guidelines.
Historic Preservation Committee
Commissioner Burch
- The HPC held a special meeting on March 4, 2021; reviewed three items:
o 47 Alpine Avenue;
o 334 Los Gatos Boulevard; and
o 445 Los Gatos Boulevard.
Commission Matters
None.
PAGE 4 OF 4
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 10, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
March 10, 2021 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin
Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
MARCH 10, 2021
110 EAST MAIN STREET
LOS GATOS, CA
Kathryn Janoff, Chair
Kendra Burch, Vice Chair
Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner
Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS
Jeffrey Suzuki, Commissioner
Reza Tavana, Commissioner
Emily Thomas, 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 follow the participation instructions on page 2 of this agenda. If you wish to speak
to an item NOT on the agenda, you may do so during the “Verbal Communications” period, by
following the participation instructions on page 2 of this agenda. 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 day 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 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 in real-time during the meeting, you must join
the Zoom webinar at:
https://losgatosca-gov.zoom.us/j/85345492294?pwd=U2RQNkNjeDFxck0rWmpLVGJacWs1QT09
Passcode: 241457.
Please be sure you have the most up-to-date version of the Zoom application should you
choose to provide public comment during the meeting. Note that participants cannot turn their
cameras on during the entire duration of the meeting.
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 KATHRYN JANOFF, VICE CHAIR
BURCH, COMMISSIONER BARNETT, COMMISSIONER HANSSEN, COMMISSIONER SUZUKI,
COMMISSIONER TAVANA, AND COMMISSIONER THOMAS. All votes during the teleconferencing
session will be conducted by roll call vote.
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TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
MARCH 10, 2021
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. Item 1 - Draft Minutes from February 24, 2021 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.)
2. Consider a Request for Approval for a Zone Change from O:LHP (Office with a Landmark
and Historic Preservation Overlay) to R-1D:LHP (Single-Family Residential Downtown
with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay) for Property Located at 246
Almendra Avenue. APN: 510-14-019. Zone Change Application Z-20-001. Property
Owner: Gary Filizetti. Applicant: Brett Brenkwitz.
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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