Ord 2137 - An Urgency Interim Ordinance Establishing a Streamlined Review Process for a replacement facility at 15200 Los Gatos Boulevard (Los Gatos Auto Mall)ORDINANCE 2137
AN URGENCY INTERIM ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A STREAMLINED REVIEW
PROCESS FOR A REPLACEMENT FACILITY AT 15200 LOS GATOS BOULEVARD(LOS
GATOS AUTO MALL)
WHEREAS, Government Code § 65858 allows a legislative body, without following the procedures
otherwise required prior to the adoption of a zoning ordinance, to adopt, as an urgency measure, an interim
ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the zoning provisions of the Los Gatos Town Code require that development
applications for automobile dealership, including architectural and site approval and conditional use permits
applications, are approved by the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Los Gatos Auto Mall at 15200 Los Gatos Boulevard was destroyed by an explosio n
on January 7, 2005; and
WHEREAS, this was an extraordinary and unfortunate occurrence; and
WHEREAS, the Los Gatos Auto Mall is an important business to the Town and its residents and
is a business that generates critical sales tax revenue for the Town; and
WHEREAS, the Auto Mall parcel is located at the intersection of Lark Avenue and Los Gatos
Boulevard which is a gateway to the Town; and
WHEREAS, the Town desires to expedite the development review process for a replacement auto
mobile dealership facility at 15200 Los Gatos Boulevard so long as the application meets specifie d
parameters;
THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Interim Ordinance.During the term of this Interim Ordinance, the Town's Developmen t
Review Committee shall have the authority to approve all development applications for an automobil e
dealership at 15200 Los Gatos Boulevard including, but not limited to architectural and site approval,
Page 1 of 4
conditional use permit, and variance applications, so long as the applications meet all of the following
criteria:
a.A public hearing will be held by the Development Review Committee and noticed in th e
same manner as for a Planning Commission hearing.
b.The new building shall be similar in size to the previously existing building. A minor amount
of additional floor area may be approved. The additional floor area shall not generate more
than a minor traffic impact as defined by the Town Traffic Impact Policy.
c.The location of the new building shall have a similar setback from the rear property line as
the previously existing structure
d.The height of the new building shall be similar to or less than the height of the previous
structure. The new building may contain a second floor.
e.The new facility may include an underground parking garage
f.The facility shall contain the same uses as previously existed. Auto repair uses may not be
approved under this process.
g.The proposal shall be consistent with the draft Commercial Design Guideline s
h.The replacement facility shall demonstrate architectural excellence
i.The new facility may be a franchised auto deale r
j.The applicant shall demonstrate early neighborhood involvement during the design process.
Any decision of the Development Review Committee under the authority granted by this Ordinance
may be appealed to the Town Council in the same manner as specified by Section 29.20.275 et seq. of the
Town Code for appeals of Planning Commission decisions to the Town Council.
2.
Findings.
a.
The Town of Los Gatos General Plan contains Goals and Policies encouraging a ful l
Page 2 of 4
range of commercial uses that preserve the Town's economic vitality while maintaining the unique characte r
of Los Gatos. For example, Goal L.G.5.2 is to maintain an "economically stable community withi n
environmental goals."
b.The General Plan contains specific Policies addressing automobile dealerships i n
which the Town will "retain and enhance auto dealerships" and "auto related uses currently existing shall be
allowed to remain indefinitely."
c.The Town's Economic Vitality Program addresses the importance of automobil e
dealerships to the Town in terms of retail opportunities for residents, jobs, and sales tax. The Program states
that the Town will assist dealerships to make improvements to their facilities while remaining sensitive to
surrounding neighborhoods.
d.The site is located at a highly visible location at a gateway intersection to the Town.
Reconstruction of the site, consistent with the Town's Draft Commercial Design Guidelines and in a timely
manner, will provide needed improvements to a gateway site.
e.Should the business and property owners be unable to reconstruct the automobil e
dealership on the site in an expedited fashion such as established by the Ordinance, the business owner has
informed the Town that they may be forced to relocate to another jurisdiction. As a result, the Town woul d
incur a loss of sales tax revenue in this fiscally challenging period. This situation represents a current an d
immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in that the Los Gatos Auto Mall is a leading sale s
tax generator and its continued operation in Los Gatos is critical to the fiscal health of the Town. The
development review process described in the Interim Ordinance would ensure the more expeditious revie w
of a proposed replacement facility.
3.
Term.This hnterim Ordinance shall expire March 4, 2005, unless extended by Town Counci l
pursuant to Government Code § 65858.
Page 3 of 4
4 Report.At least 10 days prior to expiration of this Interim Ordinance, the Town Council shal l
issue a written report pursuant to Government Code § 65858 (d) describing the measures taken to alleviat e
the conditions which have led to the adoption of this Interim Ordinance.
5.Severability.If any part of this Interim Ordinance is held to be invalid or inapplicable to any
situation by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainin g
portions of this Interim Ordinance or the applicability of this Interim Ordinance to other situations.
6.Posting.Within 15 days after its passage, the Town Clerk shall cause this Interim Ordinanc e
to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the Town and poste d
in at least three public places within the Town.
This Interim Ordinance was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the
Town of Los Gatos on January 18, 2005, and adopted by at least a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the Town Council
as follows:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES:
Steve Glickman, Diane McNutt, Joe Pirzynski, Barbara Spector, Mayor Mike Wasserma n
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATO S
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATO S
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
Page 4 of 4