HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-08-2024 Planning Commission MinutesAPPROVED MINUTES
WEDNESDAY MAY 8 , 2024
SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Chair Choi called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Chair Jojo Choi, Vice-Chair Anjali Kausar, Commissioners Clinton
Brownley, Paul Germeraad, Ping Li, Razi Mohiuddin, and Herman Zheng
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Bryan T. Swanson, Community Development Director
Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner
Nicole Johnson, Senior Planner
Cynthia Richardson, Project Planner
Frances Reed, Administrative Analyst
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action Minutes from the Regular Planning Commission Meeting of April 10, 2024.
Recommended Action:
Approve Minutes of Regular Planning Commission Meeting of April 10, 2024.
LI/ZHENG MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 10, 2024 MEETING. MOTION
PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTAIN: GERMERAAD.
2. NEW BUSINESS
2.1 Finding of General Plan Conformity FY 2024-25 Capital Improvement Program
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 24-017 finding the Capital Improvement Program projects proposed for Fiscal Year
24-25 conform to the Saratoga General Plan.
Director Swanson presented the staff report.
GERMERAAD/KAUSAR MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 24-017 CONFIMING GENERAL
PLAN CONFORMITY. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR,
LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Jacqueline Homes spoke.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
3.1 Application ZOA24-0001: City Wide. Miscellaneous Code Updates: Amendment of Saratoga
Municipal Code sections 15-06.030 (definition of hotel), 15-29.010 (fence heights at driveway
intersections), 15-50.020 (correcting cross-references and a misspelling), 15-50.080 (tree security deposits),
15-50.140 and .150 (arborist inspections), amendments to article 15-80 to require replacement of affordable
housing units lost to new development and amend section 15-45.045 concerning creek protection setbacks.
Staff Contact: Christopher Riordan (408) 868-1235 or criordan@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 24-014 recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance which includes
amendments to Chapter 15 (Zoning Regulations) of the Saratoga City Code.
CHOI/BROWNLEY MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 24-014 RECOMMENDING CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT THE CODE UPDATES. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI,
KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: GERMERAAD.
3.2 Application PDR23-0007/ARB23-0036: 19301 Harleigh Drive; (389-33-002) Michelle Miner
(Applicant): The applicant is requesting Design Review approval for a new 4,696 square foot single story
single-family residence with a 2,340 sq ft basement and a 909 square foot attached accessory dwelling unit
(ADU) (maximum height 22’). Three (3) protected trees are proposed for removal. The site is zoned R-1-
20,000 with a General Plan Designation of Residential Low Density (RLD Staff Contact: Nicole Johnson
(408) 868-1209 or njohnson@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 24-015 approving the project subject to conditions of approval included in
Attachment 1.
Neighbors David and Linda spoke.
BROWNLEY/MOHIUDDIN MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 24-015 SUBJECT TO
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD,
KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
3.3 Application PDR23-0021: 20271 Calle Montalvo; (517-19-018) Yuan Lin, (Applicant): The applicant
is requesting Design Review approval for a 222 square foot single story addition and new 1,050 square foot
second story addition to a single-story single-family residence (maximum height 26’). No protected trees
are proposed for removal. The site is zoned R-1-20,000 with a General Plan Designation of Residential
Low Density (RLD). Staff Contact: Nicole Johnson (408) 868-1209 or njohnson@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 24-016 approving the project subject to conditions of approval included in
Attachment 1.
LI/ZHENG MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 24-016 SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS OF
APPROVAL. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI,
MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
3.4 Application PDR19-0023/ARB19-0039/GEO19-0013/ZOA19-0004/ENV19-0005; 14500 Fruitvale
Avenue (397-12-012 & 397-12-019 & 397-40-006); Saratoga Retirement Community Master Plan Update.
