Council Approves Azule Crossing After A Long And 'Painful' Process

Twenty-four people show support-more than before

Owners are 'thrilled'

By Kara Chalmers

To thunderous applause, the City Council on Feb. 2 unanimously passed the proposed development to revitalize the Azule Crossing shopping center at 12312 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road.

The community again came out in force, some even breaking into tears, to support a project that they see as beneficial to the gateway area of the city. Twenty-four people publicly supported the project--two more than the last time.

"Don't reject it, please. Don't reject it, now," Mary Helmers, one of the neighbors who spoke, warned the council. "Thank you."

Marilyn Riding, an Azule Crossing tenant for 20 years, said, "This is Measure G alive and in person. We're here to support the project, and we don't need a ballot to tell you that."

Some City Council members said they were glad to see that the end result was the best project yet. "The process has been painful and frustrating, but we have an improved project," Mayor Stan Bogosian said.

But that positive sentiment was tempered with notices from some council members that this does not represent how they feel in general about development and converting land uses.

Kristin Davis, daughter of Azule Crossing co-owner Zorka Ficovich, said the owners are thrilled with the outcome.

"I'm glad they put themselves in our shoes," Ficovich said of the council members.

Most of all, the owners felt relief that the whole painful process has come to a happy end. "I'm glad it's over," said Desanka Popovich, a co-owner and Ficovich's sister.

When the proposal came before the City Council in December, 22 people spoke in support of it, including representatives of the business, environmental and governmental segments of the community, and many more sent letters of support. Many of the neighbors who initially complained about the development, turned out at the hearing Dec. 15, strongly supporting the project.

But the City Council, which had called up the decision for review, denied the proposal, overturning the Planning Commission's prior approval, by a vote of 3-2. Councilmen Nick Streit and Evan Baker voted to approve the project. The main reason for the denial was the reluctance to use the 1 percent of commercially designated land in Saratoga for residential uses. The other three council members said the property and the whole gateway area needed to be given a chance before it was turned into housing and lost forever.

The owners, developers and interested Saratoga residents expressed discouragement, disappointment and confusion at the time of the denial, mainly because no one at the meeting said anything negative about the project during the public testimony. They also said it is rare for developers and neighbors to find the kind of common ground they did in this case. Some neighbors who spoke at the meeting said they felt ignored by the council and were shocked by the outcome.

The City Council on Jan. 5 decided to reconsider its denial and look at a modified plan for the site. Developers responded to the council's concerns with a plan that included more commercial space, according to Scott Ward, vice president of one of the developing companies, Classic Communities.

Nick Streit was the only council member who said Feb. 2 that he would rather go forward with the original plan approved by the Planning Commission. He said the city doesn't need more office space because it will likely sit empty.

The mixed-use development calls for the front commercial building to be refurbished and expanded to include a 5,100-square-foot two-story addition. There will be an extended covered walkway all around the commercial area and internal stairways. More parking spaces will be added in the already planned parking area.

The other three office buildings in the back will be demolished to make room for 20 residences, which neighbors supported more than the 25-residences plan passed by the Planning Commission in November. The residences will be 1,850-square-foot single-family homes.

When community members took the floor Feb. 2, many of them praised the residential component of the plan. Many of the sentiments voiced in December were echoed again--that the plan would establish a residential buffer between the existing neighborhood and the commercial space and that the proposal would make good use of property not commercially feasible because of its lack of visibility and access. Some said that the project would provide a little more diversity of housing in Saratoga, especially for the elderly population.

Popovich's husband, Milan, 79, said that like many other residents in Saratoga, the time has come for him and his wife to "downsize." He said he can't handle a large house and a large yard anymore, but doesn't want to move from Saratoga.

"This project is our salvation," he said adding that it will give him and his wife an opportunity to enjoy their golden years in the community they have lived in for 50 years.

Marchelle Fox, president of West Valley College, said that the homes may allow more teachers to be able to live in the community where they actually teach.

The council sent the project back to the city's Planning Department for final architecture and exterior design review and to explore the economic feasibility of an elevator in the commercial building, in response to concerns from some of the neighbors.

Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith suggested adding one or two below-market -rate homes to the plan because the city eventually must deal with state requirements for low- and moderate-income housing. However, the council decided not to include any below-market homes.

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