'Netflix Grew Up in Los Gatos And We Would Love to Stay Here'

Responding to recent reader questions about the length of Netflix's lease for its current campus on 100 Winchester Circle, a spokesman for the giant Internet media streaming company said the business is not moving from there, just hoping to expand.

"What we're talking about is an expansion. We're not moving from Winchester Circle, we would be expanding to Albright Way," Netflix spokesman Joris Evers told Los Gatos Patch.

The company is getting a lot of attention these days from townsfolk after a petition drive began Nov. 13 to gather signatures in support of a development project where it hopes to expand into in the future.

The signatures would place the issue on the June ballot, circumventing lawsuits that have been filed against the development since the Los Gatos Town Council approved it in August of 2011.

Voters would amend the town's General Plan, which opponents say caps building heights in town at 35 feet.

"Netflix grew up in Los Gatos and we would love to stay here," Evers said about the company that launched in town in 1997 and in 2012 was expected generate about $1.5 million in sales tax revenue.

Joris said Netflix has committed to about half the space, or two of the four buildings planned for the new development on the 21-acre property at the corner of Winchester Boulevard and Albright Way.

Developer John R. Shenk said the company has signed two 10-year leases for such edifices that would be 65 feet tall. The other two buildings are 50 feet. The total development was approved by the Council at 485,000 square feet maximum.

"We felt the project was well deliberated and the town's elected Council struck a good compromise after much discussion and thought," Evers said. "It is unfortunate that a small group of people makes it so that the developer feels it necessary to hold a referendum on the new campus."

Netflix released its third-quarter 2013 financial results in October showing big gains and a growth of 1.3 million subscribers for this latest reporting period.

Netflix boasts more than 40 million members in 41 countries enjoying more than one billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series.

For $7.99 a monthly, Netflix members can watch as many TV shows and movies they want on nearly any Internet-connected screen.

ALSO ON LOS GATOS PATCH:

• Scaled Back Albright Way Project OK'd Monday by Los Gatos Town Council
• Timeline: Legal Challenges to Future Albright Way/Netflix Development Project
• Updated: Petition Drive Begins to Place Future Netflix Project on June Ballot
• Is the Los Gatos General Plan Outside the Court's Jurisdiction?