Dear Red Phone,
Wasn’t the parking lot at the old liquor store downtown supposed to be closed to the public several weeks ago so the owner could begin construction on a new project? I know the pop-up park that used to be there has moved, but cars are still parking in the lot.
Dear Caller,
The parking lot at the corner of Third Street and Monterey Road, in front of and next to the former Simple Beverages building, was indeed supposed to be fenced off May 6 so that developers Ken Rodrigues and Imwalle Properties could begin construction. However, city staff said they have run into some “snags” in transferring the property to Rodrigues/Imwalle. The new owner is likely to close on the purchase of the site and begin construction in early July.
The city council and planning commission have already approved the proposed development on the site—a complex of four restaurants owned by a small South Bay chain—but the last step they needed was an exception to floodplain construction requirements. That variance was granted by the Morgan Hill Planning Commission on a 5-2 vote June 28. The city’s “flood damage prevention” section of the municipal code requires most new construction to be built at least 12 inches above the base flood elevation in a flood zone. The property at Third Street and Monterey Road sits within a 100-year floodplain.
However, city staff recommended the Rodrigues/Imwalle project be granted an exception to this requirement so that it would fit with its commercial neighbors. Morgan Hill Public Works Director Karl Bjarke noted that under existing regulations, the floor of an elevated restaurant on the site would rise about five feet above that of Trail Dust restaurant next door on Monterey Road. The city will still require the new project to be build just above the base flood elevation, but not as high as the regulations state.
Assistant City Manager Leslie Little added that Rodrigues/Imwalle are scheduled to close on the .42-acre site July 6, and they could begin fencing off the parking lot the following day.
Rodrigues/Imwalle purchased the property from the City of Morgan Hill (acting as Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency) in 2015 for $525,000. The Morgan Hill RDA purchased the property in 2009 as part of its effort to revitalize the downtown.
Rodrigues/Imwalle plan to build four establishments owned by South Bay restaurant group The Opa! Group. These restaurants are Opa Greek restaurant; Tac-Oh! Mexican restaurant’ Mo’s…the Breakfast & Burger Joint; and Willard Hicks (steaks and American food).
As you have likely noticed, the pop-up park that used to be at that site has been relocated to the corner of Second Street and Monterey Road.
