Green light given to build a large retail office complex and structure

New building will be constructed next to city parking garage

By Erin Mayes

Campbell's Planning Commission members approved a site and architectural permit Aug. 28 to allow the construction of a 30,050 square-feet retail and office building on the recently vacated lot on Campbell Avenue between Second and Third streets.

Green Valley Corporation, in partnership with Campbell's Redevelopment Agency, plans to construct the mixed-use structure at 175-201 E. Campbell Ave. Barry Swenson Builders will be the developer.

The building will be constructed next to a three-story parking garage planned for the same lot. The garage, which will have 300 parking spaces, is scheduled for completion in July, 2002. Ninety parking spaces in the new garage will be designated for use by patrons and employees in the new building. Green Valley will pay the agency $600,000 as a parking in-lieu fee.

City planners say the new structure will have five different building facades so as to look as though it is several small buildings rather than one large connected building. Stucco and bricks will be used as wall materials, and a Mediterranean style will be used near the Second Street portion of the building to complement Stoddard's Brewhouse and Eatery, which is under construction across the street. Stoddard's is scheduled for completion some time next summer. More traditional commercial facades will be used for the remainder of the structure.

Campbell architect Bruno Marcelic is working on the project, and is serving as the architect for the Water Tower Loft project, recently given the go-ahead by Campbell City Council members at an Aug. 7 meeting. The Water Tower project, planned for 300 Orchard City Drive, includes the construction of 21 residential loft units.

Plans for the new parking structure and mixed-use project have been in the works for about two years, with the agency's main obstacle being clearing the land designated for the new projects.

The agency paid several owners on the lot for their properties, but had to proceed with eminent domain to obtain three of the buildings, which were owned by brothers Paul and Stephen Werthmann. The Werthmanns were not interested in selling their property to the agency, but in the end, the agency acquired the property, paying the Werthmanns $1.6 million.

The week of June 27, the Werthmanns' property, along with a few others, was demolished, leaving one building remaining--the Whitney House. The agency acquired the house in November 2000, and in January 2001, Campbell resident John Peters obtained the property free of charge in exchange for paying to move the house to a lot he owns on Fourth Street. The move took place July 28.

Built in the 1920s, the Whitney House was constructed and lived in by well-known Campbell architect George Whitney, who died in 1934. Peters plans to renovate the home, while preserving its historic value.

Also on the agenda at the Aug. 28 commission meeting was an appeal to an administrative decision denying a tree removal permit. The applicant, Carolyn Ferrari, had to pay a $100 appeal fee, approved by the Campbell City Council in April, with only Mayor Matthew Dean opposing it.

City officials justified the fee, saying it would recover the cost of city staff processing applications and would also discourage frivolous appeals.

In Ferrari's case, the ash tree she wants to remove is endangering the foundation and sewer lines of an apartment complex she owns, as well as upsetting the surrounding sidewalk. The commission upheld her appeal and overturned the administrative decision, allowing Ferrari to remove the tree and replace it with another. Commissioners then argued about whether Ferrari should receive the $100 she had to pay to appeal. All commissioners except Elizabeth Gibbons agreed to recommend the city council refund the money. Whether Ferrari will be refunded the $100 remains the decision of council members at a future city council meeting.

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