Planners OK Mike's Bikes Expansion

The Los Gatos Planning Commission recommended the modification of two conditional-use permits for separate retail lots on North Santa Cruz Avenue Wednesday night.

The first of the lots, 13 No. Santa Cruz Ave., was previously occupied by , which is now closed. The commission voted unanimously to alter the permit to allow Anthony Miller and his French bakery cafe, Amour Patisserie, to operate on the land owned by La Canada Investments.

When the business opens, its hours of operation will be 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Planners have agreed, however, to allow it to operate from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week, if desired. No changes will be made to the current sitting plan or exterior design, according to a staff report.

The other lot whose use-permit was modified was , 201 No. Santa Cruz Ave. The popular cycling business will now expand into the neighboring lot, currently occupied by the .

While both items were on the consent calendar, allowing the seven-member Commission to vote on them without public input, Commissioner Margaret Smith pulled Mike's Bike's permit review from the agenda to further discuss its status as a so-called "formula-retail" store.

“I am concerned that we are setting a precedent for formula retail taking over another large corner,” said Smith, the only commissioner voting against the approval in the 6-1 decision.

Overuse of formula retail is against the town code. A retail business is classified as formula retail if it has a chain of at least seven stores, planners explained.

“If we expand that store into non-retail space, that space would be formula retail,” said Smith.

If a future formula-retail chain wants to move into the lot, it would have to file another permit to sell anything other than bicycles and bicycle accessories. Otherwise, it would use the permit recommended, if approved by the Los Gatos Town Council, according to planners.

Applicant Ken Martin was not present at the meeting, but that did not keep the Commission from recommending the expansion anyway.

In other news, what was thought to be a crucial meeting regarding the future expansion of was not on of the agenda Wednesday night.

The only information discussed regarding the school involved the expansion of a residential house at 16828 Kennedy Rd., which is owned by the school and is not related to its plan to expand to 414 students. The item was continued until April 25.

The proposed Hillbrook School expansion will be discussed at a future date, according to planners.