Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Leonard Pacheco: Where's the green?

Yuki property still needs more work, planners say

By Clarence Cromwell

The plan to build high-density housing on the two-acre Yuki orchard at 16673 Lark Ave. still needs work, the Planning Commission decided July 9.

Commissioners sent the Landmark Development Company to the town's Development Review Committee with instructions to fit more open space between 24 houses proposed on the two-acre property--even if it means fewer homes. The commission also asked for better-looking houses.

The decision marks the second time the project has been cut down to size. The first time Landmark showed plans for the property, they wanted to build 40 units. Landmark withdrew that plan in February, complaining that the town asked for high-density housing and then shot down the high-density plan; commissioners said they considered 20 units per acre inappropriate for the site and asked to see what five to 12 units per acre would look like.

What they got was better received than the first plan, although it didn't quite win approval.

"I think it's getting close," Commissioner Mike Abkin said. "I would like to see more space on the creekside."

A parklike creekside area on the western edge of the property would only be 40 feet wide under the plan Landmark submitted.

Commissioner Leonard Pacheco similarly complained that most of the "open space" in the project is paved.

"It's true you have open space here, but it's all hard--driveways, streets. Where's the green?" Pacheco said.

Pacheco added that the parklike area along the creek should be connected to the central square of the project, whereas houses would stand between the areas under the current plan.

"You could establish a view corridor and a true common green," Pacheco said.

Commissioners Pacheco and Wes Peyton said they'd like to see Pacheco's vision of the plan, even if it means eliminating a house or two to open up one side of the property. Abkin, however, said he'd like to see an equal number of smaller houses, which would allow the open space and go just as far in meeting the demand for Los Gatos housing.

Commissioners asked for a more aesthetically pleasing design than the one presented in their packet last week. Abkin objected to rows of garage doors facing the street. Pacheco noted that the drawings submitted look just like Alberto Way, a previous project designed by Landmark's architect, Rodger Griffin of Paragon Design.

In the end, planners called for the changes by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Marcia Jensen dissenting. Jensen said it looked to her as though the developer was cramming as many houses as possible onto the land and she didn't think the two below-market-price units would make the project worthwhile to the town.

"Twenty-four units on two acres is too many," Jensen said.

The applicants appeared disappointed with the decision, but said they'll do their best to meet every stipulation of the commission.

Guy said Landmark wants the houses to sell for less than $500,000 each.

Guy said it may be necessary to plan for fewer houses by the time all the commission's changes are incorporated, especially the request for rear or side garages.

"It's so tight. How you do that?" Guy asked after the meeting, peering at his architect's sketch. The changes might mean fewer four-bedroom homes than planned and more three-bedroom homes, he ventured.

Notably absent from the meeting were neighbors, who packed the Council Chambers Feb. 12 to oppose the 20-unit-per-acre plan. Two area residents spoke at last week's meeting.

The project is scheduled to return to the Planning Commission at its Aug. 27 meeting.

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