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Editorials
Planning Commission fell down on this one
Last week, following three public hearings, the Planning Commission was supposed to provide the Town Council with recommendations on the draft North Forty Specific Plan. Instead, commissioners could decide only that they agreed to disagree.
And that's pretty much what they decided to tell the council. Instead of sending along the specific recommendations the council requested, commissioners decided to present the many and varied comments that had been made during those hearings. Some general suggestions will also be included. We suspect that's a lot less than what the council had in mind.
The Planning Commission plays a key role in land-use decisions. All too often, commissioners have complained about how often the council overturns planning decisions. This time, however, the council asked for guidance, and the commission abdicated its responsibility.
Admittedly, the North Forty has become a hot-button issue, spawning a grassroots movement of vocal residents concerned about over-development in Los Gatos.
The town wants a plan in place as quickly as possible to guide North Forty development that is inevitable in the short term. The bulk of the acreage is owned by Tom Yuki, who is in no hurry to sell. However, smaller parcels are already being developed.
Some parts of the draft plan deal with issues that would address these concerns. Unfortunately, other parts limit the uses to commercial only, in accordance with the General Plan and the stated wish of the town in 1994 that the North Forty be developed commercially to help ensure the town's economic stability.
The commercial designation has been at the heart of the battle. Whether those who have spoken for consideration of playfields, residential and civic uses are speaking for the majority of the community is hard to know.
But surely, it was the job of the Planning Commission to synthesize the public comments with their own planning expertise and offer some recommendations.
Senior Center
Jack Orlove Sr. and Egon Jensen have taken on the issue of a dedicated senior center with passion and dedication. On Nov. 22, they will ask the Town Council to form a committee to look into the matter.
We believe Los Gatos would be better served by a dedicated senior center that puts services for this community's older citizens under one roof than by the fragmented programs the town now provides.
Although their presentation is not on the agenda as a public hearing per se, an enthusiastic audience of supporters would go a long way toward showing council members that this is a community that cares about its older population.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
