by Mary Pope-Handy | Sep 22, 2023 | Uncategorized
The Los Gatos Planning Department sent out the information below housing plan update below. I requested and received permission to repost it here. This is relevant to everyone in town who has any concerns about the California building laws and their impact on new developments, particularly as they relate to the Builder’s Remedy. For our neighborhood, it appears to be connected to the proposed 30 new homes at the Mirassou site.
Housing plan updated: public review of the Housing Element Draft info from the Planning Department
On September 22, 2023, the Town posted online the Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element with modifications in response to the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) Findings/Comment Letter received by the Town on May 30, 2023.
The Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element is available to the public for a seven-day review period prior to HCD re-submittal. The seven-day public review period runs until 5:00 p.m. on September 29, 2023. The following items can be viewed on the Town’s Housing Element Update website at: https://www.losgatosca.gov/1735/General-Plan—Housing-Element.
- Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element – Clean Copy
- Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing Element – Track Changes Copy
- Response Memorandum to HCD’s Findings and Comment Letter
Written comments (including name, affiliation, telephone number, and contact information) can be submitted through September 29, 2023, by 5:00 p.m., by email to HEUpdate@losgatosca.gov or by mail to:
Town of Los Gatos
Community Development Department
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Additionally, the Housing Element Advisory Board (HEAB) will be meeting on September 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. to review and discuss the Town’s Draft Revised Housing Element addressing HCD’s findings/comment letter received by the Town on May 30, 2023. The agenda and staff report is now available on the Town’s agenda center webpage.
by Mary Pope-Handy | Sep 19, 2023 | Uncategorized
We are fortunate to have LeLe Cake Cafe right in our neighborhood!
LeLe Cake Cafe ambiance and offerings
I’ve been to LeLe twice now, both times enjoying some sort of coffee drink. They were delicious. The photo at the right is from last Sunday, when I had a cappuccino.
The interior is light, stylish, clean, and welcoming. Fresh flowers add a nice touch and are another reminder that this is a boutique shop and not just another chain outlet. The patio area provides a good number of shaded seats. It was uncrowded and very pleasant.
It’s impossible to miss the beautiful pastry temptations or to miss the menu offerings. At some point we’ll go for breakfast or lunch – the food looks amazing.
Service
The staff gets quite busy, but as soon as possible I’ve been greeted and my order taken. Since we wanted to sit outside, I asked if we needed to wait indoors for our coffee drinks or if they’d bring them to us. They kindly did bring our coffee drinks to us.
Location, contact info, and website for LeLe Cake Cafe
You’ll find LeLe at the Walgreen’s Shopping Center at the corner of Blossom Hill Road and Harwood Road, Los Gatos. They are in the space previously occupied by Subway. Rumor has it that they are going to expand into the adjacent suite, too, which would be wonderful. I’m happy that they are successful in this location!
14178 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95032
(669) 291-6986
Their website is not yet up and running, but here’s the URL – bookmark it for future use: LeLe.cake
by Clair Handy | Apr 25, 2023 | Uncategorized
Over the last month we’ve gone from hailstorm to 80F and sunny, and just in time for our first 90-degree day the Belwood Cabaña pool is opening for the summer season!
Belwood Cabaña: Pool Season Schedule
There are a few different dates to look out for, and as always this schedule is subject to change. Please reference this season’s pool schedule as listed on the HOA website. At the time of publication (4/25/2023) here are the current dates:
2023 Pool Schedule:
April 18 : Pool opens to Keyholders 6 AM to 10 PM
May 27 – May 31 : Facility and Pool Open to members
June 10 – Aug 11 : Open Daily with lifeguards 1 PM to 7 PM.
Aug 12 – Sept 4 : Open WEEKENDS ONLY
The pool will CLOSE for the season at the end of the day on Labor Day, Monday, Sept 4. It will remain open to keyholders until the end of September.
This schedule is subject to change.
Please check http://www.belwoodhomes.org/cabana.html for the latest, most accurate information!
Want to learn more about the Belwood Homes community and Cabaña? Check out our other page with information on the membership and community titled Belwood Cabaña, and stick around at the Belwood Blog for more information and news from the greater Belwood / Belgatos neighborhood!
by Mary Pope-Handy | May 25, 2021 | Uncategorized
With the increase of fires in recent years, California has a new fire disclosure law on the books, AB 39 (2019). In response, the California Association of Realtors has come out with a new home fire hardening form. This is a new advisory and disclosure document combined, “C.A.R. Form FHDS, 5/21 Fire Hardening and Defensible Space Advisory, Disclosure, and Addendum”. It’s intended to help sellers and buyers be more aware of what can be done to make a home more resistant to fire.
