Los Gatos Weekly-Times

PG&E reports on alternate sites for Vasona substation

By Jeff Kearns

Pacific Gas and Electric Company has identified six possible alternative sites for the proposed Vasona substation in a study submitted to the state Public Utilities Commission, but concluded that none of the alternatives is more feasible than the original site on Winchester Boulevard at Lark Avenue.

From a list of 16 possible alternative sites, mostly located near the interchange of Highways 85 and 17, 10 were eliminated from consideration for failing to meet engineering, environmental, accessibility and financial criteria. Of the sites selected, most are orchards belonging to Yuki Farms.

"The company still feels that the site it has is superior, but the decision is out of our hands at this point," PG&E spokesperson Scott Blakey said.

One of the main difficulties PG&E would have in building a substation at one of the alternate sites would be creating new power transmission corridors, which would generate additional expense on top of the costs of the substation, Blakey said.

Lawyers were scheduled to meet with PUC administrative law judge Bert Patrick Jan. 6 to develop a schedule for public hearings, one of which will be held in Los Gatos.

Here are the alternatives PG&E determined where feasible:

* Alternative A, on Winchester Boulevard just north of Highway 85, is currently occupied by Maxxin Medical Inc, and A-Z Tree Nursery. Cost of the 13-acre parcel is $3.2 million. The nursery would have to be moved.

* Alternative G is a nine-acre site on Oka Road, next to Los Gatos Creek, owned by Yuki Farms. The price is $4.4 million.

* Alternative H, also owned by Yuki, is across Oka Road from Alternative G. It's a 2.8-acre site for $2.6 million, now being used for an orchard and a tennis court.

* Alternative I, another Yuki property, is 4.3 acres adjacent to Highway 17, behind the Landmark Apartments on Oka Road. Cost is $3.3 million. A narrow access lane could restrict emergency vehicles.

* Alternative N, another 3.6 acres of Yuki orchard, is located between Highway 17 and Los Gatos Boulevard, north of Lark Avenue, and would cost $3.2 million.

* Alternative O, 11.5 acres to the south of Alternative N, is bordered by Highway 17, Lark Avenue, and Los Gatos Boulevard and priced at $10.6 million. A house next to the on-ramp to northbound 17 could have to be removed.

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