Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Editorials

Opening bookstore early is reasonable

Of all the projects thrown off target by El Niño, the one with the most impact downtown is Old Town. The renovation of the old structure is ahead of schedule, and construction of the new building across the street is a good five months behind.

Old Town managers are asking the town to permit Borders, the book and music store, to move in early.

We think it's a reasonable request even though the early opening could put some pressure on parking.

Borders was supposed to open after Steamers moved across the street, thus allowing for additional parking, but because of rain delays, Steamers is still doing business in the same location.

Having Borders open earlier, rather than later, has to be good news for the few businesses that are currently open in Old Town. The more quickly Old Town takes on the look of a renovation project nearing completion and open for business, the better for the merchants in Old Town and in the downtown.

Arlie's Rules

The saga of Oregon-based Arlie Land and Cattle Company continues to unfold quickly and unpredictably. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which has been negotiating with Arlie to buy the property where its Alma Fire Station is located, had the land sold out from under them. CDF officials learned of the sale from our reporter.

Pete Denevi, who has been trying for four years to win approval to develop a golf course on 210 acres along Bear Creek Road has been informed by Arlie that he no longer has an option to buy the land.

Say what you will about the environmental virtues of a golf course in the mountains, Denevi was at least making an effort to ensure that his project would be as compatible with the mountain environment as possible.

Meanwhile, Arlie has dug up 100-year-old land patents to create more lots than county zoning allows--and is trying to sell them off through a real estate agency in Mill Valley. Now Arlie is hinting at bringing in a high-profile golf course developer.

And the company has sued the Greenbelt Alliance, the organization that dared call attention to Arlie's brazen attempt to chop up the mountains into developable parcels just outside Los Gatos.

When asked about Arlie's activities in the Lexington Basin, District 1 Supervisor Don Gage told the Los Gatos Weekly-Times that he has not been following Arlie's activities very closely, because he wants to preserve his objectivity.

We believe objectivity should be reserved for those who play by the rules. In its short tenure as a local player, Arlie has made it clear that it is a company that plays by its own set of rules.

The Lexington Basin is the prize.

[ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ]