Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Editorials

Downtown begins getting spruced up

New benches meeting the specifications of the Downtown Streetscape Plan are beginning to crop up all over town. Although a number of benches had been "adopted" earlier by local citizens, placement could not begin until the entire scope of the plan, including the location of benches, had been laid out and approved.

The Redevelopment Agency kicks in 40 percent of the cost of the benches as a matching fund, and until the mechanism for that process was in place, the benches were on hold. Now the program is going great guns.

The town took another important step toward beautifying and revitalizing downtown last week with the removal of planter boxes that had fallen into disrepair and the transplanting of the trees to a new location near the library.

Current plans call for implementing the streetscape plan in phases, but momentum clearly is building.

Although the downtown has retained its charm and still attracts lots of visitors who enjoy dining, shopping and strolling, the town, frankly, has been resting on its laurels much too long. The area has looked increasingly seedy. So, this flurry of activity is welcome.

And there is something more Los Gatans can do to keep the momentum going.

In addition to adopting benches, citizens can also adopt the new standardized concrete trash receptacles with domed lids. Like the benches, adopted receptacles will bear an engraved brass plaque in the name of the donor.

While it's true that trash receptacles lack the charm of a bench, they may do more in the long run to ensure downtown's beauty. New planters, benches and streetlights are all very nice, but if trash continues to be strewn on sidewalks and in gutters, downtown will still look shabby.

So far, the only adopted receptacle in town is located in front of the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co. It was adopted by owner Teri Hope.

While anyone can adopt a receptacle, Hope's example should inspire other business owners, particularly those whose customers carry food and drink out of their shops. As with the benches, the town will kick in 40 percent of the cost. The receptacles are priced at $685, which includes installation, tax, freight and upkeep. For more information, call Mike LaRocca at 399-5773.

Pacheco is thoughtful

We don't always agree with Len Pacheco, but we view his reappointment to the Planning Commission as a positive move. Some say he is too pro-preservation, and others criticize his efforts to influence the design of buildings that come before the commission.

Silicon Valley currently is enjoying a wave of prosperity. The push for development and housing will be a mixed blessing for Los Gatos.

The town needs both.

Although the Planning Commission rightfully comes under fire on occasion for making applicants jump through too many hoops, pressure to simplify the process needs to be balanced with commissioners who are thoughtful and not easily intimidated.

Pacheco fills the bill on both counts.