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Planning Commission

Regular Meeting

Los Gatos, CA · March 10, 2021

AgendaPacketMinutes

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. PAGE 3 OF 4 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] Page 1 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. Page 2 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. Page 3 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Page 4

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