Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · July 13, 2022
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
JULY 13, 2022
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
Government Code Section 54953, as Amended by Assembly Bill 361, in response to the state
of emergency relating to COVID-19 and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by
suspending or waiving specified provisions in the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code §
54950 et seq.). Consistent with AB 361 and Town of Los Gatos Resolution 2021-044, 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 Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner Kylie Clark,
Commissioner Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner Reza Tavana, and Commissioner Emily Thomas
Absent: Commissioner Steve Raspe
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – June 22, 2022
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Clark to approve adoption of the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Thomas.
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 JULY 13, 2022
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 16484 S. Kennedy Road (Parcel 1)
Architecture and Site Application S-21-031
APN 532-20-012
Applicant: Robin McCarthy, Architect
Property Owner: Justin Reilly
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Requesting approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence, construction
of a new single-family residence, and site improvements requiring a Grading Permit on
property zoned HR-1.
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Justin Reilly, Owner
- We have put in a lot of time and effort to address concerns and to conform to the hillside
and keep the integrity of the Los Gatos and South Kennedy neighborhood. I personally
went door-to-door and talked to the neighbors, asking them if they had concerns,
questions, or requests and addressed them at that point, in addition to having an open
house last winter for neighbors to ask questions. It had a good turnout, and every neighbor
there overwhelmingly approved the development opportunity. The neighbor next to us, an
elderly couple, had said they loved the view across the property, so my architect, Robin
McCarthy, spent a great deal of time designing the one house that was closest to them to
be set back as far as possible to retain the view corridor for them. We did a great deal of
public addressing for this opportunity and feel that we have addressed everything we were
made aware of and are proud of what we built.
Unidentified Female
- I live two doors down, but have not met Mr. Reilly. I have a question on the parking on the
street, because South Kennedy Road is really narrow, and we have a lot of children in the
neighborhood. What is the plan for parking for the workers and the timing of the
construction?
Justin Reilly, Owner
- I’m very sensitive to the speaker’s comments regarding construction because there are
people down the street who have had workers there and the street went close to less than
one lane. Our intention is to put the workers’ vehicles on the property during the
construction time, but if we do have big deliveries, we’ll make arrangements for that.
Closed Public Comment.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JULY 13, 2022
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Barnett to approve an Architecture and Site
Application and Lot Line Adjustment subject to the conditions in Exhibit 3
for 16484 S. Kennedy Road (Parcel 1). Seconded by Commissioner
Janoff.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
3. 16484 S. Kennedy Road (Parcel 2)
Architecture and Site Application S-21-032
APN 532-20-012
Applicant: Robin McCarthy
Property Owner: Justin Reilly
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Requesting approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence, construction
of a new single-family residence, and site improvements requiring a Grading Permit on
property zoned HR-1.
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Justin Reilly, Owner
- I covered Parcel 1, and it is the same for Parcel 2. We’ve hopefully met every requirement
and request. We are sensitive to neighborhood design to fit in on Parcel 2 as we did with
Parcel 1 from the height and design and trying to ensure they are not two cookie cutter
houses. Each home has unique architectural designs and stands on their own merits.
Architect Robin McCarthy did a fantastic job of distinguishing the two and having different
architectural reveals on both to make them feel independent of one another.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Barnett to approve an Architecture and Site
Application for 16484 S. Kennedy Road (Parcel 2). Seconded by
Commissioner Tavana.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF JULY 13, 2022
OTHER BUSINESS
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Joel Paulson, Director of Community Development
The Town Council met June 20, 2022 and June 30, 2022 to consider the Draft General
Plan and EIR. The Town Council certified the Environmental Impact Report and adopted
the 2040 General Plan with additional modifications at the June 30, 2022 meeting. Staff
is working to create updates to a number of items in order to put online and interactive
versions of the General Plan in place.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Housing Element Advisory Board
Chair Hanssen and Commissioner Thomas
- The HEAB has met and discussed the Draft Housing Element and made recommended
changes to the wording of the goals and policies and added additional items.
