MEETING DATE: 10/14/2020 TOWN OF LOS GATOS ITEM NO: 2 CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT DESK ITEM DATE: October 14, 2020 TO: Conceptual Development Advisory Committee FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Conceptual Development Advisory Committee Application CD-20-005. Project Location: 15299 Top of the Hill Road. Property Owner: Jamshidi Trust. Applicant: Samir Sharma. Requesting preliminary review of a proposal for subdivision of one lot into three lots on property zoned RC. APN 537-24-022. REMARKS: Attachment 9 contains written comments received by 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2020. ATTACHMENTS: Attachments previously received with October 14, 2020 Staff Report: 1. Location map 2. CDAC Application 3. Project Description Letter 4. General Plan map of surrounding area 5. Zoning map of surrounding area 6. Initial Conceptual Plans 7. Preferred Conceptual Plans Attachment previously received with October 14, 2020 Addendum: 8. Public Comments received by 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 13, 2020 Attachment received with this Desk Item Report: 9. Public Comments received by 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2020 PREPARED BY: Jennifer Armer, AICP Senior Planner Reviewed by: Planning Manager and Community Development Director 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov From: R Darrell Boyle Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 2:08 PM To: Planning Comment <[email protected]> Subject: 15299 Top of the Hill Road Application CD-20-005. 10/14/20 Advisory Committee Meeting To: Town of Los Gatos Conceptual Development Advisory Committee From: Darrell Boyle 15308 Top of the Hill Road, Los Gatos 95032 Re: 15299 Top of the Hill Road Application CD-20-005. 10/14/20 Advisory Committee Meeting Dear Advisory Committee Member: As neighbors to the above property, my wife and I received a notice of your October 14, 2020 meeting and request by Mrs. Jamshidi to change the zoning of the lot and to subdivide the property adding two new homes. As a California Leadership Council member for The Nature Conservancy and past chairman of California Trout I spend a lot of my time and energy conserving wild places. Living in an almost wild setting is very important to me. We purchased our home in 2005 to enjoy the peace and tranquility of this rural, low density neighborhood with a great view of the Sierra Azul open space, yet still realize the benefits of living in the wonderfully unique Town of Los Gatos. Our home is across Top of the Hill Road from the 2.6 acre vacant Huckle property which is for sale at this time. A new building there would be the 3rd development project along the Jamshidi ridgeline. This parcel shares a boundary with the Jamshidi property and I worry about what all of this development will mean for the wildlife that lives here. I have regularly seen the following wildlife there: deer (every night), coyote, quail, bob cat, mountain lion (only once), king snake, gopher snake, Great Horned owl, Redtail hawk, and Sharp shined hawk, and many song birds. We moved from Saratoga where we had lived for over 20 years and feel fortunate to retire to this great setting. I want to strongly encourage you to reject this rezoning request and accompanying subdivision plan. We strongly disagree with changing the Resource Conservation zoning status of this parcel, as this would negatively affect our entire neighborhood. We further disagree with any effort to subdivide this parcel adding two new homes. Both ideas violate the smart zoning requirements established to protect this area. There aren’t many places like this left. Good on Los Gatos for protecting them. We are worried that a rezoning would set a precedent that would encourage other subdivisions in the neighborhood, which would further change our surroundings in negative ways. There are other large lots in the neighborhood, and what is to prevent them from seeking a zoning change to allow subdivision after you allowed such a change on the Jamshidi property? ATTACHMENT 9 We are worried that additional traffic will create safety issues on narrow Top of the Hill Road. There would be a dramatic increase in traffic during construction but also homes of this size on the top of our road would mean more cars on the road every day. I walk my dogs up the road to the Jamshidi gate several times every day and worry about safety with additional traffic. Recently expanded use of the Sierra Azul trailhead has increased traffic and parking on Top of the Hill Road. This has turned our road into a one lane road. We have serious concerns about emergency vehicle access and I’m sure you share those concerns. Also, I want to express my bewilderment that the Jamshidi plan calls for a new building across from the Casal home which will