HomeMy WebLinkAbout04132021 Planning Commission Study Session packetSaratoga Planning Commission Agenda – Page 1 of 2
SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 13, 2021
6:00 P.M. - PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION
Teleconference/Public Participation Information to Mitigate the Spread of COVID‐19
This meeting will be entirely by teleconference. All Commission members and staff will only
participate via the Zoom platform using the process described below. The meeting is being
conducted in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order N‐29‐20 suspending certain
teleconference rules required by the Ralph M. Brown Act. The purpose of this order was to
provide the safest environment for the public, elected officials, and staff while allowing for
continued operation of the government and public participation during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Members of the public view and participate in the meeting by:
1. Using the Zoom website https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86304311447 App (Webinar ID 863
0431 1447) and using the tool to raise their hand in the Zoom platform when directed by
the Chair to speak on an agenda item; OR
2. Calling 1.669.900.6833 or 1.408.638.0968 and pressing *9 to raise their hand to speak on
an agenda item when directed by the Chair.
ROLL CALL
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Any member of the public will be allowed to address the Planning Commission for up to three
(3) minutes on matters not on this agenda. This law generally prohibits the Planning
Commission from discussing or taking action on such items. However, the Planning Commission
may instruct staff accordingly regarding Oral Communications.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Planning Commission 2021 Work Plan
ADJOURNMENT
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF THE AGENDA, DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA
PACKET, COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
I, Frances Reed, Administrative Assistant for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for
the meeting of the Planning Commission was posted and available for review on April 9, 2021 at the
City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California and on the City's website at
www.saratoga.ca.us.
Signed this 9th day of April 2021 at Saratoga, California.
Frances Reed, Administrative Technician.
Saratoga Planning Commission Agenda – Page 2 of 2
In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of the staff reports and other materials provided to
the Planning Commission by City staff in connection with this agenda, copies of materials distributed to
the Planning Commission concurrently with the posting of the agenda, and materials distributed to the
Planning Commission by staff after the posting of the agenda are available at the Planning offices at
13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 and on the City Website at www.saratoga.ca.us.
In Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this
meeting, please contact the City Clerk at debbieb@saratoga.ca.us or calling 408.868.1216 as soon as
possible before the meeting. The City will use its best efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to
provide as much accessibility as possible while also maintaining public safety.
[28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA title II]
REPORT TO THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting Date: April 13, 2021
Subject: Planning Commission 2021 Work Plan
Address/APN: Citywide
Owner / Applicant: City of Saratoga
From: Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission discuss its priority work plan items for the
coming year, and forward it to the City Council for input and direction at the Joint City Council
Planning Commission Work Plan Study Session on April 21st. No formal action is requested or
may be made at a study session, but straw polls may be appropriate to indicate priorities.
BACKGROUND
Each year, the Planning Commission discusses its potential Work Plan items for the coming
year. The Council then reviews the items suggested in a joint session with the Commission or in
another format, and provides input and direction regarding where the Commission should focus
its efforts. Attachment 1 is a copy of the Commission’s 2020 Work Plan for reference.
DISCUSSION
The Commission’s 2021 Work Plan will focus on the following core priorities:
Housing Element Update
Every eight years, California municipalities must update their Housing Element, which is a
required component of the General Plan. The Housing Element serves as a long-term blueprint for
future housing development. A central component of a Housing Element is the plan that addresses
the number of housing units, at various economic levels, that a municipality must plan for over
the eight-year cycle of the Element.
Based on growth projections from the State Department of Finance, the Housing and Community
Development Department (HCD) determines housing needs within each of the 18 regions in the
State. The methodology for distributing the projected housing needs is led by the Association of
Bay Area Governments or ABAG. Jurisdictions must then update their Housing Elements to
identify policies and specific locations for residential development to provide the opportunity to
reach the jurisdiction’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
In June 2020, HCD provided the housing needs allocation for the Bay Area for the 2023-2031
period. The total number of new housing units needed is 441,176. This compares to 187,990 for the
prior planning period of 2015-2023 representing a 234% increase.
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Report to the Planning Commission
Work Plan Study Session
April 13, 2021
Page | 2
The table below shows the draft RHNA allocation for Saratoga, as well as the City’s RHNA
allocation for the current 2015-2023 Housing Element cycle.
The City will have to prepare and submit a draft Housing Element to the State for review with a
deadline for adoption by January 2023.
General Plan Update.
Continue work on the General Plan Update. In April 2018, the City began the process to refresh
and make minor policy updates to three elements of the City’s General Plan (Land Use, Circulation,
and Open Space & Conservation). The original timeline for Commission review of the draft
documents was Winter 2020. Due to the substantial increase in the number of housing units that
Saratoga will be required to plan for in RHNA 6, the schedule of the General Plan 2040 update was
revised so that it can be aligned with the Housing Element.
