Sobrato proposes a research facility at A to Z Nursery site
By Nathan R. Huff
It might not be Cisco's Coyote Valley, but Sobrato Development Company has proposed what may be the biggest research and development facility Los Gatos has ever seen.
Sobrato hopes to use the land that houses A to Z Nursery and adjoining parcels also bought from Maxxim Medical to construct a 275,000-square-foot "research park." The park would then be leased to one or more high-tech firms.
The proposal was already presented to the town's conceptual development advisory committee (CDAC), which offered a plethora of criticisms, suggestions and compliments for the proposal.
The principal issue with the park is its location, which is part of the Vasona Light Rail Corridor identified in the General Plan. While Sobrato's proposal meets the current zoning requirements, the town's new and old General Plan also states that, upon light rail's arrival, the area will be rezoned high-density residential.
But, according to Sobrato's senior vice president John Shank, the initial response to the project from the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) has been positive. The development could house over 800 employees, which Shank said definitely qualifies it as a high-density use.
"We're making sure what we do in no way prohibits the VTA from coming here," Shank said. "The VTA is very positive on a development that provides density, because density to them equals riders."
VTA spokeswoman Jill Roberts said the agency took no stance on projects within any individual city. "We don't, as an agency, prefer one development over another," Roberts said. "We basically leave it up to the towns."
Two scenarios have been developed, one using an adjoining Santa Clara Valley Water District property as a potential park-and-ride-lot for light rail commuters. Some of the research park's 890 parking spaces--480 of which would be underground--could also be used. Whether the Los Gatos Planning Commission will consider the possibility of a future zone change remains undetermined.
Assuming the light rail possibility and other CDAC and development review committee (DRC) issues can be worked out, the 12.5-acre site would house four buildings in a square with lawn courtyards and a recreational/cafeteria building in the middle. Shank said the central facility could have exercise facilities and showers. Parking would be under the buildings.
Sobrato recently completed a similar size building in San Jose into which Los Gatos-based Metricom will move.
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