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Published on 08/28/1995 All articles from this issue

Proposed St. William purchase draws resident concerns

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By Clyde Noel / Town Crier Staff Writer

It isn't often Los Altos City Hall has standing room only for a Planning Commission special meeting, but residents were there in force protesting the city's possible purchase of the St. William Parish Hall.

The purpose of the special meeting was to identify any impacts and possible mitigation measures associated with the potential conversion of the Parish Hall at 401 Rosita Ave. for city recreation use.

The Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-3 at its meeting July 26 to recommend to the City Council that the City acquire the Parish Hall for an indoor community facility. The Planning Commission made no recommendations to the City Council, but considered possible mitigation measures and potential impacts to convert the building to recreation use.

The City Council will hold a study session Sept. 27 to consider buying the Parish Hall.

Earlier this year, the 5.74-acre property was placed on the market and Bob Taylor Homes entered into contract to buy the entire parcel for the purpose of subdividing it into quarter-acre home sites.

If the City Council decides against acquisition, the staff anticipates the developer will file an application to subdivide the entire parcel into approximately 19 quarter-acre, single-family residential lots. Should the Council decide to pursue acquisition, the staff anticipates the developer will file a map with 16 quarter-acre residential lots and one for the Parish Hall.

The City Council has not discussed the cost of acquisition, but the County Assessor said a typical level lot in Los Altos would sell for $250,000 to $300,000 per acre. The 3-acre acquisition would cost the city $750,000 to $900,000 for the land plus additional money to put the building in playing condition.

"This is a sales barrier to our development," said Steve Douglas, a representative for Bob Taylor Homes. "We would prefer the city not purchase this because the building is the gateway to our development. What will the city pay for the land? What will they do to improve the property? We have a real concern what the city will do to our development of up-scale homes."

Ann Testa, St. William Alliance of Neighbors (SWAN) representative, said the staff report was prepared with the decision already made before the property was purchased.

"No other city has a sports center in the middle of a residential neighborhood," Testa said. "There are other buildings that could be converted to a gym such as the Hillview Multipurpose room, the Lacy building or the Hillview Hall, or try to get the Covington School multipurpose building. Los Altos does not need a third rate gym- it needs a basketball gym."

The St. William School opened in 1952 with 250 students and 20 employees. Five years ago, when the student body was reduced to 125 students, the school was closed. The Waldorf School of the Peninsula has occupied the site for the last five years.

Todd Norland, a La Prenda Road homeowner, said the SWAN group is not pleased with the staff report because no alternative locations were considered.

"I don't think you know it, but this building is on a septic tank. It would have to be converted to the sewer system, and that is not included in the budget," Norland said. "The task of the planning commission is to improve our community and adopting this eyesore and placing it on the list of buildings the city would have to take care of is a foolish thing to do."

The planning commission reviewed the different comments from the audience and listed findings of possible environmental impacts on traffic volume, the peak periods of use and the ability of the local road system to accommodate the peak period traffic. Noise and parking were also discussed as possible impacts for the City Council to consider.