Developers find affordable housing component helps get town approval

By Gloria I. Wang

A recent trend among Los Gatos developers who build multiple housing units is to set some aside for lower-income residents, especially teachers.

The Los Gatos Planning Commission recently gave its unanimous support to one such project proposed by the Cupertino Development Corporation. The Terreno de Flores project consists of an office building and 19 housing units. Three of them will sell or rent at below-market price, as required by town law, and one will be rented to teachers only.

Cupertino Development heeded suggestions provided by Los Gatos Planning commissioners at a March 28 hearing and incorporated them into its plans. At the May 9 hearing, commissioners were, for the most part, satisfied with the changes, but still raised some minor issues before they unanimously voted in favor of the proposal. On April 25, the planning commission approved a mixed-use development on Farley Road that also reserved space in which teachers could live.

The approved Terreno de Flores development includes 12 single-family, for-sale homes; two of them will be sold at below-market price, conforming to a town program that creates affordable housing tied to household income. Of the seven apartments on the site--one more was added after the March 28 meeting--a one-bedroom unit will rent for below-market price. Another will be reserved for teachers, which was a suggestion made by commissioners on May 9.

A 13,000-square-foot, two-story office building will house Cupertino Development on the top floor. An underground parking lot will provide 72 spaces for residents and tenants of the office building.

Designer Rodger Griffin pointed out the "blended" nature of the development. The residential and commercial buildings will provide a mixture of living and working environments, and the project's proximity to the future Vasona Light Rail station will encourage public transportation.

Commission Chairman Jim Lyon said that it had "strong community benefits that outweigh any traffic impacts." To alleviate traffic problems on Los Gatos Boulevard, the town will examine restriping and adding a left-turn lane on Los Gatos Boulevard.

Commissioner Lee Quintana said she felt that the project accomplishes many of the goals for the town, such as having mixed-use developments along Los Gatos Boulevard. Quintana showed the most enthusiasm for the project, saying, "I would love to live in one of those apartments, more than I would like to live in one of those four for-sale townhomes."

Although Commissioner Paul Dubois expressed his concerns about the open space on the development encouraging loitering and the placement of elevators discriminating against elderly and disabled people, he still voted for approval. The commission recommended that, at the architecture and site stage, Cupertino Development work with town staff to develop designs that will increase the safety in the complex.

In March, Cupertino Development received town approval to build a 42-unit apartment complex with seven below-market-price units, on Blossom Hill Road and Placer Oaks Drive.

Photo: Carmen Rutlen takes her dog for a run and her cockatoo for a fly at Vasona Park

Moryt Milo: Power outages bring out frustrations

Affordable solar power looms on horizon

Obituaries

Picture from the Past

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos to host CCS track finals

Gatos baseball, softball teams lose at CCS

Ellis, Blair help A's hold Little League top spot

Courtside women win berth in tennis nationals