PresentationSmall Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus Reuse of The Venue (4 New York Avenue) Los Gatos Town Council Oct. 21, 2014
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus BACKGROUND •Town Property (4 New York Avenue) –Roughly 1.7 acres, irregularly shaped –Located behind the High School –Land Use: Resource Conservation/Open Space –Additional uses with a C.U.P •The Venue –3,720 square feet, including mezzanine & kitchen –Opened in 1994 with Community & Town support –C.U.P as teen center has lapsed
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus MAP OF PROPERTY
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus TEEN SERVICES •A Place for Teens (a 501 -c -3 non -profit) –Constructed and operated The Venue for 20 years –Closed June 2012 due to fundraising difficulties –Services included: after school programs, dances, music studio, Safe Rides to School, snack service –Town support totaled $200,000 •New Library Teen Room –Teen use has exploded with 100 – 200 per weekday –Added staffing and programs to meet demand
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus PRIOR COUNCIL DIRECTION •Strategic Goals –Sale or lease of Town properties to meet Town needs –Address school parking and traffic impacts –Land use plan for parcels behind Los Gatos High •Prior discussions with Los Gatos High School –Primary teen -serving institution in Los Gatos –Major expansion planned and funded –No longer need The Venue for expansion
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus YOUTH COMMISSION •Adopted as priority project for the current year •Sub -committee has met twice –Researching other teen centers –Learned history of AP4T and Library Teen Room –Met with other interested parties, including the Recreation Department and Youth Park •Future efforts likely include: –Survey of teens regarding Teen Center/The Venue –Monday pilot program at a multi -purpose facility
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES •High School and High School District –Possible shared use of property and building –Operational concerns and impacts –Partner in broader teen services •Los Gatos Recreation Department –Previously supported AP4T operations –Limited capacity to expand services now –Partner in Monday Pilot and future operations •Youth Park, Inc. (501 -c -3 non -profit) –Primarily supports Boy Scouts currently –Interested in assuming operation of The Venue
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus PROCESS Establish Primary Objective: “Meet the needs of the greatest number of Los Gatos teens” 1.Youth Commission completes its assessment 2.Solicit proposals for reuse (like for Old Library) 3.Review by Ad Hoc Comm and YC reps, others? 4.Negotiate new lease 5.Lessee applies for new Conditional Use Permit
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus ALTERNATIVES A.Convene public brainstorming forum B.Commence negotiations with Youth Park C.Request Recreation Department operation of the facility (and/or the High School or others) D.Proceed with sale of property, with or without restrictions on future use
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus OTHER MATTERS •No environmental review required at this time •Parking variance on non -conforming lot •No fiscal impacts anticipated at this time •Use of Closed Session for negotiations –Specified by State law –Typically utilized by most public agencies –Preserves Town’s rights and obligations
Small Town Service ~ Community Stewardship ~ Future Focus RECOMMENDED PROCESS Establish Primary Objective: “Meet the needs of the greatest number of Los Gatos teens” 1.Youth Commission completes its assessment 2.Solicit proposals for reuse from any party 3.Review by Ad Hoc Comm and YC reps, others? 4.Negotiate new lease (through Closed Session) 5.Lessee applies for new Conditional Use Permit