Ord 1859 - Urgency Interim Zoning Ordinance Concerning Office Development in the Central Business DistrictORDINANCE 1859
URGENCY INTERIM ZONING ORDINANCE EXTENDING
ORDINANCE 1834 WHICH TEMPORARILY AMENDS
THE ZONING ORDINANCE CONCERNING OFFICE DEVELOPMENT
IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS DOES HEREBY
SECTION I
FINDINGS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65858, the Los Gatos Town Council hereby
finds that there is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare
in that the Zoning Ordinance permits ground floor office activities in the Central Business
District. Due to the October 17 Earthquake, many commercial buildings in the Downtown
which were previously occupied by retail businesses are now vacant. The retail atmosphere
in the Downtown may be significantly impacted as retail and office activities compete for
the newly renovated commercial space. It is necessary to impose temporary limitations on
new office activities on the ground floor in the Central Business District to provide the
Commercial Specific Plan Committee an opportunity to study this issue and develop
permanent regulations. The potential for office uses to occupy a majority of the ground
floor renovated ground floor commercial space creates a threat to the public health, safety
and welfare as follows:
a. Ground floor retail uses create a lively atmosphere which attracts pedestrians to the
Central Business District and contributes to the vitality of the Central Business
District as a retail center.
b. As result of the October 17 earthquake, it is necessary for the Town to restrict
office activity on the ground floor in the Central Business District in order to
preserve the status quo and promote the success of existing retail businesses by
attracting customers interested in fulfilling a variety of shopping needs.
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c. The potential for ground floor office development to locate in previously occupied
retail spaces threatens the ability of the Central Business District to recover from
the October 17th earthquake.
d. The retail businesses in the Central Business District are a significant source of
revenue to the Town and the success of these businesses are threatened by ground
floor office development.
SECTION II
AMENDMENTS TO ZONING
ORDINANCE SECTION 4.56.020
Zoning Ordinance Section 4.56.020 is hereby amended as follows:
SEC. 4.56.020: PERMITTED USES
Activities involving the conduct of commerce and general business and for the sale of
commodities necessary for the needs of residents and visitors of the Town, such as:
(1) Retailing.
(2) Personal service businesses.
(3) Service businesses necessary for the conduct of households or businesses.
(4) Office activities, provided they are not located on the ground floor along the street.
Office activities may be allowed in a building that was under construction on July
16, 1990, providing the Architecture and Site Approval specifically states that the
building was approved for office activities. Existing office activities shall be
considered conforming and shall be allowed to continue in perpetuity.
(5) Limited manufacturing activities when a majority of sales are made, on site, to
the ultimate consumer.
(6) Wholesaling without warehousing on the premises.
(7) Single- family and two - family uses, in conjunction with the other uses permitted
in this Section. (Added by Od. 1546, 8- 16 -82).
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Example of proper C -2 activities are apparel stores, launderette or dry - cleaning
agencies, travel agencies, antique stores, telephone answering services, artist studios,
sales offices for merchandise stored elsewhere, craft studios, auto parts sales and paint
shops. Examples of activities which are not proper in the C -2 zone are vehicle sales or
service, manufacturing, warehousing, laundry or dry - cleaning plants.
SECTION III
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Ordinance shall take effect immediately and shall be of no further force and effect
after June 18, 1992.
Within 15 days after this Ordinance is adopted, the Town Clerk shall cause it to be
published once in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the Town.
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This Ordinance was introduced and adopted by the following vote as an urgency interim
zoning ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos at a regular meeting of the Town Council on
June 17, 1991.
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Randy Attaway, Joanne Benjamin, Steven Blanton, Eric C. Carlson
Mayor Brent N. Ventura
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
'>t' . a
CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
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