Netflix's Location on Council's Radar

The developer of the Los Gatos Business Park, where could possibly expand to in the future, is expected to present a revised proposal to the Los Gatos Town Council Monday at 7 p.m. that now includes 168 senior-only units.

In June, John R. Shenk proposed multi-family dwellings that concerned town officials, including school district representatives, who feared the impact would overcrowd already-full schools.

Los Gatos Community Development Director Wendie Rooney said Shenk has also lowered the height of the senior-housing from 70 feet to 50 feet.

However, the office portion of the plan remains as originally proposed, with up to 550,000 square feet, or 300,000 square feet more than what is constructed on the 21-acre property, Rooney said.

The project's first phase now includes one four-story, 128,000-square-foot office building; one five-story, 156,000-square-foot office building and one three-story parking structure, Rooney added.

It also features a photo-simulation to show the two office buildings with an existing so-called "tree screen" along Winchester Boulevard, she said.

The development was originally conceived as 500-plus residential units on the property at 90-160 Albright Way and 14600 Los Gatos Blvd. The land is owned by Mike White with Huettig & Schromm Inc.

White wanted town officials to approve a 20-year development agreement giving him certain rights to the land. It's not known whether such stipulation will still be part of the plan.

Los Gatos Town Manager Greg Larson has strongly urged the council to rezone the land to make way for the year-old project as a so-called "Class A" high-tech campus for the town.

Larson and Rooney have stressed the town needs to increase such types of buildings to accommodate its growing high tech needs.

Update: 9 a.m., July 30

Larson said a comparative financial analysis of the project has been posted on the town's Web site which shows the development will generate more than $1 million per year for Los Gatos schools from increased property taxes without any more students given that the only potential housing is now for seniors.

In addition, the project will also have to pay a one-time school impact fees of $141,000, he indicated.

Netflix CFO David Wells appeared before the council in June to support the project due to the company's expansion and its desire to have more room besides that offered at its 100 Winchester Circle location. The company has more than 900 employees, Wells said.

 It's also moved some of its operations to the property being considered for rezoning by the developer.