- HEAB met June 16, 2022 to go over the overarching goals, policies, and procedures and
review three different housing elements that had already been approved by HCD.
- HEAB met July 7, 2022 to specifically cover the proposed policies and implementation
programs for the Housing Element.
- The next step is for staff to return with a revised draft of goals, policies, and programs for
the Housing Element.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
July 13, 2022 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin
Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
JULY 13, 2022
110 EAST MAIN STREET
LOS GATOS, CA
Melanie Hanssen, Chair
Jeffrey Barnett, Vice Chair
Kylie Clark, Commissioner
Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS
Steven Raspe, 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:
www.LosGatosCA.gov/TownYouTube
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
Government Code Section 54953, as Amended by Assembly Bill 361, in response to the state of
emergency relating to COVID-19 and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by suspending or
waiving specified provisions in the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.).
Consistent with AB 361 and Town of Los Gatos Resolution 2021-044 this meeting will not be
physically open to the public and the Council and/or Commissioners will be teleconferencing from
remote locations. Members of the public can only participate in the meeting by joining the Zoom
webinar (log in information provided below). The live stream of the meeting may be viewed on
television and/or online at: https://losgatos-ca.municodemeetings.com/.
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 Chambers.
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/81557334149?pwd=T1RONHZ6TU52a25BQldxL0ZEQUJqQT09.
Passcode: 026746.
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 MELANIE HANSSEN, VICE CHAIR
JEFFREY BARNETT, COMMISSIONER KYLIE CLARK, COMMISSIONER KATHRYN JANOFF,
COMMISSIONER STEVEN RASPE, COMMISSIONER REZA TAVANA, AND COMMISSIONER EMILY
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
JULY 13, 2022
7:00 PM
MEETING CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
RULES OF DECORUM AND CIVILITY
To conduct the business of the community in an effective and efficient manner, please follow the
meeting guidelines set forth in the Town Code and State law.
The Town does not tolerate disruptive conduct, which includes but is not limited to:
· Addressing the Planning Commission without first being recognized;
· Interrupting speakers, Planning Commissioners, or Town staff;
· Continuing to speak after the allotted time has expired;
· Failing to relinquish the microphone when directed to do so; and
· Repetitiously addressing the same subject.
Town Policy does not allow speakers to cede their commenting time to another speaker. Disruption
of the meeting may result in a violation of Penal Code Section 403.
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 (Items appearing on the Consent Items are considered routine Town business and may
be approved by one motion. Any member of the Commission may request to have an item removed
from the Consent Items for comment and action. Members of the public may provide input on any or
multiple Consent Item(s) when the Chair asks for public comments on the Consent Items. If you wish to
comment, please follow the Participation Instructions contained on Page 2 of this agenda. If an item is
removed, the Chair has the sole discretion to determine when the item will be heard.)
1. Draft Minutes of the June 22, 2022 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, Construction of a
New Single-Family Residence, and Site Improvements Requiring a Grading Permit on Property
Zoned HR-1. Located at 16484 S. Kennedy Road (Parcel 1). APN 532-20-012. Architecture
and Site Application S-21-031. PROPERTY OWNER: Justin Reilly. APPLICANT: Robin McCarthy,
Architect. PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin.
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3. Requesting Approval for Demolition of an Existing Single-Family Residence, Construction of a
New Single-Family Residence, and Site Improvements Requiring a Grading Permit on Property
Zoned HR-1. Located at 16484 S. Kennedy Road (Parcel 2). APN 532-20-012. Architecture
and Site Application S-21-032. PROPERTY OWNER: Justin Reilly. APPLICANT: Robin McCarthy,
Architect. PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin.
OTHER BUSINESS (Up to three minutes may be allotted to each speaker on any of the following items.)
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS / COMMISSION MATTERS
ADJOURNMENT (Planning Commission policy is to adjourn no later than 11:00 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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