Monte Sereno access issue places neighbors at odds

By Nathan R. Huff

Much to the delight of one Monte Sereno neighborhood, and the dismay of another, the Monte Sereno City Council voted unanimously to abandon an extension of Via Palomino road which could have served as the access road to four homes proposed on 10 acres of canyon land.

The council, stating that Via Palomino was the most environmentally hazardous access, reduced the potential access points to two roads--through property owner Al Montaño's driveway on Karl Avenue, or through Smith Creek Drive in Los Gatos.

Los Gatos has previously indicated it would allow access only to one lot. Developers also face a difficult battle with neighbors and a 20 percent grade on Karl Avenue.

Dennis Lowery, owner of Construction and Development Services (CDS) and a member of the homeowners' association which includes Via Palomino, intends to buy the property from Montaño, assuming his plans for four homes are approved. Previous development applications for the site had included as many as 10 homes.

"We were hoping that the city would see the time to abandon the street is after you figure out the best access," said Lowery, who asked the council at its Jan. 4 meeting to delay making a decision. "They have not provided any access."

The abandonment came at the request of the Loma Serena Homeowners' Association, composed of Lowery and 84 other residents. According to Mark Fredkin, homeowner association member and former Monte Sereno mayor, the Via Palomino road was dedicated in the early 1960s for a high school that never materialized.

"It was created for a time and circumstance that no longer exist," Fredkin said. "They claim that Via Palomino gave them an access with less slope than Karl, but it was much longer."

Fredkin said the homeowners group was concerned about safety issues created by potential traffic on the windy road. He added that while Smith Creek Drive presented the best option from an engineer's perspective, the Karl Avenue access would use the property of Montaño, who has the most interest in the project.

Karl Avenue residents have a much different view. Michele Jehenson, one of about 20 Karl Avenue residents, said the neighborhood could accept one or two houses off their street. "It's not as if we want all the traffic to go through Via Palomino," she said. "It's just not right for one neighborhood to bear the brunt of four new homes."

Jehenson said the council's decision, combined with Los Gatos' reluctance to allow access off Smith Creek, leaves Karl Avenue as the only option. "My point is, why close your options when there's no data on the project?" Jehenson said.

Montaño was also disappointed with what he considered premature action by the council. He said resident and council fears that a 60-foot wide road would have to be constructed were groundless, and that the council's action discounted research on the issue from past councils.

"Karl Avenue is not a good access," Montaño said. "It's too narrow and too steep."

Monte Sereno Mayor Suzanne Jackson said that although the road from Karl Avenue would be steep, its short length still made it a better option than running a road from Via Palomino, which would have to traverse the length of the canyon.

"It was the length and how the slope was set up on the road [that led to the council's decision]," Jackson said, adding that she believed a private road off Karl Avenue could be kept narrow and service two homes. "It was my feeling that he needs to work with Los Gatos as well," she said.

However, Jackson said, the city must recognize Montaño's right to build on his property. She said the neighborhoods, developer, town of Los Gatos, and Monte Sereno would just have to work together on the issue.

Lowery, who said CDS has held several neighborhood meetings, expressed frustration at the lack of direction they were being given by the council. "Our goal has been to inform people," he said. "We want to work with the neighbors, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno, but to do so we need some direction."

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