But as important as a General Plan may be, sometimes it presents rules that are so hard and fast that it leaves little room for town planners to make common sense decisions.

Case in point—the Los Gatos Planning Commission's decision last week to refuse to allow Akeena Solar on University Avenue from keeping the solar panels on its roof because the panels are visible from the street.

Imagine ... a solar company with solar panels on its roof. It seems to make sense. But since those panels are not hidden by screens, they must go, say the planners. The reason, says Community Development Director Bud Lortz, is that the town must uphold its architectural excellence, as stated in the General Plan.

Architectural excellence? On the stretch of University Avenue between Roberts Road and Blossom Hill? Let's see, Akeena Solar sits somewhere between South Bay Towing with its 40-foot CB tower rising out of its corrugated metal roof and University Auto Body with its collection of Quonset hut buildings.

Let's face it—this particular section of University is not exactly the town's shining example of architectural excellence. But that's not really all that important in that particular part of town. It's an industrial area where it's not important that a business have pretty buildings, just a functional workplace.

And for a solar company to mount solar panels on its roof only makes sense.

Still, the town won't accept the unscreened panels because they are partially visible from University Avenue—and that's with an emphasis on the "partially visible." There are 18 panels on the Akeena roof, and three came barely be seen from the street.

Akeena owner Barry Cinnamon claims that a wall atop his building to screen the panels could cost as much as $8,000. And if homeowners experience such a high cost should they decide to go solar, the expensive screening might discourage residents from seeking an alternate energy source. At a time when possible PG&E blackouts are back in the news, it hardly seems like we should be worrying about seeing a solar panel on someone's roof.

Doesn't it seem like the town should be encouraging area residents and business owners to explore the use of solar energy? That, too, is part of the General Plan.

The Los Gatos Planning Commission voted 6-1 to refuse to allow Akeena to install the unscreened panels on its roof. Commissioner Michael Burke dissented, saying, "We may be following the letter of the General Plan, but I think we're missing the spirit of it."

Cinnamon will appeal the commission's decision. And when he does, we certainly hope that the town council will use a little common sense. Solar panels on the roof of a solar company ... imagine!