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Published on 03/02/1998 All articles from this issue

Tree Farm change: Marriott 'Inn,' condos out

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Town Crier Staff Writer

Less impact on schools, residents, developers claim

Instead of 87 condominiums, the Tree Farm developers now want a 131-unit Marriott Residence Inn on their 4.7-acre El Camino Real project that includes a 95,000-square-foot three-story office building.

On March 3 the developers submitted an application to the city to modify the project, keeping the office building as is, keeping the eight below-market-rate condos, but replacing the remaining condos with an inn.

"We think it is the best use for that piece of land," said Oliver Lin, a 19-year Los Altos resident and one of two principles on the project.

He cited less impact on city schools, less impact on the neighbors and more money for Los Altos.

"We've talked with a number of officials in the city - on the council, planning commission and staff - and all show a strong interest. It will increase tremendously the tax revenue for the city," Lin said.

Instead of 12 small buildings of condos behind the office building, there would be one large three-story building, which would be the main building of the inn; and one small building with the eight affordable units, Lin said.

On the back portion of the land, on the other side of the Hetch Hetchy underground water right-of-way, there would be a two-story building with 23 more units of the inn.

There would still be a swimming pool, in the same location. In addition, the new application includes a sport court, required by the residence inn.

The average stay at a residence inn, according to industry statistics cited by one of the principles, Beverly Brockway, is five nights.

Up to 30 percent of the guests stay over 30 days, she said.

The 30 days is significant to the city. The current 8 percent hotel tax applies to guests who stay fewer than 30 days.

But for guests who stay more than 30 days, the city, while not collecting a hotel tax, may be able to count that unit toward its housing numbers, said senior city planner Jim Mackenzie.

"If you're remodeling your house, you might need a place to stay for six months," he said.

Mackenzie said that this application would be an amendment to what was approved before, that the approval process would not begin all over again.

The project has been in and out of study sessions, public hearings and special meetings for the past year.

"We're not looking at it from scratch. We'll definitely gain some efficiency," he said.

"The old project won't go away until there is a new one. But we're not spending any time looking at the old one," he said.

The next step is a public hearing with the planning commission, Mackenzie said, which could be in early April.

He confirmed that with the residence inn there would be a big difference, financially, to the city.

The developers estimate that if the hotel tax was raised to the 10 percent that it is in neighboring communities, income to the city could be in the $500,000 to $700,000 range, said John Challas, the project manager.

The three who are working on the project, Lin, Challas and Brockway, all Los Altos residents, agreed that they want community feedback. "We're looking for the pulse of the community," they said.

They have asked for residents to call them for more information: Challas, 941-3607; Lin, 969-2352; Brockway, 948-3056.

And they hope residents will send letters or call city hall with their reaction to the concept.