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Business & Tech

Templar Fires Back At New Gun Zoning, Blames 'Vendetta'

Total nonsense, vice mayor counters. New zones stem from community desire, not just Templar.

Templar Sports manager Rick Pfaff said Los Gatos' new gun zoning laws were sparked by a personal feud between himself and the vice-mayor, not public outcry against weapons sales.

"He has a personal vendetta against me," said Pfaff of Vice Mayor Steve Leonardis. "And it's a waste of taxpayers' money." 
 
Pfaff held his own press conference Thursday to air his side regarding the recent backlash against the business.

Leonardis, meanwhile, said Pfaff's contentions are ridiculous, unfounded and likely are because he is is unhappy with the Council's decision to restrict weapons sales within the town.

There is nothing personal about it, he said, and certainly no "vendetta."

"I am one of four people who voted. And my vote is based on public welfare," Leonardis said. "I voted based on public testimony, staff reports, recommendations of the planning commission and findings from the ad hoc committee."

Templar Sports, which opened earlier this year on University Avenue, was given four years to comply with new gun-sales zoning ordinances approved Monday by Los Gatos Town Council. 

The Council unanimously voted to approve a zoning ordinance to restrict the sale of firearms only to the commercial industrial zone.

The Council also restricted the location of such sales at least 250 feet away from parks, schools, government buildings and existing youth-oriented businesses, with a conditional-use permit and annual review compliance. 

The new rules, however, make Templar's operation at 661 University a zone violation. So in a 4-1 vote, with Los Gatos Councilwoman Diane McNutt dissenting, the Council gave Templar Sports four years to come into compliance.

Pfaff, however, takes issue with that, maintaining Templar Sports owners have invested $1 million opening the retailer and fully complied with city business, licensing, inspection and disclosure laws.

"We opened a legal business," he said. "Templar Sports is not going anywhere. They're trying to figure out any way to shut us down."

As for rumors that the company's non-working web site signals store closure, Pfaff said the page is being upgraded and should be operational soon.

Past Patch stories on recent gun controversies, Los Gatos Council gun-zone debates and Templar Sports include:


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