By Clarence Cromwell
Blaming lack of support for affordable housing, a development company has withdrawn part of its plan to build 40 condos on top of the creekside walnut orchard at 16673 Lark Ave.
Rodger Griffen, designer of the project, announced at the Feb. 12 Planning Commission meeting that Landmark Development doesn't want a general plan change any longer, because it no longer seeks to build a high-density project.
Landmark met with all five members of the Town Council and with neighbors before addressing the Planning Commission, Landmark partner Larry Guy said after the hearing. Guy said he was dismayed that members of the council and Planning Commission backed off from earlier requests for a high-density project on the property.
"It was a strong suggestion we heard twice," Guy said.
Councilmembers Randy Attaway and Linda Lubeck, and Planning Commissioners Sandy Decker, Mike Abkin and Cathy Morgan were present at those meetings.
After looking at Landmark's plans, the neighbors, councilmembers and planning commissioners decided they didn't want so many houses after all.
"We'd like density. We need housing in the town," Decker said. "But we don't want it to be inappropriate density."
The planning commissioners concurred last week that the developer should try to design a neighborhood that looks nice, rather than attempting to construct so many units. Asked by the developer for guidance, they called for careful attention to the project's small park near Los Gatos Creek, a better design that won't present visitors with rows of garages, and fewer units--no more than 12 per acre.
Landmark is expected to return with a scaled-down version of the development.
Although no specific project was on the table, neighbors took advantage of the public hearing to make their feelings about high-density housing clear to the town. Most speakers favored the zoning designation that allows five to 12 units per acre--rather than the 20 per acre that Landmark proposed--and several asked for freestanding single-family homes.
"I think the thing that makes Los Gatos unique is we don't have cluster-style condominiums," Los Gatos native Cathy Barrera said.
Several residents additionally raised concerns that the project would increase traffic on Lark Avenue.
The Planning Commission's action could raise questions about how serious the town is about building affordable housing.
To meet state laws, and gain approval for its general plan, each California municipality must submit a housing element to the state Department of Housing and Community Development. It must include plans to provide low-cost housing, which means high-density condos and apartments.
Under the gun to gain approval on its housing element, the town agreed in December to add language stating that the town will rezone land when affordable housing is proposed here.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, February 19, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.