Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 01/18/1999 All articles from this issue

City OKs environmental declaration for 401 Rosita

printer friendly version

By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Even though Los Altos City Council members and staff agreed that the master plan they have for 401 Rosita may change, they took steps to go forward with it.

At its Jan. 12 meeting, council members approved a mitigated negative declaration, a statement that negative impacts to the 5.5-acre city-owned site will be mitigated.

Construction began this month on a soccer and baseball field.

Without the council's adoption of the declaration, "field work would probably have been stopped," said Larry Tong, planning director for the city of Los Altos.

"You can revise a master plan," Tong said. And, "depending upon the extent of the revisions," the negative declaration may still be OK.

The master plan calls for a city gymnasium on the adjoining Covington School.

But the Los Altos School District has said no to a city recreation facility on the campus the district will be re-opening.

Neighbors are uneasy about the city going forward with plans they expect to change. Dozens packed the council chambers to say so.

"We shouldn't approve something we know won't be built," one said.

Ann Testa said, "We should coordinate with the schools and what they plan for their fields."

But the council went ahead. "We don't want anything to stop the progress of grass and trees and sprinklers," said Councilman John Moss. But he agreed "it's also clear that the master plan is no longer workable."

Council members voted to plan a study session with landscape designer Jay Beals, who worked with the city task force that created the existing master plan.

At the study session, the council and residents will have a chance to revisit the plan.

"We're trying to leave flexibility to accommodate neighbor input," said Councilman Francis La Poll.

At the same time, talks continue between the city and the school district about some type of joint recreation facility. Currently a favored idea is for the city to add money to school funds to gyms at each of the district's two intermediate schools.

In the meantime, the city is trying to have some fields ready for fall 1999 sports. The city bought the former St. William school site in 1996 for recreation and open space.