Neighborhood angry about Elks' plans to build office
Residents criticize town for considering proposal
Area zoned residential
By Gloria I. Wang
A local fraternal organization is in the initial stages of working with the town to develop an empty plot of land, and the battle already is brewing between the organization and the neighborhood.
The Los Gatos Elks Lodge, a chapter of an established national organization, proposes to construct an office building on a site across the street from its existing Newell Avenue lodge. The approximately 7,700-square-foot office would sit on the gravel lot at the northwest corner of Newell Avenue and Winchester Boulevard. So far, the application is in the initial stages of planning, following discussion at the development review committee level only.
The proposed site is zoned residential. However, the Elks, in addition to applying for design approval, have applied for a General Plan amendment to change the zoning to office. And this, says the neighbors, is where the biggest problem lies.
A petition has been submitted to the town, with more than 100 signatures of residents, mostly those on Newell Avenue, Wimbledon Drive and La Montagne Court. The town has also received numerous letters in opposition to the Elks' development.
According to the letters received, the neighbors are afraid that an office building would decrease the property values of homes, that the traffic generated would pose a danger to the neighborhood and that a zoning change would start a trend.
The town's latest General Plan has zoned the Newell Avenue (west) side of Winchester Boulevard as residential, while the east side of Winchester Boulevard consists of office and research and development buildings.
The residents have also complained that they did not receive notification from the town about the plan, and that town staff were not responsive to their comments.
"Certainly all of the neighbors' concerns would be addressed," Community Development Director Bud Lortz said--but only at the planning commission and town council meetings, which include public hearings.
According to Lortz, when an application is filed, the town has an obligation to proceed with working on the design and if the application fits with town regulations. Zoning issues, Lortz said, are addressed at a higher level. Planning commissioners listen to the public and applicant, and make a recommendation to the town council. Council members then make a decision based on the recommendation.
Neighbors are usually not informed at the development review committee stages, because they do not have the opportunity to speak, but the town's policy is to send out notices of public hearings.
Newell Avenue resident Ann Burns said that the neighbors don't want to wait until the application reaches the planning commission. "You stop it at the ground roots, even before it continues on," Burns said. "We're damned tired and we're not going to take it anymore."
The Elks first brought their application to the town's conceptual development advisory committee sometime last year. After months of reworking, the item went to the development review committee.
Bill Quigley, the Elks' representative, declined to comment, but did say that the neighbors' questions would be answered at a June 13 General Plan Committee meeting, taking place in the town council chambers at 5:30 p.m.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
