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Saratoga Village Character May Change With Proposed Plan

April 7, 2010 at 7 PM the City of Saratoga Council met to review and approve an update to the General Plan 2007-2014 Housing Element and other land use Elements, which include the following proposed changes:

  • Establishment of a new zoning district CNRHD (Commercial Neighborhood Residential High Density) in Saratoga Village.
  • Removal of the 2 story limitation for buildings facing Big Basin Way in the Historic District Regulations.
  • Removal of the 3 story limitation for buildings facing Saratoga Creek.
  • Leaving a 26′ height limit for any new structure or addition in CH-2, leaving a 35′ limit in CH-1.
  • Changing the zoning on the triangular strip of commercial property south of Prospect Ave. and east of Lawrence Expressway (around Westgate car wash) to Commercial-Neighborhood High Density Residential.  This is in response to the Housing Element requiring the identification of “underutilized sites” in terms of capacity of possibility for low/moderate income housing.*

The Housing Element Policy Action calls for creation of a new mixed use zoning district permitting rental and owner occupied multifamily residential development with a minimum density of 20 du/net acre.  This ordinance, which would allow 3 story buildings, would apply not only to redevelopment of the Buy and Save shopping center, but also much of Big Basin Way in Saratoga Village.

In October, 2009 Saratoga, CA residents listened to David Rossi developer describe plans to renovate the Buy and Save shopping center in Saratoga Village.  Apparently, this proposal is being stalled because of environmental issues, but redevelopment eventually needs to be done to this important site.

There is an active group of merchants and others interested in preserving the quaint historic character of Saratoga Village.  Click>here for a link to the Saratoga Village Blog with more information on Saratoga Village.

As an interesting sidebar, the Housing Element forecasts that population in Saratoga will have a modest increase from 31,700 residents in 2010 to 33,900 in 2030.

*Note: Based on the provisions of California AB 2348, the City of Saratoga must accommodate at least 50 percent of its lower income (very low- and low-income) RHNA need on sites zoned exclusively for residential use. The City has identified the Odd Fellows Retirement Community as having the greatest potential to accommodate this need. The retirement community is currently comprised of 143 independent living apartments and cottages.

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