HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-2023 Planning Commission MinutesSaratoga Planning Commission Draft Minutes – Page 1 of 4
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11, 2023
SARATOGA PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Chair Brownley called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Chair Clinton Brownley, Vice Chair Jojo Choi, Commissioners Paul
Germeraad, Anjali Kausar, Ping, Li, Razi Mohiuddin, and Herman Zheng
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Bryan T. Swanson, Community Development Director
Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner
Frances Reed, Administrative Analyst
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action Minutes from the Regular Planning Commission Meeting of September 13, 2023.
Recommended Action:
Approve Minutes of Regular Planning Commission Meeting of September 13, 2023.
KAUSAR/MOHIUDDIN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER
13, 2023 MEETING. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD,
KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS:
Public Comment:
John Henley Jr. spoke.
Paulette spoke.
Anita Enander spoke.
Bill Dalton spoke.
Ed Grabowy spoke.
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS
2.1 Application PDR21-0019/VAR23-0002/ARB21-0086: 15269 Bohlman Road (517-14-003)
Verbicaro 1 LLC (Applicant): The applicant is requesting Design Review approval for a new 5,749
square foot two-story single-family residence (maximum height 25’-11.5”) and a request for a
Variance for retaining walls to exceed the maximum five-foot height limitation. One protected tree
is proposed for removal. The site is zoned Hillside Residential (HR) with a General Plan
Designation of Residential Hillside Conservation (RHC). Staff Contact: Christopher Riordan (408)
868-1235 or criordan@saratoga.ca.us.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 23-015 approving the project subject to conditions of approval included in
Attachment 1.
GERMERAAD/KAUSAR MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 23-015 APPROVING
PDR21-0019 AS AMENDED. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, KAUSAR, LI,
MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: GERMERAAD. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
Saratoga Planning Commission Draft Minutes – Page 2 of 4
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
3.1 Housing Element Update & Policy Options
Public Comment:
Anthony Fisher spoke.
Henry Yen spoke.
Nels DeLander spoke.
Jerry Schaaf spoke.
Jody Tatro spoke.
Shanwna Krainin spoke.
Rick Louie spoke.
Dianna Sipos spoke.
Buzz Broze spoke.
Shari Moraveji spoke.
Gerald Bittner spoke.
Bernie Mills spoke.
Joe Byers spoke.
Joning Ta spoke.
Sanita spoke.
John Regan spoke.
Chris Vasquez spoke.
Brian Berkeley spoke.
Joanne spoke.
Som spoke.
Ed Grabowy spoke.
PG spoke.
Ran spoke.
Marshall Zerbo spoke.
Eva Wu spoke.
3.1.1 Three Primary Dwellings
Chair Brownley and Commissioner Germeraad recused themselves from this item.
MOHIUDDIN/KAUSAR MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THAT CITY
COUNCIL REVIEW THE THREE PRIMARY DWELLINGS POLICY AS DRAFTED BY
STAFF. MOTION PASSED. AYES: CHOI, KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: BROWNLEY, GERMERAAD.
Chair Brownley and Commissioner Germeraad returned to the dais.
3.1.2 SB 9 Regulations
Mohiuddin/Li moved to have this policy effective only if; at year four of the eight-year cycle, less
than 50% of the projected units have been permitted. Additionally, to remove 2E from the proposed
policy.
This motion was withdrawn.
KAUSAR/MOHIUDDIN MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THAT CITY
COUNCIL REVIEW THE SB 9 POLICYS (SUB-ITEMS A-D) AS DRAFTED BY STAFF
AND SUB-ITEM E AS AMENDED. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI,
GERMERAAD,
KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
3.1.3 Housing on religious institution sites and shared housing
CHOI/BROWNLEY MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL
REVIEW THE HOUSING ON RELIGIOUS SITES AND SHARED HOUSING POLICYS
AS DRAFTED BY STAFF. MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD,
Saratoga Planning Commission Draft Minutes – Page 3 of 4
KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
Commissioner Mohiuddin requested that staff investigate additional zoning locations for religious
institutions (zoning CV, CH and possibly PA). The request was directed for staff to review but not
related to the current Housing Element policy proposal.
3.1.4 Encouraging and streamlining housing applications
Commissioner Choi/Germeraad moved to approve recommendation of sub-items A-C, but not C.
Motion failed due to second motion being approved by vote.
MOHIUDDIN/KAUSAR MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THAT CITY
COUNCIL REVIEW THE STREAMLINING POLICYS A-C AND CONSIDER
AMENDING D TO ELEMINATE THE REQUIREMENT FOR STORY POLES FOR
SINGLE-STORY HOMES AND CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT FOR TWO-STORY
HOMES TO REQUIRE STORY POLES OR PROVIDE VISUAL REPRESENTAITONS.
MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI, MOHIUDDIN,
ZHENG. NOES: CHOI. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
3.1.5 Lot Consolidation
MOHIUDDIN/KAUSAR MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THAT CITY
COUNCIL REVIEW THE LOT CONSOLIDATION POLICYS AS DRAFTED BY STAFF.
MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, GERMERAAD, KAUSAR, LI,
MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
3.1.6 Existing Mixed-Use and Multi-Family Development Standards
Commissioner Kausar recused herself from this item.
MOHIUDDIN/CHOI MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND THAT CITY
COUNCIL REVIEW THE LOT CONSOLIDATION POLICYS AS DRAFTED BY STAFF.
MOTION PASSED. AYES: BROWNLEY, CHOI, LI, MOHIUDDIN, ZHENG. NOES:
GERMERAAD. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: KAUSAR.
Commissioner Kausar returned to the dais.
4. DIRECTOR ITEMS
Director Swanson thanked staff, consultants and Commissioners for their time and attention to the
Housing Element process.
5. COMMISSION ITEMS
Commissioner Germeraad requested that the Planning Commission hold a Study Session on the
possibility of using virtual reality for site visits.
Commissioner Mohiuddin voiced concern about the item not being part of the Planning
Commission’s Work Plan.
Saratoga Planning Commission Draft Minutes – Page 4 of 4
Commissioner Germeraad directed staff to include this item to the next annual work plan request
to City Council.
6. ADJOURNMENT
KAUSAR moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:51 AM.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Frances Reed, Administrative Analyst
City of Saratoga