The controversial Alberto Way development at the corner of Highway 9 returns to the Los Gatos Planning Commission next month, with planners hoping to hear that a compromise they approved on Jan. 10 is feasible. The developers want to construct a two-story building, but the Planning Commission voted 4-2 to ask them to consider a combined one- and two-story building that would better accommodate neighborhood views.

Views are just one of the things nearby residents don’t like about the proposal. They’re also worried about traffic, street parking and a proposed two-story underground parking garage. The neighbors had previously asked that the garage be just one story, citing a hydrologists’ report that said digging deeper could harm home foundations.

Commissioner Matthew Hudes said, “I’m not convinced that it’s possible to do (a one-story garage) on this site … so, I am not reopening that particular item.”

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Hudes did call for the developer to reconsider building a 5,400-square-foot dog park and amenity area for visitors and neighbors.

“There was actually quite a bit of testimony from residents that a dog park wasn’t necessarily the best use and so, I was again suggesting that while it be publicly accessible open space, the applicant explore potentially other uses for that space that might be more attractive to the neighbors.”

Neither the neighbors nor the developer spoke at the meeting, which focused on commission questions and deliberations.

Initially, the developers proposed an approximately 92,000-square-foot development that was later reduced to 83,000 square feet.

The Los Gatos Town Council suggested a further reduction in size last September and sent the developers’ application back to the planning commission.

So, the application that commissioners considered last week reflected yet another reduction in the building’s size to just over 74,000 square feet.

Commissioner Kathryn Janoff reached for a compromise that would see a combined one- and two-story building at the site. Janoff didn’t preclude the developer from sticking with 74,000 square feet but said, “The neighbors have pretty much said that 62,000 to 63,000 (square feet) would be acceptable. But how do you make that happen? So, in deference to the developer who may want that added square footage and in deference to the neighbors who would like to have views, I think we can accomplish both by approving a combination of single-story and two-story structures.”

Most commissioners expressed concern about the proposed development’s impact on neighbors. It’s why commission Vice Chairman Michael Kane voted against Janoff’s proposal.

“There’s so much passion in (their) letters, and input from surrounding residents is supposed to be a major consideration during any development,” Kane said. “I’m really distressed. I’d like to make it clear that we are ignoring provisions we have to protect and preserve the town, which we are in danger of giving away.”

Kane was joined by Commissioner Melanie Hanssen in voting no.

But since the majority vote was yes, the developers will be returning to the planning commission on Feb. 28, presumably with new plans depicting a combined one- and two-story building, or with reasons why it can’t be accomplished.

Planning commissioners also voted unanimously to elect Kane as the 2018 commission chairman and Hudes to be this year’s vice chairman.