Council says OK to project if developer makes changes
Development goes back to planning commission again
Property on Big Basin Way
By Oakley Brooks
The long-embattled development proposal by Trafalgar Inc., on upper Big Basin Way, is still very much alive and slated for even more revisions after a recent city council meeting.
City council voted 4-1 on May 2, to send the mixed-use project back to the planning commission with clear direction for the commission to approve the development--on the condition that the developer makes several changes in the design.
Last month, the commission rejected the proposal that would put four homes and one two-story commercial building on two lots, extending from what is now Bullpen Books to St. Charles Street.
Developer Stan Gamble then appealed the planning commissions' decision to the city council.
The sticking point in the commissions' rejection was Gamble's request to allow townhomes at the edge of the adjoining lots to be built 32 feet closer to each other than city code allows.
But city council suggested the commission approve the more compact building, overriding concerns by several planning commissioners that the residences would be too close to the commercial space on Big Basin Way.
"I have no problem with the variance," said Vice Mayor Nick Streit in explaining his vote. "I think there's been a lot of compromise on this project."
At issue throughout the development's yearlong planning process, was if Gamble was following the Village Plan in maximizing retail space on the Big Basin Way property while respecting the integrity and needs of the neighborhood with his home designs.
Gamble deleted one townhome from his original plan and also converted the second floor of the proposed Big Basin Way building from an apartment to a commercial space.
City council would have him make further changes.
All five members, including Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith, who cast the dissenting vote, want the façade of the commercial building to be changed significantly. They said they felt it had the look of home, not a retail establishment.
"We're looking to promote retail in the village," said Waltonsmith.
They also wanted Gamble to agree to keep the upstairs space permanently commercial--in previous plans it could revert to an apartment after five years.
And council members also advised that a sturdy wall be built behind the home closest to Big Basin Way, to keep children from playing in the commercial building's parking lot.
Child safety had been a significant issue in the planning commissions' denial of Gamble's project.
"We're progressing. It's not exactly what I wanted," said Gamble after hearing the council's recommendations, "But the alternative's worse."
The city council's decision might help move a project that has been stalled by a lack of synergy between Gamble and the planning commission. Until their final vote, commissioners tried to get Gamble to downsize his townhomes from the 3,000- to 4,000-square foot range and also consider offering houses at below-market rate. Gamble would not bend on either of those requests after making other changes in his plans
Saratoga interim Community Development Director Irwin Kaplan says the clear outline given by city council may help a planning commission in a state of transition. Two new commissioners recently took their seats and the remaining four began their terms last year.
"Under the circumstances, the direction will definitely help," said Kaplan.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