SB35 Objective Standards Code Review
Senate Bill 35 created a streamlined and ministerial approval process for qualifying housing projects
and requires local jurisdictions to provide objective standards for the expedited review and approval
of eligible projects. The recent Quito Village development project underscores the importance for
the City to clearly articulate objective development standards in the City Code. Staff will review
Chapter 14 (Subdivisions) and Chapter 15 (Zoning Regulations) of the City Code and propose
modifications to refine, strengthen, and add objective standards related to the implementation of
SB35.
Other Items
If the Commission feels that other items deserve its priority attention in 2021, they should bring
those items up for discussion at the Study Session.
ATTACHMENT
1. 2020 Work Plan
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Page 1 of 2
CITY OF SARATOGA
Memorandum
To: Mayor Miller & Members of the City Council
From: Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director
Date: March 9, 2020
Subject: Planning Commission Work Plan – FY20/21
On February 11, 2020, the Planning Commission held a study session to discuss potential Work Plan
items and proposes the following for 2020.
Tree Regulations Ordinance. The Santa Clara County Fire Department has identified blue gum
eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) as a “problem invasive” tree and suggests that its removal may
reduce fire risks. In February 2019, the City Council created the Wildfire Public Safety Task Force to
advise on matters related to wildfire and emergency preparednes s. The Task Force has also
recommended changes to the tree removal criteria in the City Code to help reduce fire risks. The
Planning Commission will review the proposed amendments to the Tree Regulations Ordinance
(Article 15-50) and make a recommendation to the City Council.
General Plan Update. The Planning Commission will continue their work on the General Plan
update project to refresh and make minor policy updates to the Land Use, Circulation, and Open
Space & Conservation elements of the City’s General Plan. New laws regarding level of services
(LOS) to vehicle miles travelled (VMT) and the City’s efforts to adopt a Climate Action Plan will be
incorporated into the General Plan.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance. The State legislature recently amended laws to reduce
barriers and further promote the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and Junior
Accessory Dwelling Units (JADU). The Planning Commission will review proposed amendments to the
ADU ordinance to comply with state law and make a recommendation to the City Council.
SB35 Objective Standards Code Review. Senate Bill 35 created a streamlined and ministerial
approval process for qualifying housing projects and requires local jurisdictions to provide objective
standards for the expedited review and approval of eligible projects. The recent Quito Village
development project underscores the importance for the City to clearly articulate objective
development standards in the City Code. Staff will rev iew Chapter 14 (Subdivisions) and Chapter 15
(Zoning Regulations) of the City Code and propose modifications to refine, strengthen, and add
objective standards related to the implementation of SB35.
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Page 2 of 2
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES
Name Term Ends Eligible for Reappointment
Sunil Ahuja 3/31/23 No
Leonard Almalech 3/31/20 No
Colleen "Kookie" Fitzsimmons 3/31/22 No
Anjali Kausar 3/31/23 Yes
Razi Mohiuddin 3/31/21 Yes
Lucas Pastuszka 3/31/22 Yes
Tina Walia 3/31/21 No
Commission Duties/Purpose.
CITY CODE 2‐15.030 POWERS & DUTIES
The Planning Commission is hereby designated as the planning agency of the City, as described in
Section 65100 of the Government Code, and shall exercise the functions of a planning agency as
prescribed in Section 65101 of the Government Code. The Planning Commission shall also exercise
the powers and perform the duties conferred upon it by this Code and assigned to it from time to
time by the City Council.
GOVERNMENT CODE 65100
There is in each city and county a planning agency with the powers necessary to carry out the
purposes of this title. The legislative body of each city and county shall by ordinance assign the
functions of the planning agency to a planning department, one or more planning commissions,
administrative bodies or hearing officers, the legislative body itself, or any combination thereof,
as it deems appropriate and necessary. In the absence of an assignment, the legislative body shall
carry out all the functions of the planning agency.
GOVERNMENT CODE 65101
(a) The legislative body may create one or more planning commissions each of which shall
report directly to the legislative body. The legislative body shall specify the membership of the
commission or commissions. In any event, each planning commission shall consist of at least five
members, all of whom shall act in the public interest. If it creates more than one planning
commission, the legislative body shall prescribe the issues, responsibilities, or geographic
jurisdiction assigned to each commission. If a development project affects the jurisdiction of more
than one planning commission, the legislative body shall designate the commission which shall
hear the entire development project.
(b) Two or more legislative bodies may:
(1) Create a joint area planning agency, planning commission, or advisory agency for all or
prescribed portions of their cities or counties which shall exercise those powers and perform
those duties under this title that the legislative bodies delegate to it.
(2) Authorize their planning agencies, or any components of them, to meet jointly to coordinate
their work, conduct studies, develop plans, hold hearings, or jointly exercise any power or
perform any duty common to them.
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