By Office to replace Jerry's Liquors

Office space will replace the liquor store in downtown Los Altos that once sold a winning $17 million lottery ticket. The Los Altos City Council approved a special use permit for Jerry’s Liquors & Delicatessen that will allow the property owners to lease the ground floor of the two-story building as office space. The planning commission had denied owners Jerry and Mary Ann Larkins’ request for such a permit last month.

The building is located in an area zoned as Commercial Downtown, which requires a permit in order to replace retail space with service space, according to the city’s general plan.

The planning commission was deadlocked on whether or not to grant the Larkins a use permit June 1. They could not agree whether office space would be inconsistent with other businesses in the area. At the June 15 meeting, the commission decided to deny the request.

Nearly 50 residents signed a petition supporting the Larkins’ permit request.

LA council renames Parks Commission

The Los Altos City Council Aug. 8 added the word “arts” to the title of the Parks & Recreation Commission as part of the city’s decision to expand the commission’s role to include the responsibilities of the now defunct Arts Committee.

Under a new city ordinance, the Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission’s (PARC) role will include advising the council on and executing visual and performing arts programs, including The Outdoor Sculpture on Loan Program, Lectures on the Arts and Art Show in the Library programs - programs that the Arts Committee formerly coordinated. The commission will continue to advise the city council on matters relating to parks and recreation for the community.

-Staff reports