The Los Altos Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 7:30 tonight to consider a use permit, design review and variances for a new hotel on the site of the current Four Seasons Motor Inn at 4320 El Camino Real.
Developers would like to tear down the Four Seasons and build a new hotel, possibly a Marriott Courtyard. In previous public meetings, residents expressed concern about the hotel facing Los Altos Avenue instead of El Camino Real, fearing traffic congestion on the side street.
Neighbors said they will be glad to be rid of the Four Seasons, which historically has been the scene of a high number of police calls, including one for a methamphetamine lab and a pot farm in one of the units.
The meeting will be in the city hall chambers, 1 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos.
New member for historical commission
The Los Altos City Council appointed Don McDonald, a 25-year Los Altos resident, to the city's historical commission, at the council's Sept. 14 meeting.
As a volunteer at Los Altos History House for the past five years, McDonald has been a docent and interviewed over the phone more than 73 people for the local oral history program.
McDonald cites "keeping our history alive" as the most important issue facing the historical commission.
McDonald, who is retired, has written three "Voice of the Past" columns for the Town Crier and has four more in preparation.
He will be serving a four-year term, replacing commissioner Steve Aced, who completed one four-year term and did not seek reappointment.
Update on proposals for Main/First corner
Interest is high but information is scarce about the eight proposals the city received May 14 for the city-owned corner at Main and First streets in downtown Los Altos.
"We're not very far along," said City Manager Phil Rose, in being ready to open the proposals for public review. "We're investigating several things," he said.
So far the manager and the city council have held two closed sessions on the proposals, which some say include plans for hotels, theaters, offices, parking and retail.
"No decisions have been made," Rose said. "We're trying to develop some background on other issues.
"The attempt is to have a public review of all the proposals as soon as possible. We'd much rather get this process going but can't without some answers to some issues."
Because the proposals involve real estate and have been dealt with so far in closed sessions, no details can be disclosed.
Rose said he hopes in the next six weeks "we can open it up and get community comment on that site."
- Joanne Griffith Domingue