Los Gatos Weekly-Times

County extends deadline for comment on Denevi project

By Jeff Kearns

After an initial public hearing Dec. 4 on the draft environmental impact report for Pete Denevi's proposed Los Gatos Country Club golf course, the county Planning Commission has extended the public comment period to Feb. 5.

This is Denevi's second try for approval of the new country club he wants to build at the site of the former Alma College, on Bear Creek Road at Highway 17, across from Lexington Reservoir.

Plans for the 210-acre site include an 18-hole golf course, a five-acre driving range, 10 tennis courts, two pools and six housing units for employees. Because the country club is on the site of Alma College, formerly used as a training ground for Jesuits, existing buildings will be remodeled to serve as a restaurant, a meeting hall, a clubhouse and athletic facilities, preserving the historic structures as much as possible.

The county Planning Commission turned down the first set of plans in February 1996 because of environmental concerns raised by some neighbors and environmental groups.

The new design reduces the impact on the environment by cutting the area of turf and using drought-tolerant grasses in other areas to cut down on water use and pesticides. Denevi also eliminated a health club facility that was in his original plans.

But some critics say the design still endangers Lexington Reservoir, which supplies water to much of Santa Clara County.

"One thing that we're concerned about is that the applicant has said the golf course would be organic, which is a great goal," Julia Bott of the Sierra Club said. "But there's an escape clause in the EIR that says if organic doesn't work, then chemicals would be used. And organic has just as much chance of contaminating a water source as does chemical [fertilizer]."

Opponents also say the golf course, for which peak daily water demand is estimated at 406,713 gallons, would put a strain on the water supply in the area.

"This project would take away potable water in an area where there are more appropriate uses," Bott said. "The public is concerned when they see a lot of potable water going for golf course development, when we have a need to supply more water for housing in the already developed urban areas of the county."

Because of the high demand for water at the golf course, one existing lake on the Alma College property would be reconfigured to store irrigation water. The site already has a suitable connection for treated water, but an additional connection would have to be built under Highway 17 to supply irrigation water.

The Planning Commission will hear comments on the plans at its Feb. 5 meeting. The commission's decision, which may be appealed to the county Board of Supervisors, will not be made until a later date.

The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., in the Board of Supervisors chambers, at 70 W. Hedding St. in San Jose. Correspondence regarding the country club plans can be addressed to planner Pat Murphy, 70 W. Hedding St., 7th Floor, San Jose, 95110.

Pete Denevi could not be reached by press time for this story.

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