The Saratoga Retirement Community is requesting approval to construct three new apartment style
buildings containing 52 independent living units. The project site currently maintains 249 units and 94
skilled nursing beds. If approved, this would bring the total residential units to 298 and skilled nursing beds
reduced to 52. The project would also combine existing skilled nursing rooms in the Health Center to create
single occupancy rooms for a bed reduction from 94 to 52. A new meeting room would be added to the west
side of the existing Manor building, and a new workout room would be added to the existing fitness center.
The proposed project would include a net increase of 109 parking spaces, new landscaping (including
removal of 64 protected trees), relocation of outdoor recreation facilities a new Fire Department Emergency
Access from Chester Drive and an Affordable Housing Agreement to provide 10 Assisted Living Studio
Units for low-income residents. The site is zoned Residential (R-1-40) and the request includes a rezoning
to include a Planned Combined District (R-1-40/P-C) with a General Plan Designation of Community
Facilities Sites The Planning Commission will be making a recommendation to the City Council. The City
Council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation and the project at a subsequent public
hearing. A Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) is being completed. Staff Contact: Cynthia
Richardson, crichardson@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 24-018 recommending that the City Council certify the Final Environmental
Impact Report for the Master Plan Update and Zoning Ordinance Amendment approval and recommends
adoption of the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 24-019 recommending that the City Council approve a Zoning Reclassification
from R-1-40,000 TO R-1-40,000 P-C (Planned Combined District) (ZOA19-0004), for 37.17 Acres located
at 14500 Fruitvale Avenue (APN’s 397-12-012 & 397-12-019 & 397-40-006).
3. Adopt Resolution No. 24-020 recommending that the City Council approve Master Plan Update and
Design Review located at 14500 Fruitvale Avenue (APN’s 397-12-012 & 397-12-019 & 397-40-006).
The following individuals spoke on this item.
John Brittain
Pat Dubridge
Robert Berglund
Ray Sullivan
Betsy Landergren
Judy Stratman
Rich Lamb
Tsing Bardin
Brenda Niemand
Marilyn Manies
Barry Lame
Marilyn Basham
Frank Tiernan
Planning Commission took a break beginning at 9:35 PM
Planning Commission returned at 9:43 PM
Michael Griffin
Colin Whitby-Strevens
Anne Cummins
Chung Kin Chan
Anthony Vandersteen
Jim Reyner
Tony Delgado
Erin Farrell
Dashiell Leads
Nicole Lee
Aiden Chen
Shani Klienhaus
John Bale
KAUSAR/MOHIUDDIN MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 24-018 RECOMMENDING CITY
COUNCIL CERTIFY THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ADOPT THE
MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM. MOTION PASSED. AYES:
BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
CHOI/GERMERAAD MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 24-019 RECOMMENDING CITY
COUNCIL APPROVE THE ZONING RECLASSIFICATION. MOTION PASSED. AYES:
BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
MOHIUDDIN/KAUSAR MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 24-020 RECOMMENDING CITY
COUNCIL APPROVE THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE AND DESIGN REVIEW AS MODIFIED.
MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: ZHENG.
4. DIRECTOR ITEMS
Director Swanson thanked the public for their investment and input in the SRC project at all phases,
the Commission and Cynthia Richardson. Director Swanson confirmed that the June 12, 2024
Planning Commission meeting will be canceled and instead, a special meeting will be held on
Wednesday June 26, 2024. Additionally, the July Planning Commission meeting will be canceled.
Director Swanson had a brief phone call with HCD and he anticipates it will be the full 60 days (May
25th) before the City receives a response.
5. COMMISSION ITEMS
Vice -Chair Kausar thanked the Commission and the community for the hard work on this project.
Commissioner Germeraad requested a study session for how to judge the size and mass of projects
without story poles. Chair Choi let the Commission know that he wants to order more logo apparel
for the Commission.
6. ADJOURNMENT
KAUSAR/CHOI moved for adjournment at 11:37 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Frances Reed, Administrative Analyst
City of Saratoga