Los Gatos wants clarity over a housing dispute with the state, and land use experts say the results of the legal spat could slow needed housing. Los Gatos requested legal clarification from the Santa Clara County Superior Court March 28 about a land use disagreement between the town and California Department of Housing and Community Development....
Nonprofit gets nod to manage Los Gatos stables — for now
Ashley Byington brushes her horse Pete in his stall at Bear Creek Stables in Los Gatos, smiling at his little huffs of air. Pete is the third horse she’s boarded there, and while she said it was “a great place to grow up,” the dilapidated stables have seen better days. With a push from the...
Cupertino prioritizes growing its business community
Cupertino’s decision to draw in new businesses and support longtime merchants has the commerce community cheering. The Cupertino City Council voted 3-2 earlier this month to prioritize economic development and small business support for the next two fiscal years as part of a citywide work program. Councilmembers J.R. Fruen and Sheila Mohan supported the effort,...
Federal cuts end Campbell theater citizenship ceremonies
About seven people gathered in a confused cluster around a notice on the windows of the Heritage Theatre in Campbell to learn their path to citizenship was no longer available there. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) canceled its longstanding contract with the theater March 12 due to a “termination for convenience of the government”...
West Valley may build new homes in risky fire zones
California is requiring two West Valley communities to build thousands of homes, while the state is ringing alarm bells over increasing fire risk where some of these homes might be constructed. Cal Fire released updated fire hazard severity maps for the first time since 2011 last month — and Los Gatos and Cupertino are in...
Los Gatos services could be hit by federal funding cuts
The shifting political tides in Washington, D.C. have Los Gatos officials strategizing ways to protect vital services. The Los Gatos Town Council voted 4-1 March 18 to review federal funding changes every two months to determine the effect on town services, with Councilmember Mary Badame voting no. The small West Valley town has yet to receive...
Campbell hits the brakes on new tobacco shops
One small West Valley city has some of the most smoke shops per person in Santa Clara County. Officials are taking steps to change that statistic. The Campbell City Council unanimously approved a temporary ban Tuesday preventing new tobacco retailers from opening in the city for at least 45 days. Officials want to curb tobacco sales...
Los Gatos orchard could become townhomes
Wild mustard is in full bloom at one of Los Gatos’ last orchards, where hundreds of bare, brown walnut trees stand as remaining vestiges of the town’s agricultural past. That may soon change. San Jose-based Urban Catalyst recently submitted revised plans for a 138-townhome development to replace the orchard at 14789 Oka Road. Plans for the...
Cupertino to install license plate reader cameras
Criminals driving through Cupertino could be caught by just their license plate as the tech hub becomes one of the last in Santa Clara County to install detection technology. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to allow the County Sheriff’s Office to implement 15 cameras that automatically read license plates throughout...
Cupertino gets budget surplus surprise after fiscal uncertainty
After more than a year of unprecedented fiscal uncertainty, Cupertino’s future could be flush with cash. The unexpected turnaround in the city’s mid-year financial report projects a $4.5 million budget surplus in 2026. This comes on the heels of a $30 million loss, largely due to a depletion of sales tax revenue from tech giant...