Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLos Gatos, CA · August 10, 2022
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 10, 2022
The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, August 10, 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 Steve Raspe, 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 – July 27, 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 3
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 10, 2022
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 198 Broadway
Minor Development in a Historic District Application HS-22-028
APN 510-43-001
Property Owner/Appellant: Heidi Bigge
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
Consider an Appeal of the Historic Preservation Committee Decision to Approve a
Request for Modification of a Previously Approved Project on an Existing Non-
Contributing Single-Family Residence in the Broadway Historic District on Property
Zoned HR-5:LHP.
Sean Mullin, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Matt Bigge (Appellant/Property Owner)
- We have lived in Los Gatos for 20 years. No part of the house is visible from the street or
any other house in the area so it does not impact the neighborhood in terms of the
character, but as we were creating the plans we felt it important that the house maintain
the character of the neighborhood and the original structure. Two things the Historic
Preservation Committee highlighted were: 1) Windows: We chose double hung windows
because we wanted more light. We found over 70 percent of the windows on Broadway
are consistent with our windows, and the same with windows on Fairview Plaza that
borders our property, thus keeping our home in character with the neighborhood and
Town, and so we respectfully request to keep our windows; and 2) Garage door: The
garage door we built is from original growth redwood used to construct the original house,
thus keeping it consistent with the neighborhood. We studied garage doors on Broadway
and Fairview Plaza and, again, found approximately 70 percent of the homes had garage
doors consistent in style to the doors we built.
Matt Bigge (Appellant/Property Owner)
- Page 3 of the presentation shows more of how the house is currently relative to the
original structure. We think our current home maintains the character of the original
home.
Closed Public Comment.
Commissioners discussed the matter.
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MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 10, 2022
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Tavana to grant an appeal of the Historic
Presentation Committee Decision for 198 Broadway. Seconded by
Commissioner Clark.
VOTE: Motion passed 5-2, with Vice Chair Barnett and Commissioner Raspe
dissenting.
OTHER BUSINESS
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Jennifer Armer, Planning Manager
None.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS
Housing Element Advisory Board
Chair Hanssen
- HEAB met on August 4, 2022 and completed its review of the Draft Goals, Policies, and
Implementation Programs for the Draft Housing Element. Next, HEAB will see the entire
Draft Housing Element, which will then have a public review period and then go to the
California Department of Housing and Community Development, the entity that will certify
the Housing Element.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
August 10, 2022 meeting as approved by the
Planning Commission.
_____________________________
/s/ Vicki Blandin
Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
AUGUST 10, 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:
Zoom Link: https://losgatosca-gov.zoom.us/j/83040129340?pwd=QWpMdlIzSWJuY0JUcjNBcTJVVVpIZz09.
Passcode: 782492.
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
AUGUST 10, 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 July 27, 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. Consider an Appeal of the Historic Preservation Committee Decision to Approve a Request for
Modification of a Previously Approved Project on an Existing Non-Contributing Single-Family
Residence in the Broadway Historic District on Property Zoned HR-5:LHP. Located at 198
Broadway.
APN 510-43-001. Minor Development in a Historic District Application
HS-22-028. PROPERTY OWNER/APPELLANT: Heidi Bigge. PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin.
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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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