Negotiations with owners will involve access, compensation

Parking garage designs involve private property

By Nathan R. Huff

While Los Gatos inches closer to breaking ground on two downtown parking structures, several hurdles remain--including hammering out a compromise with downtown property owners, whose private land may become part of the town's long-term solution to the parking shortage.

Depending on which designs are used, some private property owners may be affected by the construction of parking garages on town lots 2 and 6. Although most property owners would agree that the additional parking will benefit business, the price they are willing to pay for it varies.

Town Manager David Knapp said the council has given him his marching orders, and he has already sent letters to property owners adjoining the lots. Knapp said the town is eager to work out the issues.

Bill Bacchi, owner of the Eureka building and a member of the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, said a variety of problems confront property owners on his block of N. Santa Cruz Avenue, which fronts Lot 2.

"We want both lots built with as many spaces as possible," Bacchi said, "without putting the town and property owners against each other." However, Bacchi added, as designs have changed from the original proposal by the Watry group, the effects the structure would have on neighboring businesses has increased.

One of the current design schemes uses a circular ramp centered immediately behind businesses on the 200 block of N. Santa Cruz Avenue. If this option is selected, some building owners will be giving up valuable property that is now used for private parking.

Other points of concern for Lot 2 businesses include service and delivery access to the rear of their buildings, and the recent discovery that potentially dangerous levels of toxins may exist in the soil and groundwater, which Bacchi said could present a liability issue for the town and property owners.

"We'll move forward once the tests are completed," Bacchi said. "Property owners and the council haven't gotten all the information yet."

Sue Farwell, partial owner of the La Cañada building, which backs into Lot 6, has fewer concerns about the structure proposed for that lot, namely because current designs utilize only town property. Farwell's concerns center on ensuring ingress and egress rights and on guarantees for future protection.

"We're not looking to build anymore on our property," Farwell said. "What the family wants is to have the most parking possible. Let's not get petty--let's build what's best for the town." Lot 6 was Farwell family property before they donated the land to the town for use as a parking lot.

Knapp said the town will move forward with negotiations as soon as possible, which could involve monetary compensation or guarantees of future protection, among other things.

"The immediate owners stand to benefit by increased parking," Knapp said.

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