Neighborhood opposes condominium project

By Linda Taaffe, Town Crier Staff Writer

When state officials began mandating the number of new housing developments California cities should target in their general plans during the 1990s housing crunch, Los Altos turned to El Camino Real. The commercial corridor seemed the answer for the built-out city - until now.

Neighbors in the Distel Drive-Marich Avenue area plan to attempt to block construction of a 29-unit, three-story condominium proposed for the corner of El Camino and Distel, where Chef Wang’s restaurant and Yamane’s jewelry store are located. A group of about 45 neighbors met Saturday to discuss strategies that it is keeping under wraps for now.

The potential of even one additional car on their street is too many for the residential neighborhood, they say.

“Any additional cars will be noticeable. There’s always been a traffic concern on Marich,” said Jardin Avenue resident Michele Dulleck.

She said the neighborhood seems to be the chosen cut through for students en route to Los Altos High and Almond schools. The addition of a housing complex with half of the units designed for families will only compound the problem, especially since the driveway is designed to exit on Distel, she said.

“We only have about 35 homes on Marich currently, and this proposed development effectively doubles the size of our neighborhood,” said neighbor Chris Croudace.

Dulleck said Marich neighbors petitioned the city for traffic improvements through the city’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program more than a year ago. The city is still reviewing the plan.

The project’s size is another neighborhood concern, Dulleck said. The businesses currently at the site are only one story. Dulleck said the project is too much, too close to the neighborhood.

Community Development Director James Walgren said the project at 5100 El Camino not only meets all city guidelines, but is something that the General Plan actually encourages in the Commercial Thoroughfare zone along El Camino.

“El Camino is one area where the city can provide the density and affordability of housing required by state law,” Walgren said.

The area provides the best opportunity to do mixed-use projects, since there are fewer restrictions in the commercial thoroughfare zoning regulations. Developers may build to three stories, Walgren said.

The city updated its plan in the 1990s to specifically encourage mixed-use projects along El Camino.

Walgren said restaurants, offices, dry cleaners, fast-food drive-thrus and gyms are among the permitted uses that the city can not prohibit along El Camino. Gas stations, mortuaries, car washes and hotels are allowed with a use permit.

The proposed project is not expected to change traffic levels in the neighborhood, according to city studies.

Walgren said the city uses a formula based on the project’s use to determine how much traffic will be generated.

Using the formula, the restaurant currently at the site is considered to create more traffic than the housing project, estimated to have 78 tenants.

The city conducted a 24-hour traffic count at three locations in the neighborhood.

Those studies also indicated that there would be no service-level changes, Walgren added.

Neighbors say the study is faulty. The city counted traffic when school was not in session Dulleck said.

The planning commission this month asked the developer Dave Knudson to add a larger setback in the rear of the property to provide a buffer to the neighborhood.

The project must go before the council for final approval.

Dulleck said the neighborhood planned to address the Los Altos City Council Tuesday night after the Town Crier’s press deadline.