Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Council denies Mason permit

By Anne Gelhaus

After waiting six months for an application from Bill Mason to convert his apartment complex into an office site, the Town Council last week denied his request to continue operating his facility without the proper permit.

The council granted Mason an extension last June and reversed a Planning Commission decision to prohibit him from operating his eight-unit apartment complex at 664 N. Santa Cruz Ave.

During that six-month period, Mason was to obtain written clearance from the town's Building Department to continue running the apartments. He was also to secure at least one of his apartments with the Community Services Department as a below-market-price rental unit and to submit revised plans for redeveloping the property.

According to the resolution adopted by the council at a Feb. 5 meeting, Mason met none of these requirements. He also failed to appear at a Jan. 16 public hearing to testify on his own behalf.

Mason was also a no-show at last week's meeting, and his absence left Mayor Randy Attaway a bit miffed.

"I think the council has bent over backwards trying to be fair," Attaway said after the meeting. "And he's chosen not to respond. We had to finally conclude this matter."

Mason couldn't be reached for comment after the meeting. His troubles with the town begin in 1992, when he applied to operate his building as an apartment complex. One year later, he began operating the complex without the necessary permits.