HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-10-2025 Planning Commission Meeting MinutesAPPROVED MINUTES
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10. 2025
SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Chair Kausar called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Chair Kausar, Vice-Chair Li, Commissioners Clinton Brownley, Paul
Germeraad, Zaheer Hassan, Badri Sridharan, Herman Zheng
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director
Cindy McCormick, Development Manager
Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner
Christina Fusco, City Arborist
Kyle Rathbone, Associate Planner
Frances Reed, Administrative Analyst
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.1 Action Minutes from the Planning Commission Meeting of October 8, 2025.
Recommended Action:
Approve Minutes of October 8, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting.
SRIDHARAN/GERMERAAD MOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 8, 2025
MEETING. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI, HASSAN,
SRIDHARAN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS: NONE
REPORT ON APPEAL RIGHTS
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS
2.1 Application ZOA25-0006; City Wide Tree Regulation Amendment. Amendment of Saratoga
Municipal Code by modifying Article 15-50, to strengthen fire protection measures throughout the City
of Saratoga. Staff contact: Christina Fusco (408) 868-1276 or cfusco@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-021 recommending that the City Council approve the proposed change to
Section 15-50, Tree Regulations (Zoning) of the Saratoga City Code.
GERMERAAD/SRIDHARAN MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-021 WITH THE
AMENDMENT TO ALLOW DEFENSIBLE SPACE FOR ZONE 0 OUTSIDE OF THE
WILDLIFE URBAN INTERFACE. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, GERMERAAD,
KAUSAR, LI, HASSAN, SRIDHARAN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
2.2 Application ZOA25-0004: Short Term Rental Ordinance: Amendment of Saratoga Municipal Code
by adding Article 15-42, regulating the allowance, licensing, and taxation of short-term rentals. Staff
Contact: Cindy McCormick (408) 868-1230 or cmccormick@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-022 recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance that amends Chapter
15 (Zoning Regulations) of the Saratoga City Code by adding a new article authorizing and regulating
short term rentals.
Anna Asnis spoke.
Ian Crayford spoke.
Pat Cowles spoke.
Keith Mueller spoke.
Lloyd Binen spoke.
Anne Furlong spoke.
James Wong spoke.
Cindy Mueller spoke.
GERMERAAD/ZHENG MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN
ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT SHORT TERM RENTALS, CREATE SIGNIFICANT FINES FOR
VIOLATIONS, CREATE CLEAR ENFORCEMENT PROCESS AND REVIEW STATE
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS QUARTERLY. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY,
GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI, HASSAN, ZHENG. NOES: SRIDHARAN. ABSENT: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE.
Chair Kausar recused herself from agenda item 2.3.
2.3 Application PDR24-0014/ARB24-0087: 14700 Farwell Avenue; (397-18-045) Jason Stewart
(Applicant)/Guanyan He and Qi Luo (Property Owners): The applicant is requesting Design Review
approval for a new 5,181 square foot two-story single family residence with a 3,683 square foot basement,
at 482 square foot detached garage, a 1,129 two story accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and a 80 square
foot pool cabana. The project includes a request for a height exception to increase the allowable 26’ tall
building height by an additional 3.79’ for a total building height of 29.79’. Three protected trees are
proposed for removal. The site is zoned R-1-40,000 with a General Plan Designation of Residential Very
Low Density (RVLD). Staff Contact: Staff Contact: Christopher Riordan (408) 868-1235 or
criordan@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-019 approving the project as staff can make all the required findings for design review
and for granting a height exception for a single-family dwelling to exceed a height of 26 feet.
Tom M’Guinness spoke.
Ellis Cheang spoke.
Jim Parden spoke.
Lee Hao spoke.
BROWNLEY/SRIDHARAN MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 25-019, APPROVING
APPLICATION PDR24-0014 14700 FARWELL AVE. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY,
GERMERAAD, LI, HASSAN, SRIDHARAN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: KAUSAR.
Chair Kauser returned to the dais.
2.4 Application VAR25-0003: 18645 Paseo Lado; (389-13-022) Hayes Shair (Applicant) / Sumanth
Banda (Property Owner): The applicant is requesting a variance from the requirement to underground an
existing overhead electrical service line in association with the construction of a new one-story single-
family residence and to maintain the existing overhead electrical service line for the site. No protected
trees are proposed for removal. The site is zoned R-1-10,000 with a General Plan Designation of Medium
Density Residential (M-10). Staff Contact: Christopher Riordan (408) 868-1235 or
criordan@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-018 approving the application subject to conditions of approval included in
Attachment 1.
GERMERAAD/LI MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 25-018, APPROVING APPLICATION
VAR25-0003, 18645 PASEO LADO. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, GERMERAAD,
KAUSAR, LI, HASSAN, SRIDHARAN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
2.5 Application ADR25-0047/VAR25-0004: 14575 Oak Street; (517-09-071) Tom Sloan (Applicant) /
Eugene Zambetti (Property Owner): The applicant is requesting design review approval for a new two-
unit multi-family building with accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and variances for front setback
encroachment, site coverage, off-street parking, and number of stories. The building would be three stories
and approximately 30 feet tall. No protected trees are proposed for removal. The site is zoned R-M-3,000
with a General Plan Designation of Residential Multi-Family (RMF). Staff Contact: Kyle Rathbone (408)
868-1212 or krathbone@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-020 approving the project subject to conditions of approval included in
Attachment 1.
Ray Nasmeh spoke.
GERMERAAD/BROWNLEY MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 25-020 APPROVING
APPLICATION ADR25-0047/VAR25-0004, 14575 OAK ST. MOTION PASSED. AYES:
BROWNLEY, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI, HASSAN, SRIDHARAN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
3. DIRECTOR ITEMS:
Cindy McCormick summarized the commission’s work to-date on tree regulations, noting that the
objectives for the current work plan have been completed. Staff will work with the Chair and Vice Chair
offline to see if an additional meeting is needed. She also stated that staff will poll the commission for
availability for a second, special February meeting on Thursday February 25th.
Director Swanson thanked staff and commission for all their work in 2025. He also mentioned that the
March Planning Commission meeting will be held on 25th instead of the 11th, due to the Planning
Commissioner Academy course.
Chair Kauser reminded staff to provide a brief demonstration on the GIS active projects maps. Director
Swanson said it will be on the January meeting’s agenda.
4. COMMISSION ITEMS:
Chair Kauser wished everyone a happy and safe holiday.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kausar moved for adjournment at 9:45 P.M.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Frances Reed, Administrative Analyst
City of Saratoga