Los Gatos Weekly-Times PUC will allow PG&E to build Vasona Substation By Jeff Kearns It's final. After a battle over its proposed substation dragged on for more than a year and a half, the California Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 8 granted approval to PG&E to start construction. PG&E says it plans to start building the substation immediately to get a jump on the winter rains. The company has already started its application to the town for architectural and site approval, and a report will be submitted to the Town Council before its Nov. 2 meeting. Although PG&E has received permission to build the station, it still needs to work with town officials to resolve landscaping and other visual issues surrounding construction under the terms of a mitigation agreement approved by both sides. The site (on Winchester Boulevard at Lark Avenue) was vigorously opposed by residents of the surrounding area, who challenged the application, calling the substation an inappropriate use for a residential neighborhood. The neighbors, who fought PG&E in every way possible, insisted that the substation would be a health hazard and would lower property values. PG&E said it needed to put a substation somewhere if it was still going to supply the town with adequate power, and that the current site was the best possible option. The decision did not require the utility to underground the high-voltage transmission lines that cross the northern parts of town, but it does require undergrounding of all new distribution lines connected to the substation. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, October 21, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.