Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photo by George Sakkestad

Conflicting signs such as these, located in front of the Los Gatos
Post Office, are not scheduled for discussion at an April study session
of the Downtown Parking Improvement Plan. Instead, the Town Council will consider developing 180 new parking spaces in the downtown over the next five years.

Council defers parking study

Calvary gets approval, Proposition 199 opposed by council

By Anne Gelhaus

The Town Council, at its Feb. 20 meeting, deferred a report on the Downtown Parking Improvement Plan to an April study session. The plan calls for developing 180 new parking spaces in the downtown over the next five years, as well as refurbishing existing parking lots. The plan also proposes paid parking to cover construction and maintenance costs.

"There are so many issues involved that we thought a study session would be a better forum to consider them," Councilmember Steve Blanton said after the meeting.

After sending them back to the drawing board several times, the Town Council last week finally approved Calvary Church's expansion plans.

The council first heard the church's appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of the plans in January. Throughout the process, church officials met with opposition from neighbors on Robie Lane who objected to proposals to expand the parking lot and to erect a new two-story, multi-use building.

Many Robie Lane residents had a hand in shaping the resolution ultimately passed by the council at a Feb. 20 meeting. Compromises between the church and its neighbors led to plans for restricted hours of operation, gated parking lots and a setback requirement for the second story of the new multi-use building.

Steve Boersma, Calvary's executive pastor for administration, has said he expects plans for building interiors to be submitted in the fall.

At the Feb. 20 meeting, the Town Council also adopted a resolution opposing Proposition 199, which would eliminate rent control for mobile homes.

"I would be disappointed if this proposition passed," Mayor Randy Attaway said earlier. "I'm a believer in free enterprise, but I also believe there is a real necessity to have some form of rent control for mobilehome parks."

Proponents of Proposition 199 contend it will set the stage for a new, competitive mobilehome market that will sustain naturally low rents.

The Town Council tabled until March discussion of a proposal to change Los Gatos's cable television provider from South Bay Cablevision to TCI of Cleveland Inc. On Feb. 21, the Santa Clara County district attorney's office announced that its consumer protection unit won a $1.2 million judgment against South Bay Cablevision for unfair business practices. Between Sept. 1, 1991, and Nov. 30, 1994, the cable company was charging customers a $10 fee for late payments; the fee was reduced to $5 in December 1994.

Under the terms of the judgment, South Bay agreed to put $1 million into a restitution fund; customers will soon be able to make claims for partial refunds of $10 late fees they paid. South Bay also agreed to lower its late fee to $4.