Los Gatos Weekly-Times Affordable units on miles avenue shot down over site concerns Studios were proposed near corporation yard, substation Whose right is it, anyway? By Jeff Kearns The Planning Commission on Jan. 13 denied a nonprofit organization's request to put a low-income housing project on Miles Avenue after commissioners deadlocked in a split vote. The local arm of Community Housing Developers, a national organization dedicated to building affordable housing, has been working for two years to come up with a design that fits 12 studio apartments into the tricky half-acre parcel at 71 Miles Avenue, which is just across the street from Highway 17 and is sandwiched between the town corporation yard and a PG&E substation. With one seat unfilled, the remaining six commissioners split 3-3 on the issue. Commissioners voting against the project--Len Pacheco, Laura Nachison and chairwoman Sandy Decker--said they favored affordable housing in town, but didn't think that the site was appropriate for the development. "Affordable housing is a critical issue, but with the many negative issues, I just can't support this project," Decker said, citing concerns that the apartments would be isolated and could be better integrated elsewhere in the town. "I'm concerned we're exalting form over substance here, and we're not working to achieve the best for the town," Nachison said. "It's not socially responsible to say, 'well, this is the best we can do.' " Paul Bruno argued that if tenants wanted to live in the area, it should be their decision, not the town's. "It is not government's job to say that someone cannot live there," he said. After Kathryn Morgan's motion for approval died in a deadlock, Marcia Jensen said she would change her vote, to give CHD a denial, so it could appeal the decision to the Town Council. CHD's project manager, Bill Zavlaris, said that he would probably file an appeal, but needed to take it to his board of directors first. "It was very frustrating," Zavlaris told the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. "The problem is that it's easy to say 'I'm all for affordable housing, but this isn't the right site.' We get that all the time." Zavlaris said he was certain that he would have more than 100 applicants for the low-priced units, which would probably be rented to employees of downtown businesses. Leaders from several area organizations that deal with housing issues showed up to support the project on behalf of their groups, including the League of Women Voters, Affordable Housing Network of Santa Clara County, Housing Action Coalition, Los Gatos Interfaith Outreach Group, Interfaith Council Housing Committee, Los Gatos Unitarian Fellowship and West Valley Open Doors. Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, also showed up in support. "No site is perfect for any use," he said. "Twelve people are going to be thrilled to be able to live in a wonderful place like downtown Los Gatos." Los Gatos residents also showed up on behalf of the project. "I went through an extensive search for housing when I moved here, and this is something I would have been very interested in," said Christina Perry, a college student who recently moved to Los Gatos. Other residents asked the commission to block the project. "We are desperately in need of affordable housing, but that area is unacceptable," said Helen Gillespie, one of two Edelen-area residents who spoke against the project. The design, by Los Gatos architect Brett Hancock, shows two two-story buildings toward the back of the lot, one adjacent to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Hancock described the design as "small, rusticated structures that might have been built in the early part of the century." To help mitigate noise, tall sound walls would be built on both sides of the site. Pacheco was cool to the layout of the two detached buildings, which he said could manage open space better with some minor modifications. The apartments would comply with the zoning for the site. Although it isn't prime real estate, the Town Council turned down a zone change application two years ago that would have rezoned the parcel from residential to commercial. Subsequently, the Redevelopment Agency has earmarked $430,276 for the project from various funding sources. A Planning Department report recommended approval. "The approval of this application is critical to help the town meet General Plan and Redevelopment Affordable Housing Plan policies and implementation measures for providing affordable housing," the report stated. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, January 20, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.