By Town Crier Staff Report

Members of the Los Altos City Council said last week they would remain committed to the idea of bringing a movie theater downtown depending upon the business’ type of operation.

Theater developers have proposed several options including a small art theater to a six-screen megaplex with a bar.

“I think we need to think through (some) issues before offering … support for a theater,” said Councilman John Moss. “There’s a lot of devils in the details. We might go down a garden path and discover we’ve gotten somewhere we don’t want to be.”

The council is scheduled next month to review several concepts that emerged at a community study session May 4. One idea targeted the city-owned parking lot near Banderas restaurant for a 12,000-square-foot six-screen theater.

Downtown compatibility and increased parking were top concerns for council members.

Experts at the study session said the city would be able to add about 120 additional parking spaces by rearranging the layout of its current parking lots.

A theater with a partially-underground parking could add even more spaces.

“I support a theater, but let’s define what kind. We need to get more specific details,” said Councilwoman Kris Casto.

“I would like to see something done in a way that’s compatible with what’s already there.”

Mayor Francis La Poll called the theater his number one priority.

“I think we have to recognize what so many of our citizens want,” La Poll said.

Funding for the project remains unclear.

“We have a lot of creative people in town who could probably find a way to fund it,” Moss said.