Neighborhood Alliance – Minutes – October 6, 1999

Howard Anawalt was our chair. We each introduced our neighborhoods and ourselves. The developer who would like to put 10 houses at the end of Karl Avenue was present. A large number of neighborhoods were represented by the 40 or so people in attendance.

A vote was taken to amend the Mission Statement to include Monte Sereno. It now reads:

To provide a strong network to the residents of Los Gatos for advocating their common community interest.

Those present also approved the following guidelines.

  1. The Neighborhood Alliance is a network that helps neighborhoods address community issues.
  2. The Neighborhood Alliance generally does not itself adopt or advocate positions.
  3. In the rare instances where the Neighborhood Alliance does advance a position, it will adopt the position only at a regular meeting. It will do so taking care that the neighborhoods themselves join as a majority on the position. No position will be adopted after adjournment of a regular meeting.
  4. The Neighborhood Alliance will adopt no position on an issue directly affecting a particular neighborhood over the objection of that neighborhood’s residents’ association.
  5. All individuals and neighborhood groups are encouraged to voice their opinions on any subject to anyone. Please, however, do not indicate that your opinion represents the position of the Neighborhood Alliance.

Barbara Spector, an attorney and a resident on Eland, described the efforts of her neighborhood to fight the development at 330 University Avenue. The town notified all property owners within a 300-foot radius of 330. This is the minimum distance required. Eland is two blocks in length. One of the blocks was within the 300-foot radius, but the block that Barbara lives on was not. She read about the development in Los Gatos Weekly after one planning meeting had already occurred. She then began to talk to her neighbors.

Helen Gillespie, a long-time resident on Eland, was instrumental in distributing flyers for all neighborhood meetings. The Murphy’s allowed their home to be the meeting location. They met at 9:30-10:15 A.M. Saturday whenever a meeting was necessary. The neighbors were relentless in their battle against 330 University but the end result was the development would proceed despite their pleas. A small victory may occur since there are continuing traffic mitigation studies.

In hindsight, what did the Eland neighborhood do correctly? What should they have done differently?

Barbara Spector believes that keeping the meeting time constant, the location constant, and the timeframe short were good. The relentless effort of Helen Gillespie distributing flyers to the neighborhood was good. Barbara believes that the development was too far along before the neighborhood got involved. She recommended that attending the DRC (Development Review Committee) meetings would be beneficial. Don’t wait until Planning.

Mike Abkin, former Planning Commissioner, suggested that attending the CDAC (Conceptual Development Advisory Committee) meetings would be good since the developments start there….proceed to DRC….proceed to Planning….

Sandy Decker, current Planning Commissioner and chair of the CDAC, was opposed to attendance at the CDAC meetings. She did agree that attending DRC meetings was good. It was suggested that the Neighborhood Alliance should make an effort to have someone(s) monitor the DRC meetings.

Kyle has created a database with the names of people who have indicated interest in the Neighborhood Alliance. She has also broken Los Gatos down into neighborhoods. Sue Anawalt suggested we begin getting neighborhood captains. Joanne Talesfore thought it was better to have 2 people as a team to be captain.

The Neighborhood Alliance has a phone number. 491-9393. Yes, it’s still area code 408.

Mark Brodsky has his web site up. He would like to post all Neighborhood Alliance information on it. Plus any other town info. Site is. www.northlosgatos.com.

Projects of current concern include:

330 University Avenue – Ordinance adopted, traffic mitigation study required next

Greenbrier – Ordinance adopted

Hotel across from LGHS- architectural and site approvals done, ready to file for building permits. No community comments were made when project was under consideration. NONE!

Mobile Home Park

Chevron Station/Convenience store expansion – denial by Planning, now under appeal to City council; hearing scheduled for November 1

Villa Felice

North Forty – major meeting October 13 for Special Plan

Parking Structure

General Plan Update

Karl Avenue/Smith Creek housing development

Closing of 17 off-ramp

Hillside development

It was decided that the next meeting with Barbara Spector as chair would be held at The Outhouse on the third Wednesday in November, which is the 17th at 7 PM. That conflicts with the Los Gatos Foundation board meeting.

Alistar Dallas expressed his desire to have a listserve for the Neighborhood Association. Some of us attending signed up. Communication is the heart of group. If you would like to sign up, log on to the www.northlosgatos.com site and respond requesting it.

Howard Anawalt adjourned the meeting at 7:45 PM. It is the intent that all meetings will be for 45 minutes. The "regualar meeting" ended.

Afterwards there was much talk. Larry Arzie was quite vocal about our need to attend the October 13th meeting regarding the North 40. As a fellow member of the General Plan Committee, Joanne Rodgers concurred that this was important. The Neighborhood Alliance will not have an opinion, but the voices of its members are hoped to be heard.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria LeBlanc