Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Editorials

Open space property is gem in the crown

There are those who believe that the parks and trails in Los Gatos are this town's crowning glory. If that's so, then the 88.6 acres of open space donated to the community by SummerHill Homes certainly will be one of the brightest gems in the crown.

The donation not only preserves the viewshed of the hillsides, but offers some 8,100 linear feet of dirt trails and 1,400 feet of asphalt trails--built by the developer--in an area approximately 1/3 the size of Vasona Lake County Park.

But there's more. The trails will connect to Santa Rosa Heights Open Space, which leads to Belgatos Park, to Midpeninsula's Open Space and to downtown.

It's definitely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.

The town didn't exactly jump up and down in anticipation when SummerHill first proposed the dedication.

That's not because town officials don't appreciate the value of such a gift but because of the cost of maintenance and upkeep the property would require.

Normally, developers assume the cost for maintenance of dedicated property; often these costs are part of homeowner association dues. Homeowners, in fact, will pay the cost for the linear park and trail that will serve as the buffer to Blossom Hill Road. But clearly, upkeep of 88.6 acres of trails and open space was more than homeowners could be expected to support.

In the week leading up to the Town Council meeting, SummerHill and town staff came together and hammered out an agreement that saw the developer put up $262,900 toward upkeep.

The council had to go out on a limb, agreeing to absorb whatever additional costs there might be.

We think it was a good gamble, a creative example of the public and private sector working together to bring about the best for the community.

Town Boosters

The Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce has been working quietly to prove its worth to both business people and the community as a whole. The publication of a general brochure and brochures featuring local restaurants and meeting venues should go a long way toward removing doubts that this Chamber is good for Los Gatos.

For a ridiculously long period of time, Los Gatos has been unable to put a brochure into the hands of visitors who come to town wondering what to do and where to spend their money.

The town's financial contribution would have allowed the Chamber to produce 3,000 brochures. But when Chamber members pooled their talent and their enthusiasm, they were able to print 20,000 of the good-looking pieces.

This is just the kind of energy and can-do attitude that can help the Chamber move towards an even more central role in the community.

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