dramatically alter their view and enjoyment of their property. How could anyone think this is a good or fair action? The Casals just moved here. Imagine their frustration. Please reject this application. Last, I’d like to point out some inaccuracies in the plots accompanying the application. The road labeled “Top of the Hill Court” is actually the private extension of Top of the Hill Road. The Court is just above Kennedy Road. Also, it’s confusing to me that the concrete driveways on the Jamshidi property are labeled Top of the Hill Road. I don’t know if this was intended to mislead the Committee into thinking the road already exists on the property. These are inside the Jamshidi gate and are, I believe, merely driveways. I would also like to offer my sincere gratitude for your service to our community. Sincerely yours, R. Darrell Boyle Darrell Boyle From: Todd Harris Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 8:50 PM To: Jennifer Armer <[email protected]> Cc: Planning Comment <[email protected]> Subject: CD-20-005 for 15299 Top of The Hill Road Please acknowledge receipt of this email and its inclusion in the materials for the 10-14-20 meeting. Thank you, Todd To: Conceptual Development Advisory Committee & Planning Commission as necessary From: Todd Harris, resident 15297 Top of The Hill Road Date: 10-12-20 Sub.: Application CD-20-005 for parcel APN 537-24-022 (15299 Top of The Hill Road) Thank you for inviting comment on the proposed rezoning and subsequent proposed development projects on parcel APN 537-24-022 (the parcel). As you know the parcel is currently zoned RC (Resource Conservation). I oppose any action that would change the zoning status on the parcel from RC, and oppose any action that would support the proposed development projects. There are a number of reasons I will list below, however, this list should not be considered exhaustive. Furthermore, I do not agree or consent to the notion that any potential legal challenge shall be limited to, as a cause of action, solely items bought up at, or prior to the public hearing scheduled on October 14, 2020. I will use bullet points to make the most efficient use of time. • This neighborhood is already experiencing increasing risk from fire danger, adding more housing and residents only adds to the potential human toll if a fire tragedy were to strike. • Kennedy road and Top of The Hill Road have experienced increased use and parking effectively reducing the bottom third of Top of The Hill Road to a one-lane road for significant periods of time on certain days. Increased traffic from construction projects will add to the congestion making it more difficult for emergency vehicles to pass, and putting the many cyclists that use this corridor at increased risk of bodily harm or death due to crowded roads from over-sized construction vehicles and large equipment trailers that will be using the road(s) for an extended period of time. • The infrastructure on the hill was designed for the number of lots present on the hill, splitting parcels and adding two uber-large houses will detrimentally impact and stress infrastructure negatively affecting quality and stability of infrastructure service to all residents in obvious and as of yet undefined ways. • Such large projects will impact the water-drainage and erosion characteristics of the natural hillside altering and impacting in potentially negative ways the properties that are down-slope from proposed projects. • There are heretofore undefined environmental issues that need to be considered for such large projects that will impact the surrounding area and wildlife. For example, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). To be clear, I am a strong supporter of property owner rights, too often restrictive rules stop property owners from maximizing the enjoyment of their property or improving the quality of life on their property. However this is not the case for application CD-20-005. • This is not an owner asking for a variance to build a pool house, but is denied because the main house is deemed too big. • This is not a request to widen a driveway by two feet • This is not a request add square footage to a house the town deems too large • This is not a request to do landscaping with plants that are not native to the hillside. No, this request, CD-20-005 fundamentally and profoundly changes the use of the land from the intended purpose. Everyone that purchases property in this neighborhood understands the zoning, and the limitation(s) of the zoning they live in. The parcel is zoned RC to preserve open space and preserve scenic vistas among other things. Building two uber-large luxury homes by splitting the parcel up in no way serves the intended use of the property, of which the current owners are well-aware (the current zoning and intended use).