201106060910 - Desk Item - 16005 Los Gatos Blvd. Swanson Site 49 and 51 N. Santa Cruz Avenue - Guardino'sMEETING DATE: 06/06/2011
ITEM NO: 9 + I Q
DESK ITEM
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: June 6, 2011
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL (-7
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER i
SUBJECT: I. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT U-10-023. PROJECT LOCATION: 49 & 51 N.
SANTA CRUZ AVENUE. PROPERTY OWNER: JENNIFER WHITE
APPLICANT: PETE JILLO
RECONSIDER A REQUEST TO EXPAND AN EXISTING RESTAURANT
(GARDINO'S) TO ADD SEATING, FULL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
SERVICE, AND MODIFY HOURS OF OPERATION ON PROPERTY ZONED
C-2. APN 510-44-030; and
I I. PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PD-07-145; AND NEGATIVE DECLARATION
ND-07-148. PROJECT LOCATION: 16005 LOS GATOS
BOULEVARD. PROPERTY OWNER: CHL VENTURES LP. APPLICANT:
KENNETH RODRIGUES & PARTNERS.
A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT TO
CHANGE THE ZONE FROM CH TO CH:PD, FOR A MIXED USE
DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF RETAIL AND OFFICE
COMMERCIAL SPACE, TOWNHOMES, AND SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENCES. APNS 529-16-025 AND 053.
B. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION AND MITIGATION MONITORING PLAN.
REMARKS:
Attached is an email from a concerned citizen regarding two projects on tonight's agenda.
Attachments:
The email from Mitzi Anderson (1 page) received June 5, 2011, is labeled as follows:
Attachment 8 - For Item 9 (49/51 N. Santa Cruz Avenue)
Attachment 9 - For Item 10 (16005 Los Gatos Blvd)
SLB:cgt
PREPARED BY: Wendie R. Rooney, Director of Community Development
Reviewed by: '1 JJ Assistant Town Manager 40 Town Attorney
Clerk Administrator Finance iSLerinmunity Development
N:\DE V \TC REPORTS \2011 \49-51 n sc16005 LGbl vddeskitem. docx
Reformatted: 5/30/02
From: mitziand@aol.com [mailto:mitziand@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 9:35 PM
To: Council
Subject: June 6th Agenda: Town Council
Dear Los Gatos Town Council Members,
I'm writing as a concerned Los Gatos resident about two projects on your June 6th agenda, the Swanson
Ford Project and Gardino's.
The proposed drawings for the Swanson Ford project look like something recycled from a San Jose or
Sunnyvale project, and do not fit into the character of Los Gatos. The Cornerstone complex is a wonderful
example of good architecture. The Hollywood video complex is a poor example because it's back faces
the main road and it blocks the mountain views. This proposed project seems cheap and more along the
lines of the Hollywood Video complex.
The number of residential units are too many for the site, and will generate too many children for our local
schools. The town estimate of 4 students isn't logical. Families will flock to these lower priced homes just
to get their children into Los Gatos schools. We keep allowing developers to overdevelop properties and
soon our town population will explode and we will be approaching 40,000 residents which diminishes the
small town feel. I do not support changing the zoning. The developer/purchaser knew what they were
buying when the property was bought. Developers come to town asking for huge numbers of residential
units, the town reduces the number to something still far to big for the town character (BlueBird Lane,
Netflix) but in the end what the developer had in mind the entire time. Let's do what's right for the town
and not go by what is in the developers plan and instead go with what's in the town's plan. We are at a
dangerous crossroads of changing the character of Los Gatos. We need Council Members like those in
our past (Tom Feritto, Brent Ventura, and Kathy Morgan) that took a hard stance and preserved our
town's character.
I also do not support Gardino's expansion into the retail location. It doesn't matter if they have a kitchen
or not, it's still a restaurant in a retail space. The retail space breaks up what would otherwise be a
grouping of restaurants (Round Table Pizza, Gardino's and Gilley's). Gardino's has been in business for
17 years. We could have that "retail" space tied up for another 17 years kitchen or no kitchen. At that
point, I don't think it really matters what it's zoned: it's lost retail space that no one will ever remember it
being retail space for future decisions.
I understand Los Gatos will grow, but we need to preserve what makes us unique. A few bad decisions
and we'll be any other run of the mill Silicon Valley town. It's ok to strive to be the best town in
California. I urge you to look at the impact of all the developments (Albright, Dittos Lane, North 40...) in
the works on our schools and town character and not look a them individually. While each one alone has
quite an impact, the sum of all of them is a game changer for Los Gatos.
Sincerely,
Mitzi Anderson
17610 Foster Road
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408.315.0421