2025-002 - Declaring Certain Town-Owned Property at 4 Tait Ave as Exempt Surplus Land Pursuant to Section 54221(f)(1)(B) of the State Surplus Land ActRESOLUTION 2025-002
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS,
CALIFORNIA DECLARING CERTAIN TOWN -OWNED PROPERTY AT 4 TAIT
AVENUE AS EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND PURSUANT TO SECTION 54221(f)(1)(B)
OF THE STATE SURPLUS LAND ACT
WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos ("Town") owns that certain approximately 12,234
square foot (0.28 acre) real property located at 4 Tait Avenue, Los Gatos, designated as APN:
510-44-054 ("Property") which is improved with an approximately 2,525 square foot building
("Building") and ancillary outbuilding originally constructed as a fire station and later used as a
museum; and
WHEREAS, the Town has caused an appraisal of the Property to be completed to
establish its fair market value. The appraisal establishes that the Property's highest and best
use is for residential purposes, and the fair market appraised value is between $2.9 and $3.06
Million, depending on whether the Property can be split into two lots; and
WHEREAS, the museum use was discontinued and the Building closed several years ago,
and since that time the Property has been unoccupied and is no longer needed for Town's use;
and
WHEREAS, the Town has determined it is in the Town's best interest to sell the
Property, subject to a requirement that the Building's facade be preserved and maintained in a
manner substantially consistent with its current condition and design; and
WHEREAS, the State Surplus Land Act, Government Code sections 54220 et seq. ("Act"),
applies when a local agency disposes of land that is surplus and not necessary for the agency's
use; and
WHEREAS, the Act requires local agencies to declare land as "surplus land" or "exempt
surplus land" prior to disposition; and
WHEREAS, the Act identifies land that is less than one-half acre or 21,780 square feet
and not contiguous to land owned by a state or local agency that is used for open -space or low -
and moderate -income housing purposes as "Exempt Surplus Land" [Gov. Code Section
54221(f)(1)(B)]; and
WHEREAS, the Property is less than 21,780 square feet and not contiguous to land
owned by a state or local agency that is used for open -space or low- and moderate -income
housing purposes, exempting the transfer of the Property from the Act; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Surplus Land Act Guidelines issued by the California
Department of Housing and Community Development ("HCD"), any determination by a local
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Resolution 2025-002 January 21, 2025
agency that its lands are exempt from the Surplus Land Act must be provided to HCD for its
review at least 30 days prior to disposition.
NOW THEREFORE, THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS RESOLVES AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals
The recitals above are hereby incorporated and adopted as the findings of the Town
Council.
Section 2. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Adoption of this Resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section
15378, as it does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the
environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Section 3. Declaration of Exempt Surplus Land
A. Based on the foregoing recitals, the public interest is for the Property to be offered for
sale in accordance with applicable law.
B. The Town Council hereby declares that the Property is not necessary for the Town's use,
and is exempt from the Act pursuant to California Government Code section
54221(f)(1)(B).
C. Pursuant to California Government Code section 54222.3, the Act shall not apply to the
disposition of the Property.
Section 4. Actions; Authorizations
A. The Town Manager is authorized to undertake efforts to sell the Property to a purchaser
at a sales price not less than the Property's fair market value, subject to a requirement
that the purchaser and its successors and assigns commit to preserve and maintain the
Building's facade in a manner substantially consistent with its current design and
condition, and to present the Town Manager's recommendation to the Town Council for
consideration.
B. The Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to submit a copy of this Resolution to
HCD in accordance with the Surplus Land Act Guidelines.
Section 5. Effective Date
This Resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption.
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Resolution 2025-002 January 21, 2025
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos held
on the 21g day of January 2025, by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Rob Rennie, Rob Moore, Mary Badame, Mayor Matthew Eludes
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSED: Maria Ristow
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK OtJTHt OWN OF1OS GATOS
LOS GAibS;QALIFORNIA
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Resolution 2025-002
January 21, 2025