The Willow Glen Resident

Council Watch

Planners deny a proposed zone shift on Lincoln

New homes behind Safeway slated to be single-family

By Cecily Barnes

At its Oct. 27 meeting, the Planning Commission denied a general plan change that would have brought residential homes to the northern end of Lincoln Avenue. The plan, proposed by District 6 Councilmember Frank Fiscalini, would have changed the zoning--from industrial to residential and commercial--of a triangle of land along Lincoln Avenue from Highway 280 to Los Gatos Creek.

"Planning staff thought there were significant difficulties that could cause conflicts with residential uses," said senior planner Susan Walton. "There is an elevated freeway back there, railroad tracks and a large number of business that don't look like they're leaving anytime soon, like the mini-storage facility. At this time we weren't comfortable that that could be worked out."

Though the commission denied the request for the residential change, it approved Fiscalini's suggestion for commercial rezoning of the area. If the council approves the new commercial zoning, nonindustrial businesses such as retail stores, restaurants and office buildings will be encouraged on the strip.

"The planning staff believed commercial on Lincoln Avenue would be a plausible thing to try," Walton said. "It's clear that this is an area that's going to change over the next 15 years or so. This seems like a way to approach transitioning that area into something a little more upgraded."

However, Fiscalini still wants to see the back side of Lincoln Avenue up to Los Gatos Creek rezoned residential.

"We disagree with the conclusion that's been reached on the back portion," said Joe Guerra, aide to Fiscalini. "We're going to decide whether to request deferral of the whole triangle or just the back portion."

If the matter is deferred, it will be reconsidered by planning staff after one year, during which time staff from Fiscalini's office could try to convince the planning department to recommend residential zoning.

Guerra points out that in the same general area, two successful housing projects have been approved and built in the last five years. He also points to another large housing development the Planning Commission has approved that is adjacent to the Cahill Train Station.

"I don't know how [the Planning Commission] can say it's OK to have a housing project next to this monstrous train station, but it's not OK next to one railroad track," Guerra said. "You can build housing next to a freeway, especially when it's an elevated freeway."

The Planning Commission's recommendations for the general plan changes will go before the City Council Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.

On another matter, the Planning Commission recommended rezoning as medium-density residential the undeveloped area behind the Hamilton Avenue Safeway. This means nearby residents can expect to see single-family homes, condominiums or townhomes when the area is eventually developed.

Safeway is preparing to tear down its existing building at Hamilton and Meridian avenues and construct a new superstore. After construction is complete, the supermarket chain will lease the remaining land, which backs up to Dry Creek Village homes, to residential developers. First, however, this land must be rezoned from commercial to residential. Since homeowners found out about the development several months ago, they have expressed concerns over whether the zoning would accommodate high-, medium- or low-density housing.

Those at Dry Creek Village took their concerns to the Planning Commission. As a result, planners reconsidered and voted to support medium density.

"Several years ago there was a proposal to have high-density residential there, but people came to say that was too high," said senior planner Susan Walton. "Because of that, we reconsidered for medium density."

Don Baptist, president of the Dry Creek Homeowners Association, said he is happy with the recommendation and hopes that it will be adhered to.

"The medium [density]was what we were pushing for," Baptist said. "We have Fiscalini's assurance that he will keep it to medium density and not overbuild the lot. We're depending on the word of our councilperson."

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