22 Homes on LG Blvd Closer to Reality
Los Gatos Planning Commission recommends rezoning old Honda dealership site; TollHouse Hotel withdraws application to have live entertainment in courtyard.
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The Los Gatos Planning Commission voted to rezone property located at the corner of Los Gatos Boulevard and Roberts Road to demolish the former Honda auto dealership buildings to construct 22 new single-family residences.
As the clock approached midnight Wednesday evening at Town Hall, the commission voted 5-1 to allow property owner Margaret R. Bishop to continue with plans to allow Robson Homes to build the units on the condition that at least two set aside as below-market-priced dwellings.
The lone vote against the rezoning came from Vice Chairwoman Marcia Jensen who said that the area is not residential-friendly and would favor a retail-transitional development in the space.
The lot is located at 16213 Los Gatos Blvd., and the applicant is the Santa Clara Development Company, which is proposing to build the housing project on two acres.
Most of the homes would have four bedrooms and be two stories.
Commissioner Joanne Talesfore abstained from weighing in on the matter due to a personal conflict of interest with the applicant, which is building the Bluebird Lane development just down the street.
The commission came to a consensus after it became gridlocked on a 3-3 tie on the first motion made by Commissioner Thomas O’Donnell to make the recommendation to the Los Gatos Town Council to approve the rezoning with an actual specified amount of units and one below-market-priced unit built offsite.
The commission started over with another motion that did not specify an actual amount of units to the council and required at least two below-market-priced housing units built on-site.
In other news, the Tollhouse Hotel withdrew its request to modify its conditional use permit to allow live entertainment in its outdoor courtyard. The application drew a lot of controversy from town residents this past summer, particularly property owners on Broadway, who said the hotel is noisy and hasn't complied with its current permit.
Residents had signed a petition opposing the hote's CUP modification.
Leslie
8:27 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
I am so sad to see that the Tollhouse has withdrawn its application to do outdoor live music. So many people get joy from experiencing it in the summer. What is next for those who write the petitions? A campaign to stop summer Jazz In the Plazz? People who live behind long time shopping and entertainment centers ( as I do too, incidentally) should expect those areas to contribute a bit more noise, or in this case, music.
Virginia Fiorentino
9:24 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Congratulations to Mark Robson and his staff. We need this project in our town.
KM
10:54 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
This is as crazy a scheme as the Netflix project, the proposed Swanson project and the North 40. The density of the proposed housing is one thing, but what about schools? None of our elementary or our single Middle school can accommodate an influx of children at this rate. And what about traffic? Has everyone lost their mind? Have you driven in Los Gatos during the last six months? It is impossible to get anywhere; we don't have the road infrastructure to deal with these projects. Someone is getting paid off or they are simply stupid. Glad to hear a citizens group has filed suit against the Town and the developer of the Netflix site. There was little due diligence performed on that project and no EIR which would clearly show how misguided this decision was. I'm not sure what is going on with our Town Council, but an investigation of their motives needs to be undertaken too.
Virginia Fiorentino
6:59 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
How sad it is that someone from Los Gatos (at least I would hope from Los Gatos) would be so narrow minded as to complain about a development that is already part of the general plan. I would appreciate if KM would be so kind as to explain the "influx of children" he or she is expecting to come from this development project on Los Gatos Blvd. I am most curious to hear of KMs credentials.
AR
10:12 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
all good points, but density control won't save the schools because it isn't tractable. residents of the town are simply going to have to dig into their pockets and build more schools.
M2BUZY
11:10 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
I second the former commenters views.
Tim Boyd
8:44 am on Friday, September 16, 2011
Virginia-Can you share what us what it is that you will be paid should the sale go through to Robson Homes. Your objectivity is in question as you are the listing agent for the property.
Virginia Fiorentino
12:06 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
Tim Boyd, I have no idea who you are but perhaps you might be oriented toward monetary reasons when you make a comment but I speak as a resident since 1968 and feel very positive about the project. Attacking me just to be attacking doesn't make sense and appears to be rather mean spirited. Perhaps you can "share with us" your reason for not liking the project rather than trying to undermine a positive comment made in all sincerity.
Ricardo Furioso
11:15 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Your credentials as a resident, Virginia Fiorentino, are not in question.
Your motives are.
Sincerity aside, Tim did not attack you.
He said nothing mean spirited.
He asked a very good, very simple question.
And you, Virginia Fiorentino, are either the listing agent or not.
And if you are, you stand to make a considerable amount of money should the sale go forward.
If that is true, he has every reason to question your objectivity, as do all concerned residents of Los Gatos.
Now are you going to continue to ignore his simple, clear, well-stated question?
Frank Howard
6:16 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Virginia, since you live next to the site (Albright Way) that will be developed into 550K sq ft of office buildings and 168 apartments, how do you feel about that development? Do you think it's a good one?
Virginia Fiorentino
7:47 am on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Dear Richard Furioso and Tim Boyd. Share with all of us your income.
Virginia Fiorentino
7:50 am on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Mr. Howard: I feel that the development will be a very good one. Plus, it will be a great benefit to the town as far as income is concerned. It is not in inner town area. And where do you live?
Ricardo Furioso
3:48 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Dear Virginia,
Your conflicted interest has nothing to do with my income.
It has only to do with yours.
Donna Perry
10:47 am on Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Ms Fiorentino, I'm, sorry I got in on this conversation belatedly. Of course KM , Mr Furioso, Mr Boyd et al are correct in asking about your conflict of interest and pointing out the traffic and density issues with such a development especially with two schools in the immediate vicinity. The same issues will come up with the proposed Swanson Ford project. Due diligence doesn't seem to matter, it's the Golden Rule....He/She who has the gold rules. And ......after teaching Jr High for 21 years I try to survive in a Los Gatos Apt on a $2900 a mo. pension in case you wondered. DP