More rules and regulations around lot splitting in Los Gatos could be coming soon.
The Los Gatos Planning Commission worked through potential changes to permanently codify local regulations for Senate Bill 9 developments in town at its meeting Wednesday evening.
Their recommendations will be presented to town council for final approval next month, when residents will have the opportunity to comment.
SB 9, which went into effect in January, allows up to two duplexes to be built on single-family lots in an effort to address the housing crisis in California. It was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom last September.
A handful of affluent suburban communities like Saratoga and Monte Sereno are pushing back against the law, saying it will bring in traffic and put too much strain on local resources. They joined a statewide effort called Our Neighborhood Voices to overturn the law. Los Gatos has not publicly backed this effort.
Los Gatos Town Council passed an urgency ordinance last year that set guidelines for developers, and renewed it earlier this year. Wednesday’s conversation marks another step in how the town will navigate SB9 applications.
Under the urgency ordinance, developers have to follow certain locally specific rules when building duplexes, such as keeping units under 16 feet tall and keeping them out of high fire-risk zones.
“I’m sure there’s some enterprising people that are thinking SB9 is for building mega houses, two on a lot,” said Planning Commission Chair Melanie Hanssen. “We have to remember that the intent of SB9 was not to do that; it was to make more housing, but affordable and smaller units.”
Town staff made changes to the urgency ordinance, like window and tree regulations, unit number limitations and intent-to-occupy requirements.
The proposed draft also added hillside residential areas to the areas of town where SB9 properties can be developed. Staff added specific requirements for the hillside, such as building height restrictions.
In a written public comment, resident Sue Raisty said she hopes SB9 will increase the amount of family housing available in town.
“We would love the option to live in a duplex or ADU and have some access to a backyard, instead of being restricted to apartments and townhouses,” Raisty said. “To that end, the 1,200-square-foot maximum on the size of the ADU is too small for small families.”
Not all residents are supportive of the ordinance. Resident Melanie Allen said she’s been disappointed with developments like the North 40 in town.
“I have been a resident of Los Gatos for many years. I have watched the changes to the housing landscape change, (and) not for the better,” Allen said. “The only reason the town is pushing this is because it needs more funds to handle the mismanaged town budget that is in dire need of funds–funds that would be gained from building permits, inspection fees and additional taxes on the land and buildings involved.“
Los Gatos Town Council is set to vote on the permanent ordinance at an upcoming council meeting.