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Los Gatos council approves rezoning of historic Fort Tate to residential
Summary
After a public hearing with extensive neighbor comment on parking and safety, the council unanimously approved a zone change and general plan amendment to return the town‑owned Fort Tate firehouse site to its prior residential designation, preserving historic overlays and directing proceeds toward public uses.
The Los Gatos Town Council unanimously voted to approve a planning commission recommendation to rezone the town‑owned Fort Tate property from a commercial central business designation to single‑family residential and to amend the general plan to medium‑density residential, while keeping the property’s landmark and historic preservation overlay. Council member Renie moved to accept staff and the planning commission’s recommendation and to initiate the required ordinance and resolution to amend the general plan; Council member Hudis seconded and the motion passed without opposition.
Residents who live on Tate Avenue and nearby West Main testified strongly in favor of changing the zoning back to residential. Suzanne Fiori, who lives across from the site, told the council the narrow block already faces heavy parking strain from adjacent uses including St. Mary’s and downtown activity and said a commercial designation would worsen traffic and noise. “Tate is a residential street,” she said, urging the council to align land use with how the property fronts the neighborhood.
Planning Manager Shawn Mullen told the council the parcel is in the Broadway Historic District, contains a former fire station and an accessory building, and that the change would revert the site to a previous residential designation while maintaining historic protections. Staff said the planning commission reviewed the proposal and recommended approval at its December meeting.
Supporters from the neighborhood highlighted safety, parking and the condition of the vacant buildings as reasons to return the site to residential use. Rob White and Cat Vitalia, owners of a nearby property, said the existing pattern of small lots and one‑side parking makes the site inappropriate for commercial activity. Former county supervisor Mike Wasserman and other long‑time residents urged adoption, saying a single‑family home would be less intrusive and more likely to be maintained.
Council members stressed that the historic overlay would remain in force and that any future owner would have to follow preservation guidelines. Renie said the council would require findings under the California Environmental Quality Act and would introduce the ordinance and resolution needed to implement the change. The motion adopted the findings, approved zone change application Z‑25‑002 and general plan amendment GP‑25‑002, and directed staff to proceed with the necessary ordinance and resolution.
The council also discussed the eventual sale of the property and emphasized that proceeds should be used for public‑service projects, noting the building’s long history of serving the town as a fire station and later as a museum. With the vote, the Fort Tate site will be available for conversion to residential ownership under rules designed to preserve its historic character.
Affected next steps include finalizing the ordinance language, completing ministerial steps listed in staff reports, and future decisions about disposition and use of sale proceeds.
