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Planning Commission

Regular Meeting

Los Gatos, CA · June 9, 2021

AgendaPacketMinutes

Minutes

TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 9, 2021 The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 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 – May 12, 2021 MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Tavana to approve adoption of the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Suzuki. VOTE: Motion passed 6-0 with Commissioner Thomas abstaining. 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov PAGE 2 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2021 PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. 102 Alta Heights Court Architecture and Site Application S-20-029 APN 532-29-045 Applicant: Eric Beckstrom Property Owner: Bo Development, LLC Project Planner: Ryan Safty Requesting approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence and construction of a new single-family residence with reduced front and side setbacks on nonconforming property zoned R-1:8. Ryan Safty, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Opened Public Comment. Eric Beckstrom, Architect/Co-owner (Applicant) - There is a wide variety of home sizes and styles in the Loma Alta neighborhood. The current house is tired and poorly built. The lot is challenging because it is small and oddly shaped. They propose to build a modest Tudor style, two-story home to blend into the historic village setting. The proposed home meets the Los Gatos square footage size and height limits, adds only 249 square feet to the existing house footprint, and will be passively heated. They have followed the consulting architect's recommendations. They previously met with all the neighbors and received unanimous support. Rajiv Parihar, 104 Alta Heights - They live on the north side of the subject site. They are concerned regarding the massing, bulk, and placement of the proposed home. They are also concerned that the applicant has asked for a reduction of the side setbacks on the east and west elevations and they request the setbacks remain at the current eight feet due to privacy concerns. They request the proposed cantilever projection on the east side of the house be eliminated. They request the front setback be 20 feet instead of 18 feet so vehicles can fully pull into the driveway. They ask that the height of the proposed house be reduced due to light and view concerns. Harvey Grasty, 106 Alta Heights Court - He neither objects to the project nor supports it. He agreed with Mr. Parihar regarding the front setback and the driveway. He also requested the height of the house be reduced, saying it feels like an ominous structure given its size and how it is placed. PAGE 3 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2021 Eric Beckstrom, Architect/Co-owner (Applicant) - There are houses in the Loma Alta neighborhood that are taller than their proposed home, even the one next to them. They worked hard to make the house fit the lot, and a reduction to the side setbacks would require a full redesign of the project. The house next door has a front setback of only 4.5 feet. Vehicles would be able to park adequately in their design, and setting the house back farther would be detrimental to the large Oak tree. Closed Public Comment. Commissioners discussed the matter. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to approve an Architecture and Site Permit for 102 Alta Heights Court. Seconded by Vice Chair Burch. VOTE: Motion passed 6-1 with Commissioner Barnett dissenting. OTHER BUSINESS REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development  At the Planning Commission's next hearing it will participate in part of the CEQA process for an Environmental Impact Report. The Community Development Director and Town Attorney will put together additional information on the process for Commissioners to review at the meeting.  Planning Manager Sally Zarnowitz will retire from her position on June 11, 2021. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS General Plan Committee Commissioner Hanssen - GPC met May 26, 2021 to review the enabling documents for the General Plan Committee as well as the application to make them more inclusive and encourage more applicants. Conceptual Development Advisory Committee Commissioner Barnett - CDAC met June 9, 2021 at the Town Council's request to review and discuss the resolution that established the Committee and the procedural policy related to it. Recommended changes were submitted to the Policy Committee and will ultimately go to the Town Council. PAGE 4 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2021 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m. This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the June 9, 2021 meeting as approved by the Planning Commission. _____________________________ /s/ Vicki Blandin

Agenda

TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA JUNE 09, 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/82773531769?pwd=Ums5b01sT2Y2c0xTVVNuM0daK1p0Zz09 Passcode: 115366. 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 JUNE 09, 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. Draft Minutes of the May 12, 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. Requesting Approval for Demolition of an Existing Single-Family Residence and Construction of a New Single-Family Residence with Reduced Front and Side Setbacks on Nonconforming Property Zoned R-1:8. Located at 102 Alta Heights Court. APN 532- 29-045. Architectural and Site Application S-20-029. Property Owner: Bo Development, LLC. Applicant: Eric Beckstrom. 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. Page 3

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