Town officials plan to repave the stretch of road between Highway 9 and Main Street next summer, and they have asked business owners and residents for their input on the project. There are currently two options for how to proceed: pave in one-week segments over a six- to eight-week period, or do it in one segment over a shorter period of three or four weeks.

The longer option would mean that only small sections of the road would be closed at a time and the majority of the street would be open to traffic. The shorter option would require closing larger sections of street, even on weekends, and a complete end-to-end closure of at least two weeks.

Whichever option is chosen, pedestrian traffic would be allowed on the sidewalks and all businesses could remain open during the roadwork. Nearby parking lots would also remain open.

Of those who talked with the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, almost all of the owners and managers of N. Santa Cruz businesses said they preferred the shorter closure.

Kurt Useldinger, owner of The Architect's Interior home furnishings store, said many downtown merchants are still recovering from the economic downturn that began several years ago. He said a long closure would only set them back again.

"I'd like to see them get it done as quickly as possible," he said. "Rather than months, I'd like it to take weeks."

Jennifer McRay, owner of the women's clothing store Cambric of Los Gatos, said she, too, would prefer a shorter closure.

"I think the shorter the time, the less impact it has on local businesses," she said. "If people see [construction taking place] over weeks and months, they're really just going to avoid Los Gatos. They have second thoughts about coming down here."

But Los Gatos Company gallery owner Marnie Bivetto said she did not want to see large sections of the street closed, even if only for a couple of weeks.

"I really think it's important to leave the main street open," she said. "I would hate to see businesses struggle."

A.J. Singh, owner of Candlestick Gift and Card, said he also preferred the longer option because businesses would seem more accessible. "We'd like to have the street open," he said.

Others, though, want road crews to get in and get out as quickly as possible.

Los Gatos Framing Co. owner Margaret Garland said she did not think her business would suffer during a shorter closure, since her store has a rear entrance. Still, she agreed with McRay that people might be deterred if the repaving continued for longer than a month.

"Most people can look at it and say, 'If it's done with, it's done with,' " she said of the shorter option.

Garland said she has been pleased with town staff members' communication with business owners.

"They have been getting very involved," she said. "They've really done everything they can to try to support both businesses and residents. And those can be tough to balance."

The town has held several meetings on the topic and has formed a task force of volunteers to work on minimizing the impact of the project. John Curtis, parks and public works department director, said his two main concerns are preserving access to businesses and taking as little time as necessary.

He said business owners have been vocal about their opinions. Though the paving was originally planned for an earlier date, merchants asked to delay it since they were still recovering from sidewalk renovations done in 2002.

Since the project is being funded by redevelopment agency bond money, it must be completed next year. So the town is continuing to work with Los Gatans to make the process as painless as possible. The parks and public works department is holding a neighborhood meeting Sept. 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the town council chambers for residents to provide their input. The council is scheduled to hear a staff recommendation and choose a work plan Oct. 4. Construction would likely begin after the July 4 weekend in 2005.