Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Council approves good cheer for residents of the Meadows

By Jeff Kearns

The Town Council has cleared the way for beer and alcohol sales at the Meadows after evaluating the original zoning issued for the facility almost 30 years ago.

The Meadows already sells wine on special occasions but would also like to start serving a greater variety of wine with dinner. But before the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control can issue a formal permit, the Planning Department must approve the application. The original permit request was denied in August.

"We would like to avoid any possibility of the ABC coming to us and saying, 'You folks are violating the ABC law,' " Meadows administrator James Hempler said.

The Planning Department and the Planning Commission had both previously denied the request because alcohol sales were not specifically permitted by the Meadows' zoning. The Town Council, however, has more latitude in deciding matters of ordinance.

When planners looked into the matter, they found the town's files held nothing about the Meadows' original zoning approval, noting only that it would be a senior residential facility in a residential zone. Compared with today's highly specific procedures, there was no specific language outlining uses when the original zoning was approved on March 4, 1968.

Planning Director Lee Bowman was unable to approve the original request because it would have opened up interpretations for zoning laws throughout the town, but he worked with Hempler to find the best, most cost-effective solution to the problem instead of beginning the long process involved in getting a zone change.

"To me this is a no-brainer. We're not looking at wild parties here," Council-member Randy Attaway said.

The vote was unanimous.

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