Selling a home in a high fire risk zone? Expect these home fire hardening questions
In one section of the document, home sellers are asked if they have made the following alterations:
- Eave, soffit, and roof ventilation where the vents have openings in excess of one-eighth of an inch or are not flame and ember resistant.
- Roof coverings made of untreated wood shingles or shakes.
- Combustible landscaping or other materials within five feet of the home and under the footprint of any attached deck. (Wood chips and mulch may not be a good idea!)
- Single pane or non-tempered glass windows.
- Loose or missing bird stopping or roof flashing.
- Rain gutters without metal or noncombustible gutter covers.
All of us who are near Belgatos Park and nearby open spaces can benefit from improving our home’s safety should a fire breakout nearby. We recently measured our vent screens and found them to be 1/4 inch, so will be improving that. It’s a good list.
There’s a longer article on my main blog. Check it out for more information:
NEW California Disclosure – Home Fire Hardening Disclosure and Advisory
Below there’s also a document from the CA Assn of Realtors on the law. This is a good article with helpful information – I highly recommend it.
Related reading:
Los Gatos Fire Risk (Live in Los Gatos blog)
A History of Los Gatos Fires and the Los Gatos Fire Department (Live in Los Gatos blog)
CA Association of Realtors: Home Fire Hardening Disclosure Law, Feb 2021 (the form was updated in May 2021)
by Mary Pope-Handy | Feb 22, 2021 | Uncategorized
Recently we have seen an uptick in neighborhood crime both in our immediate Belwood, Belatos, Surmont, and adjacent areas here in east Los Gatos as well as the neighboring communities of Cambrian, Almaden, and Saratoga. Specifically, a gang of 4 intruders has been hitting homes perceived to be unoccupied, often entering through back sliding doors, rummaging quickly for jewelry and cash, and getting away in under 10 minutes.
Where are the burglaries happening?
Most of Santa Clara County is using the City Protect crime map, but the Town of Los Gatos recently launched our crime info on a different platform, LGPD.CrimeGraphics.com. It would be wise to check both sites since our community is so close to Cambrian and Almaden (as well as county pockets).
The neighborhood crime info isn’t as thorough I would like. In recent weeks we had some attempted break ins by that gang of four near my house in which they got into backyards but didn’t get into the homes. They moved swiftly and the police did, too – but were gone before they could be apprehended. Those attempted burglaries are not to be found on crime info website.
My recommendation is that you log onto Nextdoor at least once in awhile and check the crime activity in our part of Los Gatos in addition to checking the 2 websites linked above. Or if you have a Ring doorbell, the online Ring community also has good sharing of information. (I wonder if Nest similarly has online sharing?) If you have neighbors who aren’t on Nextdoor, fill them in if you read about an episode so that they can make their home safer and have more surveillance.
Many of the would be and successful burglaries appear to happen when it looks like no one is home. The thieves go into backyards and then often smash a sliding glass door to gain entry. It’s loud, and alarms may go off, but they leave fast and so far haven’t been caught.
If you have security cameras, you can register them with the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department.
by Mary Pope-Handy | Mar 19, 2020 | Uncategorized
Today my family and I enjoyed a walk in the neighborhood with the dry, warmer weather. Lots of neighbors were out biking, hiking, and walking dogs, and we wondered if the Belgatos Park playground would be in use, or off limits due to the coronavirus restrictions. Not surprisingly, it was cordoned off.
In addition to the police tape, there’s a sign to keep people from being in too-close proximity on the equipment.
Be safe out there!
by Jim Handy | Sep 22, 2012 | Energy efficient, Home improvement, Uncategorized
In case you didn’t see the Belwood of Los Gatos “Bellringer” article, I have asked three neighbors with solar installations to tell us about their experiences. This won’t be a sales pitch – just neighbors telling other neighbors about their experiences.
The panelists are Zeny Seid, Roger Kent, and Evan Culp, all on Bacigalupi Drive.
They will sit at the front of the room and field questions from anyone who wants to come.
I have invited a couple of solar firms to be available for those who would like to talk to them, but the panelists are all just Belwood residents like you and me.
Please do come. I am sure you have questions (like I do) about whether or not solar’s a good idea. This should be a chance to learn a lot from people who have been through all those questions.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
The Los Gatos Planning Department sent out the information below housing plan update below. I requested and received permission to repost it here. This is relevant to everyone in town who has any concerns about the California building laws and their impact on new developments, particularly as they relate to the Builder’s Remedy. For our neighborhood, it appears to be connected to the proposed 30 new homes at the Mirassou site.
