Council approves changes for center at Cochrane and Monterey
A year’s worth of thought caused Scott Schilling to drop plans for a fast-food restaurant in favor of a drive-through coffee stand in his Gateway project at Cochrane and Monterey roads.
“We spent the last year going out to the marketplace, trying to find something (besides fast food) that would do better for the community,” Schilling told the City Council Wednesday, “and we think the coffee shop will be a more upscale use.”
The coffee shop should open by the end of the year.
Schilling, the president of South Valley Developers, asked the council for permission to make the replacement and also to increase the size of a retail center to make space for up to four tenants. He sought permission to reduce the size of another future building accommodating up to eight tenants and to change the designation of that final building from commercial only to a retail/commercial mix.
“We will end up with the same square footage,” Schilling said, “it will just be rearranged.”
Council members were reluctant to do away with the chance for commercial use in the larger building since mixed use (retail/commercial/residential) is the current model for cities, big and small.
“We don’t want just another strip mall,” Carr said.
The new arrangement, he said, would even provide space for a (non-fast food) restaurant with outdoor patio space. Other changes include adding roof and verandah elements facing Monterey Road and the west and adding a wall between the middle parcel and the railroad tracks with a berm and sidewalk in front.
Councilman Larry Carr asked if the center divider on Monterey Road would be extended south. He had seen more than one car turn into the center across southbound traffic, instead of waiting for the light at Cochrane.
“That’s scary,” Carr said.
Schilling assured him that the divider would be lengthened.
Approvals for the first part of Schilling’s Gateway Center, including an ARCO gas station with car wash and an AM/PM convenience store were long in coming. Neighbors who live across the railroad tracks behind the center rose up to fight the development which, they said, would block their views, disturb their evenings with noise and light and, cause a public nuisance for their children. The AM/PM sells alcohol.
After several heated public hearings, Schilling agreed to make changes to ease most of the obstacles. The neighbors gained national attention because their united efforts to make change had some effect and because they were so colorful. Besides naming themselves NAG (Neighbors Against Gateway), they turned up at council meetings wearing specially made NAG T-shirts with Gateway in the circle with the familiar “no” slash.
Councilman Greg Sellers said he looks forward to a drive-through coffee shop, which he expects to visit almost daily on his way into San Jose. He asked if Schilling plans to modify the drive aisles to eliminate so much “meandering.”
Yes, it would, Schilling said, besides, it will have stacking area for eight vehicles and a wait of only two minutes, opposed to a four-minute wait for fast food businesses, all designed to get motorists on the road faster.
“I’ll support this,” Sellers said. “Anything we can do to eliminate fast food near schools is good.”
Sellers said he had opposed Gateway’s first phase because the AM/PM would sell things not good for children, but that he was comfortable with Schilling’s new proposals.
“They’ve proved themselves,” Sellers said.
Council voted 4-0 to allow the amendments. Councilwoman Hedy Chang abstained because she thought she might have a future conflict of interest.
City Manager Ed Tewes commented that the Gateway zoning amendment presentation would be the last Community Development Director David Bischoff would have to do before he retires on April 30 after 18 years in the planning department.
“I want to publicly thank David for his work,” Tewes said.
Bischoff responded in kind.
“I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to serve the community,” Bischoff said. “I’ve enjoyed working with the council, advisory committees and our committed staff. I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished and think Morgan Hill is a better place because of our efforts.”
