SANTA CLARA (AP) -- Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana's business group has been given the go-ahead to lease land in California for a luxury hotel project. The Santa Clara City Council voted 5-1 on Tuesday to enter exclusive negotiations with the Hall of Famer's business group, which wants to lease land across the street from the site of the 49ers planned stadium.

   Last week, City Manager Jennifer Sparacino recommended the city put the project out for a bid, which she believed would have elicited a better price and different project ideas.

    However, Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews said that waiting other bidders would be like the City of Cupertino putting Steve Jobs on hold because Bill Gates might come along to make a better offer. He said that while the Council was indeed starstruck by Montana's appearance, he came in with a proposal that was a legitimate offer which included no subsidies, full fair market value on the city-owned land and the ability to self-finance.

   Montana's group, which includes fomer 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., wants to have the hotel ready by 2015, when the stadium is scheduled to open.