Commission wants more low-priced unis to be part of new development

By Gloria I. Wang

A developer who recently received town approval to build 42 apartments in Los Gatos is planning another project that includes some much needed rental housing.

Cupertino Development Corporation revised designs for its project at Los Gatos Boulevard and Terreno de Flores, to include more affordable housing after a January study session. The result is a mixed-use proposal that consists of an office building, six apartment units and 12 single-family, for-sale homes, two of which will sell below-market price, as required by town law.

The houses range from about 1,200 to 2,300 square feet, and the apartments are from 1,400 to 1,500 square feet. The office building increased its square footage from around 11,000 to 14,000 square feet.

The Los Gatos Planning Commission, while supportive of the project overall and the mixed-use integration, had a few additional concerns with the project and voted to continue the hearing to May 9. Commissioners, on March 28, gave Cupertino Development instructions to work the issues out with town staff at the development review committee level in the meantime.

Themes of the commissioners' concerns were parking and traffic issues, distances between structures and the below-market-price units.

Commissioner Phil Micciche observed that the rent from the apartments, at $2,200 to $2,400 a month, and increased square footage of the office building, at $4 to $4.50 per square foot, adds up to a gross income of approximately $300,000 per year. Micciche suggested that Cupertino Development consider making more of the housing below-market price. "You guys can be a real hero here if the six apartments are below-market price," Micciche said. Micciche also broached the idea of dedicating some of the below-market-price units for teachers or police officers.

Commissioners also made suggestions regarding changing designs in a way that would increase safety, increasing square footage of the below-market townhouses and restriping a turn lane on Los Gatos Boulevard.

Commissioner Paul Dubois said that he wanted to see a security fence installed in the resident-only portion of the underground parking lots.

The project is near the proposed Vasona Light Rail station and will have pedestrian access to public transportation. In the town's General Plan, buildings surrounding the light rail station are specifically to be mixed-use. Two of the existing homes on Terreno de Flores will become office buildings in the future.

The design of all the proposed buildings are of "Spanish-eclectic flavor," coordinating with an existing home on the site. Eight homes that currently stand on the site will be demolished, if the planning commission approves the project May 9.

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