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Published on 08/04/1999 All articles from this issue

LAHS design 'industrial' neighbors tell council

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Karen Coble and Dave Schott describe the high school buildings going up across the street from their homes as "stark" and "industrial."

They are unhappy with the corrugated steel details and grayish-blue color. Los Altos High School "will look like a prison," Coble said.

The high school is in the middle of a five-year construction project funded by a $58 million bond passed by voters in 1995. The project, which also includes Mountain View High School, involves new arts and science buildings, classroom wings and multipurpose rooms.

Coble and Schott brought their concerns to the Los Altos City Council at its July 27 meeting.

The new buildings, those already built and others soon to go up, "are totally incompatible with surrounding residences," Coble told the council. "The old buildings were not of great beauty, but they were set back and single story."

Schott agreed. Plans call for the new buildings to be closer to the street and as high as 30 feet. "That's a very large group of buildings for Los Altos," Schott said.

The corrugated steel roofing reminds Schott "of a cement plant. The aesthetics are not appropriate and should be reviewed," he said.

City Attorney Bob Booth said that school buildings are under the direction of the state architect. "City powers are extremely limited," he said.

City Manager Phil Rose said, "We do not have design control over a school project."

At a May 3 meeting, district officials met with residents to go over designs and address on-street parking and traffic issues. The district has scheduled an Aug. 31 community meeting to get additional resident input. Architects will be present.

Superintendent Rich Fischer said, "The basic construction is not going to change," but the district is open to hearing resident concerns. "We have not finalized all the colors," he said, but the initial paint hues were chosen three years ago. As for the setback issue, the new building is 10 feet closer to the street, but Fischer said the setback is still about 40 feet. "We're trying to work with people, but we also have to keep moving forward," he said.

Schott said he feels "There are things the city can do regarding the final aesthetic outcome once more information is obtained. They can express an opinion, draft a resolution."

In response to Coble and Schott, Rose said the council "wants to know the status of the project," but the plans may already be with the state architect. "We have not been following the design," Rose said. "It's been going through the school's public process."

That process is different from the city's. At the July 27 council meeting, Coble and Schott watched what Coble called "a public outcry" by dozens of neighbors objecting to a proposed multipurpose room at a private school in another part of town.

"I noticed how stringent the rules are when the city has authority," Coble said.

Coble said she was unaware of receiving notice from the school district about the design of the proposed high school buildings. "Almond (Avenue) neighbors feel uninformed," she said. "The demolition process (two weeks ago) took us all by surprise. I am very pro school," Coble said. "But I want a 'campus look,' not something that will destroy the whole community."

Rose said the city should know by this Friday if a city response is possible. If so, the item will be on the agenda for the council meeting next Tuesday.

Bruce Barton contributed to this story.