Saratoga Planners Recommend Lift on Commercial Building Height

The Saratoga Planning Commission recommended Wednesday evening lifting the building-height limit to 26 feet for The Gateway Shopping Center and 20 feet for the Quito and Argonaut shopping centers, respectively.

By a 5-2 vote, with commissioners Yan Zhao and Tina Walia voting against, the government body's decision will now be considered by the Saratoga City Council at an upcoming meeting.

During two previous public input meetings about the controversial issue, there was nearly unanimous agreement to continue the 20-feet height for commercial and mixed-use limits for all three areas.

Some of those who attended the meeting Wednesday evening to support the recommendation wore red clothing, according to Saratoga resident Marcia Fariss, who posted an announcement about the meeting on Saratoga Patch.

The city's height limit for multi-family buildings is 30 feet, the height limit for commercial buildings is 20 feet, and the height limit for single-family homes is 26 feet.

The issue has raised concern among residents who live near The Quito Village Shopping Center on Cox Avenue and the Argonaut Shopping Center and Gateway Center located on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, where Peet's Coffee is located.

Saratoga planner Michael Fossati presented details of the proposal and noted that the issues had been divided into four sections to facilitate discussion and voting.

He also noted that a recently established online petition had between 50 and 60 signatures opposing raising the height limit to 26 feet at The Gateway Shopping Center.

About 15 people spoke about the issue, including a representative of Sand Hill Properties, which owns the Quito Village and Quito Office Center. Most were against the height being lifted, said Fariss.

The majority of the residents at the meeting last night supported, "often forcefully," maintaining the 20-feet limit in that area, according to Fariss.

Details: Michael Fossati, mfossati@saratoga.ca.us, or 408-868-1212.