LosGatosObserver.com

By Laura Fishman

Community members and commissioners grappled over the proposed construction of an 80,345 square foot commercial self-storage building along Los Gatos Creek at yesterday’s Town of Los Gatos Planning Commission Meeting.

The company Extra Space of Los Gatos, LLC brought forward the idea of developing its property on the east side of University Avenue, which had been a parking lot for Verizon in previous years. Commissioners addressed their concerns over the aesthetics of the project, and of potential damage it may cause to natural vegetation.

“Los Gatos Creek is one of the gems of our town,” said John Bourgeois, vice-chair of the planning commission. “I’m concerned about the [lack of] analysis presented.”

Representatives from Extra Space claim that there will be no significant environmental impact associated with this project. Scott Wyckoff of Extra Space said he is working to make the building aesthetically pleasing from the road, where the company proposed planting foliage around the storage facility and using a color palette on the building that unify it with its surroundings.

“This is going to be a gorgeous storage facility,” Wyckoff said. “We’re taking recommendations from arborists, where we’re trying to design a project that fits in and blends in.”

At the meeting, Commissioner Charles Erekson stated that he thought the proposed facility was a reasonable use of space. However, other commissioners expressed concerns over the size of the building and questioned the necessity of its three-story height.

During the public comment period, only one community member came forward in opposition of the proposed land development. Council meeting regular “Citizen Ray” stated his anger at Extra Space for developing large-scale buildings in the area.

“Once these people get started, it will be good-bye small town,” he said.

Commissioners decided 5-2 to come back to the issue at their August 12 meeting, where they have asked representatives of Extra Space to revise their plans by creating a larger parking lot and reducing the proposed height.

Citizen Ray, true to form, remains pessimistic.

“Los Gatos is a special place and we like it just the way it is,” he said. “These people will steal Los Gatos from right under of us, if we don’t stop this nonsense.

• • A
  • A
  • A
• Comments (2)