Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Planners pass SummerHill to council, recommend approval

Some immediate neighbors still unhappy

By Jeff Kearns

After its fourth appearance before the Planning Commission, SummerHill Homes won a recommendation from commissioners last week, and now the developer's plans for a housing development on Blossom Hill Road go to the Town Council for final approval.

Commissioners made a series of modifications to the plans before making a recommendation to the council, which included narrowing the streets and deleting one more house from the 45-unit design, including the historic Heinz house. Previously, SummerHill said it would abandon the proposal altogether if the town cut the plan down to 44 houses.

The Commission approved the plans by a 6-1 vote, with Marcia Jensen dissenting.

Jensen said she didn't believe the unavoidable impacts of the project, including the loss of agricultural land, could be offset by the developer's concessions, which she said should be expected.

"I don't see how those can be seen as a benefit when they are, in fact, required if there's to be a development," she said.

Laura Nachison said that while she initially voted to deny the project, she now can reluctantly support it. "It's like John Stuart Mill meeting Joni Mitchell: the greatest good for the greatest number vs. paving paradise and putting up a planned development."

Commissioners explained to neighbors that their decisions ultimately had to be made in the best interests of the town, not those in the immediate area of the project.

SummerHill automatically goes to the council because the project is a planned development, which must be approved by councilmembers. The general plan committee will also prepare an amendment to the town's general plan, which the council may adopt to reflect what's being proposed.

SummerHill first started a series of meetings with residents in March of 1997. The first meetings were packed with angry neighbors who ranted about the project. SummerHill continued its string of meetings, and over the past year the developer has won over many neighbors with a series of concessions and redesigns.

Although some neighbors couldn't be swayed in favor of the project, many did say that SummerHill's plan was probably as good a proposal as that site would ever see. Several neighbors continued to push for a design that would allow about half as many houses, while others said this would attract monster houses on acre lots. SummerHill is scheduled to go before the council in July.

Because of a jampacked agenda, the Planning Commission delayed a hearing on the Toll House Hotel's proposal for a 27-room expansion until June 10.

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