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Los Gatos council authorizes tolling agreement for 101 Blossom Hill Road after hours of public comment
Summary
The council voted unanimously to authorize a tolling agreement that delays deadlines for the 101 Blossom Hill Road development application until the town's related court case is decided, giving the town and applicant more time to negotiate design and safety changes following heavy public concern about scale, traffic and school safety.
The Los Gatos Town Council voted unanimously to authorize the town manager to execute a tolling agreement with the applicant for 101 Blossom Hill Road, pausing statutory appeal and resubmission deadlines until 60 days after a pending judicial ruling.
The action, taken after more than an hour of public comment, was framed by Town Attorney as a procedural measure intended to avoid making a completeness determination without clarity from a declaratory relief action the town filed. The attorney told the council that the agreement "delays the time by which the town must hear the incompleteness appeal and the applicant's deadline to resubmit" and that staff anticipates a judicial ruling in mid-October.
Residents decried the proposed project's height, parking and proximity to Los Gatos High School. Public commenters urged negotiation during the tolling period to reduce building height, add parking, and mitigate safety and traffic impacts. "This building does not belong here, next door to the high school," one speaker said, citing concerns about egress, parking and student safety. Other speakers thanked the council for seeking clarity and delay so the town can avoid a rushed decision.
Council members asked staff to clarify whether the tolling agreement affects the public hearing process or transparency. The Town Attorney said normal public hearing steps remain unchanged: if the application becomes complete it will go to the Planning Commission and later to the council. "The tolling agreement doesn't have any effect on that process," the attorney said, adding only the appeal and resubmission deadlines are postponed.
Councilmember Risto moved to authorize execution of the tolling agreement; Vice Mayor Moore seconded. The roll call vote was all in favor.
What happens next: the town will continue communications with the applicant; deadlines tied to appeals and resubmissions will be delayed until 60 days after the expected mid-October court ruling. If the applicant's file is later deemed complete, the project will proceed through the Planning Commission and public hearings as required.
