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Published on 07/14/1999 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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What's the holdup?

When is the new park at the corner of Edith Avenue and San Antonio Road going to be opened to the public? For months, we've been watching the construction.

Things seemed to go smoothly, the paving and planting were done, the lawn was seeded and watered and mown, and watered some more while we watched through the chain link fence. What more needs to happen before the residents of Los Altos can start enjoying the park? Is some committee agonizing over selecting a name? Is some city official polishing a pair of gold scissors in anticipation of a ribbon-cutting ceremony?

Dimitry StruveLos Altos

EDITOR'S NOTE: The city has what amounts to a 90-day warranty with park contractors, to ensure the plantings take hold. During that time, the contractors, not the city, are responsible, so the park remains closed. It is scheduled to open by mid-October.

An even better idea for Miramonte School

We are longtime Los Altos residents and proud, active members of our community. Our son has attended Miramonte School since kindergarten and has received an outstanding education in their hands.

We appreciate the small class sizes, and the fact this is not a school with a yard filled with portable classrooms. Completely bordered by homes, it is a school that is very conscious and caring of its neighborhood. I can remember when the outer fields (which were later sold) were not used out of respect of the noise potential of playing children to the neighbors.

The lack of a multipurpose room is especially evident during special events such as open house, fall festival, spring talent show, and science fair. As a parent, I strongly agree with the school's wish to have "a place for kids to play on rainy days," but the new building can satisfy so many more of their needs.

Currently, when it rains, the students must remain in their classroom the entire day with no alternative place to play or eat lunch. Special events such as graduation, the Christmas pageant, and the spring musical evening must be held off-campus.

There is no "facade" constructed around the proposal to build a multipurpose building, only a number of well-thought-out reasons for Miramonte to provide its students with what the public schools have built for every other school in Los Altos with your tax dollars. I strongly believe that the addition of a multipurpose structure will create a healthier educational environment for our children, and I believe that as special events move into this building from their current location outside, evening noise levels will be reduced. I applaud the desire of Miramonte School to improve our community with a well-justified addition to their site.

Harriet Girdley Los Altos

Crucial vote on open space

There is a very telling issue at Thursday night's Los Altos Hills City Council meeting: a proposal for the revised town conditions of approval for the Matadero Creek development. We all want our council (as a good manager) to support the quality work of our very capable staff. We all want our council to be fair and consistent. Our council supports the open space preservation that we all want. This issue at the council meeting will be an opportunity to see how they vote.

Nearly 20 years ago, the town of Los Altos Hills itself was the developer of Matadero Creek. It was intended to be a model development, with less density than the rest of the town and an emphasis on preserving the environment and open space.

Over the years an incredible amount of confusion over just what the regulations are has arisen because as the town changed its codes, Matadero Creek was not updated. A year ago, after crafting a compromise (which remained true to the original development intent) the Council unanimously agreed and directed the planning director and his staff to develop a proposal. That proposal should follow the original intent of the development (and the compromise) and clarify the building conditions of approval for the Matadero Creek Development.

Director Williams and his staff have superbly completed that assignment and presented the proposal to the planning commission. The vast majority of the residents and neighbors of Matadero Creek who spoke at the hearing strongly supported the proposal.

I hope the council again unanimously votes to support the original objectives and intent of the Matadero Creek development. I hope that I am not unduly worrying.

Bill RiffleLos Altos Hills

Gas stations an endangered species

What has happened to all the gas stations in Los Altos? In the southern part of town, where I live, there is a used-to-be gas station on Miramonte at B Street. The Beacon station was remodeled, but not without objection from residents. Stations have closed on Newcastle and on Fremont at Grant. Others have closed in the downtown area. The state has required gas stations to change their tanks. Did all these owners prefer to close rather than update?

In reference to Nancy Gregura's letter (July 7 Town Crier), she explains how her neighborhood loathed having a gas station and alludes to the busy corner being a reason for the closure. Most gas stations are on busy corners. Was that not the case in which residents living on a street behind the station petitioned city hall not to renew the gas station's permit? Their wish was granted in spite of protests from other residents. Sounds like that old NIMBY syndrome to me.

Los Altos has very few convenience stores. Like gas stations, they are on the endangered species list. These businesses supply much-needed revenue to the city.

We do not have industrial complexes like other communities. Reducing revenue will force the city to raise taxes or cut back on services. Come on folks, none of us want that.

Kent HillLos Altos