Northern News

APA CA logo

A publication of the American Planning Association, California Chapter, Northern Section

Making great communities happen

Los Altos agrees to legal settlement over SB 35 project; developers still pursuing 5-story building

By Bruce Barton, Los Altos Town Crier, November 9, 2021

“[Los Altos] Council members voted unanimously Nov. 2 to pass an agreement that pays [developers] Ted and Jerry Sorensen $1.2 million to ‘fully and finally resolve all claims’ stemming from a legal fight over the nearly 30,000-square-foot office and housing project they successfully sued to build [at 40 Main St.]. The project qualified under State Senate Bill 35, which [allows ministerial approval based on a set of objective standards for certain projects].

“According to a staff report on the settlement, the city would waive approximately $800,000 in developers’ fees should the Sorensens choose to pursue a four-story project. But Ted Sorensen indicated that may not happen.

“Mayor Neysa Fligor declined direct comment on the Sorensens’ intentions, but pointed to the purpose of the agreement, which includes providing ‘incentives to developer to apply for a four-story discretionary project in lieu of the permitted five-story SB 35 project.’ ”

Read the full article here. (~2 min.)

Previously in roundup: Read about the initial suit filed in 2019 and the long, troubled history of the 40 Main St. project here.

Return to Northern News here.

Scroll to Top