The Los Gatos Planning Commission has approved a conditional-use permit allowing the Toll House Hotel to take over the Opera House's banquet facilities.

Commissioner Jeanne Drexel said the arrangement would not only bring business to town but a "historic site will be preserved," referring to the Opera House.

At the Dec. 11 planning commission meeting, Toll House owner Wayne Levenfeld said the Opera House is a "unique facility" that adds charm to Los Gatos. According to Levenfeld, an increased number of special events at the Opera House would bring more people into town who would shop in local stores and eat in local restaurants, adding to the sales tax revenue that the town receives.

The commission had previously heard the request in October but had questions about the traffic and parking associated with an increased number of events at the Opera House. Commissioners were worried that attendees of those events would park in town spaces, taking parking away from shoppers and employees.

In those two months, Levenfeld and town staff had refined his plans to provide parking and mitigate traffic. The "creative solutions" that arose included passing out event fliers to event attendees that would show downtown parking limitations as well as encourage drivers to park at the Toll House; requiring valet parking for events with more than 114 people in December and 225 people in the other months; and establishing some sort of parking monitoring program.

Levenfeld said, however, that the town should not worry about crowding its own parking lots. "Downtowns need some parking and they need their parking lots to be full so that their businesses can thrive," Levenfeld said. "A thriving downtown not only adds value to the merchants but also to the homes in the neighborhood."

Responding to commissioners' questions, Levenfeld said the Toll House would provide a shuttle to the Opera House for all events and could place tags on cars that would differentiate event attendees at the Opera House from the guests of the Toll House.

Toll House manager Marie Tallman told commissioners that she had been concerned about the existing traffic affecting other businesses. Upon speaking to Antiquarium owner Shirley Henderson and Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company owner Teri Hope, however, Tallman said she found that there were no complaints about Opera House traffic and parking.

Commission Chairman Paul Dubois said the "marrying of the Toll House and Opera House" relieves the "current parking dilemma" that exists downtown. It would take some cars off the streets of Los Gatos and into business-owned lots.

"I was perhaps a little pessimistic" at the last meeting, said Commissioner Jeanne Drexel, "but overall, I am hopeful."