Planning Commission

Name: Planning Commission — Los Gatos, CA
Start: 2024-05-22T19:00:00
End: 2024-05-22T21:00:00
Location: Los Gatos, CA

Regular Meeting

Los Gatos, CA · May 22, 2024

Agenda Packet Minutes

Minutes

TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MAY 22, 2024 The Planning Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 PM ROLL CALL Present: Chair Steve Raspe, Vice Chair Emily Thomas, Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner Susan Burnett, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Kathryn Janoff, and Commissioner Adam Mayer. Absent: None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION) 1. Approval of Minutes – April 10, 2024 2. Approval of Minutes – May 8, 2024 MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Thomas to approve adoption of the Consent Calendar with correction of a typographical error in the May 8, 2024 minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Burnett. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element General Plan Amendment Application GP-24-001 Applicant: Town of Los Gatos Location: Townwide Project Planners: Erin Walters and Jocelyn Shoopman 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov PAGE 2 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 22, 2024 Consider and make a recommendation to the Town Council on adoption of the Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element. An environmental analysis based on the previously certified 2040 General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report has been prepared for the Los Gatos 2023-2031 Housing Element. Erin Walters, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. Opened and Closed Public Comment. Commissioners discussed the matter. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Hanssen to adopt the resolution in Exhibit 8 forwarding a recommendation of Town Council to approve the Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element. Seconded by Commissioner Janoff. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. 4. 16510 Topping Way Architecture and Site Application S-23-016 APN 532-09-029 Property Owner: Steve Bamberger and Susan McGovern Applicant: Eric Beckstrom Project Planner: Sean Mullin Requesting approval for demolition of an existing single-family residence and construction of a new single-family residence on property zoned R-1:8. Categorically exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. Sean Mullin, Senior Planner, presented the staff report. Opened Public Comment. Eric Beckstrom, Applicant/Architect - We designed a traditional/transitional style with the forms broken up. Originally, the applicants planned a house about 1,000 square feet larger and with an ADU, but after consideration decided to make it smaller to better fit the neighborhood. The consulting architect questioned the front gable, so we lowered the entire house by 15 inches. I have worked on traditional historic projects, and this house fits with Hilow Road and Marchmont Drive where houses are much larger. I think the neighborhood guidelines that compare a Los Gatos house to just five houses around it can be confusing. PAGE 3 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 22, 2024 Lee Quintana - The Design Guidelines were created so that when houses are modified or enlarged there is a gentle evolution rather than going from a small house to a large house, or one that seems large. The Design Guidelines specifically define the neighborhood that is supposed to be considered, and in this case the design makes the house slightly more compatible with the neighborhood, but it is still not compatible. If the garage were taken off the house and put in the back where it currently is and where a lot of houses have their garages, it would not be as prominent. There is room to move the second story back, so it is not as impressive. This neighborhood is in transition, but transition to me means gradual small steps, not big steps. Steve Bamberger, Co-owner - We have tried to be conscious not to overbuild and keep the house from being too cumbersome. We originally had an additional 1,000 square feet inclusive of an ADU, but we thought it was too big for the neighborhood, and that’s one of the reasons we scaled back. With respect to moving the house back, we worked to not have the front be too big and have the big gable set back a little. We ask to not have to move the entire house back, because we love the fact that our lot provides room for a back yard, and we’d like to preserve as much of that space as possible. Two of the houses in the immediate neighborhood would be larger than what we propose. Closed Public Comment. Commissioners discussed the matter. Opened Public Comment. Commissioners asked questions of the applicant. Closed Public Comment. Commissioners discussed the matter. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Janoff to approve an Architecture and Site Application for 16510 Topping Way. Seconded by Commissioner Hanssen. VOTE: Motion passed 6-1 with Commissioner Burnett dissenting. REPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT None. PAGE 4 OF 4 MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 22, 2024 SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMISSION MATTERS Historical Preservation Committee Commissioner Burnett - The HPC met May 22, 2024 and discussed two items. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m. This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the May 22, 2024 meeting as approved by the Planning Commission. _____________________________ /s/ Vicki Blandin

Agenda

TOWN OF LOS GATOS PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA MAY 22, 2024 110 EAST MAIN STREET TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 PM Steven Raspe, Chair Emily Thomas, Vice Chair Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner Susan Burnett, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Kathryn Janoff, Commissioner Adam Mayer, Commissioner IMPORTANT NOTICE This is a hybrid/in-person meeting and will be held in-person at the Town Council Chambers at 110 E. Main Street and virtually through the Zoom webinar application (log-in information provided below). Members of the public may provide public comments for agenda items in-person or virtually through the Zoom webinar by following the instructions listed below. The live stream of the meeting may be viewed on television and/or online at www.LosGatosCA.gov/TownYouTube. PARTICIPATION The public is welcome to provide oral comments in real-time during the meeting in three ways: Zoom webinar (Online): Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to join: https://losgatosca- gov.zoom.us/j/81400045701?pwd=_UCVxjF9dIY_7Aar_gMfsAZRFoW6Fw.nfWv2YMispx4T48t. Passcode: 203437. You can also type in 814 0004 5701 in the “Join a Meeting” page on the Zoom website at https://zoom.us/join and use passcode 203437. 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. Telephone: Please dial (877) 336-1839 US Toll-free or (636) 651-0008 US Toll. (Conference code: 686100). If you are participating by calling in, press #2 on your telephone keypad to raise your hand. In-Person: Please complete a “speaker’s card” located on the back of the Chamber benches and return it to the Vice Chair before the meeting or when the Chair announces the item for which you wish to speak. NOTES: (1) Comments will be limited to three (3) minutes or less at the Chair’s discretion. (2) If you are unable to participate in real-time, you may email to the subject line “Public Comment Item #__” (insert the item number relevant to your comment) or “Verbal Communications – Non-Agenda Item.” All comments received will become part of the record. (3) Deadlines to submit written public comments are: 11:00 a.m. the Friday before the Planning Commission meeting for inclusion in the agenda packet. 11:00 a.m. the Tuesday before the Planning Commission meeting for inclusion in an addendum. 11:00 a.m. on the day of the Planning Commission meeting for inclusion in a desk item. (4) Persons wishing to make an audio/visual presentation must submit the presentation electronically to no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day of the Planning Commission meeting. MEETING CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Page 1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 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 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 April 10, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting 2. Draft Minutes of the May 8, 2024 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.) 3. Consider and Make a Recommendation to the Town Council on Adoption of the Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element. An Environmental Analysis Based on the Previously Certified 2040 General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report has been Prepared for the Los Gatos 2023-2031 Housing Element. Location: Townwide. Applicant: Town of Los Gatos. General Plan Amendment Application GP-24-001. 4. Requesting Approval for Demolition of an Existing Single-Family Residence and Construction of a New Single-Family Residence on Property Zoned R-1:8. Located at 16510 Topping Way. APN 532-09-029. Architecture and Site Application S-23-016. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. Property Owner: Steve Bamberger and Susan McGovern. Applicant: Eric Beckstrom. Project Planner: Sean Mullin. 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) ADA NOTICE In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Clerk’s Office at (408) 354- 6834. Notification at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting date will enable the Town to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR §35.102-35.104] 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 Page 2

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