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Published on 09/22/1997 All articles from this issue

PC OKs concept of Tree Farm project

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

After a process that began six months ago and included two study sessions and two public hearings, the Los Altos Planning Commission gave "conceptual approval" to the largest project in the city's history.

The commissioners voted 3-0 for the concept, at their Thursday night meeting, of the Tree Farm plans that include: 87 condominiums, eight of which would be below-market-rate units; 94,500-square-feet of office space in a three-story building facing El Camino Real; and 524 underground parking places. All of this is planned for a 4.75-acre parcel on El Camino Real between Los Altos Avenue and San Antonio Road in the north end of town.

Planning commission chairman Richard Abdalah praised the developers, Beverly Brockway, Oliver Lin and John Challas.

"But you've got an elephant, and it needs to be fit in," Adbalah said.

Several issues remain unresolved including the fees the developers will pay to the school districts to mitigate the impact of new students the housing will bring into the schools.

Three of the 10 who spoke at the meeting, Superintendent Marge Gratiot, school board member Kristine Salmon and the Santa Rita PTA president, brought school concerns.

Elementary-age students from the Tree Farm would attend Santa Rita School, which was built for 325 students and now has 525, Gratiot said.

Because of class-size reduction programs, "it would take only 12 additional children ... to require us to provide two additional classrooms at a cost of $150,000 each," Salmon said.

And from the Tree Farm, "We expect 55 or more (students)," she said.

The developers do not agree with the district's projected student count from the Tree Farm.

"This project is not designed for children," Challas said, citing elevators and underground parking. He affirmed their commitment to working for a solution with the school district.

The district would like the developers to "mitigate the impact of the development according to the same formula already agreed to by developers of the Crossings and Chester Circle," Gratiot said.

The developers and the school district continue in negotiations about mitigation fees, Gratiot said.

Senior planner Jim Mackenzie presented a list of 12 issues that require resolution, including the proposed variance for a three-story office building, traffic on Ray Avenue, placement of the swimming pool and location of the recycling area.

The city's summary of concerns did include schools.

"We're not even on the list," Gratiot said.

The planning commission voted 2-1 for the three-story height variance.

Abdalah reminded the audience that the commission vote was a "recommendation to city council. It is not a final action."

The Tree Farm plans now go to city council and are scheduled for the Oct. 7 meeting.