Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · June 9, 2021
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
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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.
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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.
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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]
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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/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.
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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.
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