Ord 1808 - An urgency interim zoning ordinance establishing a temporart prohibition on applications for certain types of improvements to property in the area bounded by Short Rd, Blossom Hill Rd, Harwood, Hicks Rd, and Shannon Rd.

Home Browse Search

ORDINANCE 1808 AN URGENCY INTERIM ZONING ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON APPLICATIONS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS TO PROPERTY IN THE AREA BOUNDED BY SHORT ROAD, BLOSSOM HILL ROAD HARWOOD ROAD, HICKS ROAD AND SHANNON ROAD THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ORDAINS: SECTION I. FINDINGS Pursuant to Government Code Section 65858, the Council hereby finds that there is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in that the subdivision of properties and construction of roads, structures, fences and adverse environmental impacts resulting from the construction of such physical improvements in the Study Area delineated on the map attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by reference herein, would cause severe environmental damage and loss of wildlife habitat and that development applications for property in the Study Area would further exacerbate the problem by the construction of buildings and other improvements in a manner that would affect the Town's ability to meet the policies as stated in the land use, circulation, open space and conservation and historic preservation elements of the General Plan and the Hillside Specific Plan. These consequences would create a threat to public health, safety and welfare, as follows: 1. Environmental studies, field studies, and neighborhood responses to completed environmental analysis have identified the Study Area as having unique environmental characteristics, including open space wildlife habitat areas, scenic vistas, and woodland areas. It is the policy of the Town to preserve such distinctive and unique environmental areas. 2. The study Area contains many physical constraints to development including steep slopes, potentially geologic instability, lack of adequate vehicular access and erosion of water channel areas. If the vacant properties in the Study Area are developed without regard to surrounding development, cumulative environmental impacts will occur. 3. The natural resources within the Study Area in close proximity to a highly urbanized area is a unique opportunity for the