Saratoga Weighs Building Heights

Saratoga officials will be meeting with the public to receive input on inconsistencies in building-height limits within the city's commercial visitor and neighborhood commercial zoning districts.

In both districts, the 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.

At the Saratoga City Council’s direction, the Planning Commission will be conducting two outreach meetings to study the issue, which is raising 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.

The meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 at the Saratoga Prospect Center, 19848 Prospect Rd. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at Quito Village Shopping Center, 18899 Cox Ave., in the former Saratoga Health Food store tenant space.

Specifically, the Commission will try to find out whether the public believes the varying height limits incentivize certain building types, whether 30 feet is the appropriate height limit for multi-family buildings and whether 20 feet is the appropriate height limit for commercial buildings in both zones.

Alerting the community about the meetings was Saratoga resident Rishi Kumar who sent an email to all his friends on Feb. 17 about the issue. Responding to that email thread was Saratoga resident Paul Krug, who said meeting information had been sent to residents who live near the zoning districts.

"Many of the neighbors are very concerned with the impact of raising the height limits due to the impact on views of the hills, increasing density, impact on privacy, increased noise, etc.," wrote Jack Mallory in the email thread. "Any changes in height limits would change the Gateway Guidelines written 10 years ago by the city after extensive review. The Gateway is the area from Prospect to the railroad tracks along Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road."

Mallory also said residents near the zones had sent a letter to the city and those who worked on the Gateway Guildelines have sent another letter to the municipality with thoughts about proposed developments and their impact.

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