By Lauren McSherry

A group of residents opposed to the three-story condominium project approved for El Camino Real is suing the city of Los Altos. The lawsuit comes after two months of speculation about whether the group would take legal action against the city.

City Attorney Jolie Houston confirmed Friday that the North Los Altos Neighborhood Association had filed a lawsuit Nov. 18.

“We are aware they have filed the lawsuit,” she said, declining to comment further on the allegations leveled in the case.

City Manager Phil Rose, Mayor David Casas and Councilman Ron Packard also declined to comment on the litigation.

Since the 5100 El Camino project’s approval, members of the North Los Altos Neighborhood Association charged that the decision was unfairly made.

Chris Croudace, who spearheads the association and has given informal legal advice to the group, confirmed in September that preparations for a lawsuit were in progress. The

council had approved the project one month earlier.

At the time, the group alleged the city violated zoning regulations that should have provided a larger buffer between residential neighbors and the proposed 29-unit complex near Distel Drive.

Controversy surfaced over the city’s definition of “abut.”

Neighbors said the project should have setbacks because it would abut a residential lot on one corner.

The council approved changes Sept. 13 to clarify the term “abut,” specifying that the term applies to residential properties that share more than 8 feet of property line with commercial developments.

Croudace, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for city council last month, could not be reached for comment by the Town Crier’s press deadline.

“If the planning commission and the council had (enforced the setback requirement), the building would have been farther away and smaller,” Croudace told the Town Crier last month. “Instead, they went the opposite direction and now they’re inviting lawsuits.”