Gilroy’s City Council voted to improve a 29-home development in
north Gilroy Monday following a lengthy debate and lots of
complaints from surrounding homeowners.
Gilroy’s City Council voted to improve a 29-home development in north Gilroy Monday following a lengthy debate and lots of complaints from surrounding homeowners.
Initially, the project by developer Michael McDermott was slated to include 32 lots directly east of Brazo and Bosque streets. However, the council voted 4-3 to reject a tentative map for the 32 homes. Councilman Peter Arellano, who initially opposed the map, proposed a friendly amendment to only allow 29 lots, and the motion received approval.
Arellano also introduced an amendment to have only four homes on the east side of the project rather than seven after the council initially rejected approvals for the project’s architecture. That motion also passed.
Several residents complained before the council’s vote about parking challenges, visual impacts and initial plans for homes in the project to be three stories high. Some council members were not thrilled about the project either.
“I really believe this is the worst project I’ve ever seen come forward,” Councilman Dion Bracco said.
Councilwoman Cat Tucker also expressed concern that at least two of the homes in the development did not have driveways.
Other council members said they were happy to see the project move forward, noting the dearth of development projects that have come about as a result of the sour economy.
Although several neighboring residents said after the meeting they still were not pleased that the project was approved, they said the final product was better than what was initially proposed.
“It’s an improvement,” said Vicente Barrajas, who lives near the site of the proposed development.
