The developers of Newtown in Los Gatos submitted a new application on Nov. 13, significantly paring down the number of units they’re planning to build.
Newtown was a builder’s remedy project proposed by Green Valley Corporation, a construction company affiliated with San Jose-based general contractor Swenson Builders. They submitted their preliminary application for Newtown on March 19, 2024. They initially planned to demolish the existing commercial and retail buildings on the site at at 15495 Los Gatos Blvd. and construct two apartment buildings with a total of 238 units, with 48, or 20%, of them to be set aside as affordable.
The developers initially tried to argue that their project would qualify for a limited environmental impact report due to an exemption in the California Environmental Quality Act for infill projects under a certain acreage. However, town staff said the project didn’t qualify because its density was too high for the applicable General Plan land use designation.
The project clocked in at 61.7 dwelling units per acre. According to the town, the maximum density allowed by the General Plan is 20 dwelling units per acre. Town staff also said the project didn’t qualify for waivers under state Density Bonus Law for this reason and that if they wanted to deviate from the town’s objective requirements, they would need to invoke builders’ remedy.
Instead, Swenson went back to the drawing board and submitted an application for a new project called “Residence at Newtown” a new residential community that would occupy about 3.86 acres zoned for commercial highway use. The project consists of 80 three-story townhomes spread across 10 buildings. Plans call for 33 three-bedroom units and 47 four-unit bedrooms. Each building would be a maximum height of 40 feet.
The developers plan to provide spaces for walking and gathering, with landscaped paseos, a dog run, barbecue areas and outdoor gathering spaces distributed throughout the site. According to their project description, they plan on drawing from Craftsman and Farmhouse styles for the buildings’ architecture.
“Residence at Newtown redevelops an underutilized commercial property into a thoughtfully designed residential neighborhood that aligns with the town’s housing and design objectives, enhances the streetscape along Los Gatos Boulevard and provides high-quality housing opportunities consistent with local and state housing policies,” the developers wrote in the project description.
The new plan still needs to be vetted by town planners before being sent to the planning commission and town council for approval.