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Published on 06/19/1995 All articles from this issue

Planning Commission approves Parc Regent

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

The Los Altos City Planning Commission gave final approval to the 57-unit senior citizen condominium project, Los Altos Parc Regent, planned for the 2.4-acre site at Edith Avenue and San Antonio Road at its meeting Thursday night.

"It's a real addition to the city," said Leon Pirofalo, chairman of the commission. "It's a really outstanding project."

Not everyone agreed.

"We're devastated," said Calvin Hammack, who, with his wife, owns a house at 47 View St., property which adjoins the condominium project. Hammack lives in Saratoga and rents his house on View.

"Our property value has gone down," he said.

Los Altos senior planner James Mackenzie presented some concerns about the project to the Planning Commission. He recommended that rooftop equipment which projected above the roof line be painted to blend with the project.

He recommended that the spikes, planned for the top of the painted wrought iron fence which will enclose the project, be removed.

"The staff is concerned with a safety issue, that someone could get hurt on the spikes, and that the spikes are not consistent with the design of the flat railing elsewhere in the design. And," he said, "the spikes may give the impression of the need for high security when that's not the impression the community wants."

Mackenzie also recommended that the two pylon signs planned for the site be 6 feet and not 7 feet tall.

Richard Abdalah, planning commission member, wanted the wording on the signs to be "identifying rather than advertising."

Catherine DeMartini, owner of adjoining land on San Antonio Road, and Tony Kozy, owner of DeMartini Orchards on the DeMartini land, asked for some landscaping along their side of the proposed fence which will border their property. Kozy said he didn't want his customers feeling "claustrophobic" when they exited the DeMartini property.

David Boyd, one of the general partners developing the land, agreed to all modifications requested.

The commission unanimously approved the project which now goes to the Los Altos City Council for final approval July 11.

Boyd said he hopes to break ground by Aug. 1 and that the first phase will be completed in 10 to 11 months after construction begins.

The condominiums are for people 62 and older and will range in price from $275,000 to $625,000 for units from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet, said Bob Nicholus, marketing director for the project. Six units will be available at below market rate to comply with the Los Altos affordable housing requirement.