{"id":25574,"date":"2024-11-20T09:55:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T17:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losgatan.com\/?p=25574"},"modified":"2024-11-20T09:58:15","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T17:58:15","slug":"planning-commission-warms-to-los-gatos-meadows-proposal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losgatan.com\/planning-commission-warms-to-los-gatos-meadows-proposal\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning Commission warms to Los Gatos Meadows proposal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Back on Jan. 13, 2022, when Covia Communities\u2019 Los Gatos Meadows senior living community redevelopment proposal came before Planning Commission, it faced unanimous opposition<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, the company merged with Glendale-based Front Porch Communities and Services<\/a>\u2014which agreed to pay a $1.125 million settlement over asbestos violations<\/a> at the 110 Wood Rd. site and other locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on Nov. 13, long after Council declined to rubber-stamp the Meadows pitch, it was back at Planning Commission. This time it would be much smoother sailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current plan that we\u2019re talking about tonight is the minimum scale that we need to make it work financially,\u201d said Mary McMullin, chief advancement officer for Front Porch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn balance, this rebuild will be a significant contribution to the town, a valuable asset to the community and we see it as the best use of the property. And we request your swift action. We are ready to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘We have tried to be good listeners to the neighbors’<\/p>\u2014J. David Hoglund, Perkins Eastman<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Frank Rockwood<\/a>, the applicant, said there was more community outreach for this project than with any other development he\u2019s worked on in 30+ years in the real estate business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architect J. David Hoglund, of Perkins Eastman<\/a>, said the Meadows had been redesigned so more of the development was in the hillside, as the company sought to address neighbor concerns about the project\u2019s overall size and sight-lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Outline
OUTLINE – The developer said their team sought to create a project that would blend into the hillside. (Town of Los Gatos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have tried to be good listeners to the neighbors, balancing their concerns while creating a financially-sustainable and vital community in Los Gatos,\u201d he said. \u201cThe material colors are generally organic and darker in nature than the existing buildings, which are beige and white roofs\u2014with the intent to blend more into the hillside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the major frustrations last time was the lack of affordable units at the care facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But commissioners seemed to have moved past that, this time evaluating the development in the context of other luxury senior living projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Los
FRONT PORCH PLAN – Here\u2019s what an artist imagined the entranceway might look like after construction. (Front Porch)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Now, Council will have its chance to scrutinize the plans, as Front Porch seeks approval of a planned development, removal of large protected trees, and a grading permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the months since Planning Commission had its last kick at the can\u2014where residents raised concerns that the development could become the tallest building in Los Gatos\u2014the Meadows plans have been dwarfed by a number of Builder\u2019s Remedy applications across town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"building
DESIGN CHANGES – The project has been updated somewhat since the last time Planning Commission deliberated about it. (Drew Penner \/ Los Gatan)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, that didn\u2019t quell dissent entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Nov. 11, for example, neighbor Julie Southern wrote to Planning Commissioners to comment on how the development would impact views from her property, tree impacts and worries about proper handling of harmful materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiven that the site involves the demolition of older structures, there is a significant concern regarding the management of hazardous materials such as asbestos as has also been in the papers recently,\u201d she said. \u201cThe developer must provide detailed plans for the abatement of such materials, adhering to all environmental regulations, to prevent health risks to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That same day, the Planning Department received an email from Evelyn Mitsunaga, who lives on Broadway Ext., in support of the redevelopment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the re-design, I think they have bent over backwards to address the concerns of residents on Tait Avenue as well as those of the neighbors on Wood Road,\u201d she wrote. \u201cIncluding bridge units between buildings is an example of how they have come up with solutions to maintain the lower height and, at the same time, meet the financial feasibility of the project. I sincerely hope the revised plan of this important project gains your approval.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Councilmember Rob Moore previously said he planned to press Front Porch on affordability levels<\/a> at the facility when the item returns to Council\u2014where it\u2019s now headed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Back on Jan. 13, 2022, when Covia Communities\u2019 Los Gatos Meadows senior living community redevelopment proposal came before Planning Commission, it faced unanimous opposition. Since then, the company merged with Glendale-based Front Porch Communities and Services\u2014which agreed to pay a $1.125 million settlement over asbestos violations at the 110 Wood Rd. site and other locations. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1073,"featured_media":25575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":""},"categories":[2,9],"tags":[11327,59,11841,11845,3649,11844,11842,11843,3740],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n