Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Council OKs Farwell building

By Jeff Kearns

After a yearlong process, Sue Farwell won approval April 20 to build an 8,492-square-foot mixed-use building behind Lyndon Plaza, as the Town Council voted to deny an appeal of a prior decision by the Planning Commission.

Because the debate over the building centered so much on parking, Councilmember Joanne Benjamin also pushed the council to start looking into both long- and short-term solutions to ease the squeeze. The council added short-term parking solutions to its May 18 agenda.

"We would all benefit as a town if we had a plan," she said. "We can't just approve, approve, approve if we don't have one."

The council voted 3-1 for the project. Jan Hutchins did not vote because his wife leases property from the Farwell family.

Randy Attaway voted against the proposal, but only, he said, because he wasn't happy with the idea of mixed-use downtown. The building has four office units on the ground floor and four apartments upstairs.

But the project was being appealed on the grounds that putting a building on a lot that currently provides parking downtown might endanger Lyndon Plaza's commercial viability. Lyndon Plaza currently leases Farwell's property for use as a parking lot.

Opponents, mainly the owners of Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza and Lyndon Plaza, have fought the building, claiming that Farwell will create a parking problem in that area if she builds on her parking lot.

"The central issue is a property owner's right to develop property vs. the need for parking downtown," Councilmember Steve Blanton said.

Several residents who addressed the issue acknowledged that parking was tight downtown, but they were content to walk a couple blocks.

"It's the same thing as if I want to go over to the beach at Santa Cruz on a sunny Saturday afternoon--I know there's going to be traffic," said Brett Houston, who said he isn't deterred by parking when he comes downtown on the weekends.

But opponents, including Glenn Thompson of Willow Street, contended that if the parking was lost, it could mean trouble for his business--and potentially all of Lyndon Plaza.

"Elimination of parking is a direct threat to Lyndon Plaza's viability," Thompson said. "By virtue of the fact it has a parking lot behind it, it is a place that tenants will lease. By taking it away, tenants will begin to leave at the end of their lease."

Thompson asked to have Farwell's project delayed at least one year, to see what kind of effect the new Old Town will have on downtown. Farwell's attorney countered that this would place a de facto moratorium on the development of her property.

Downtown business owner Larry Arzie blasted Willow Street for their appeal, which he said was made only because it would benefit the restaurant.

"The town isn't responsible for the viability of Willow Street Pizza," he said.

After the meeting, Farwell said she was "happy it's over."

Will there be more Farwell buildings?

"No plans at this time," she said flatly.

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