Letters

Blue Hills fields not a good choice

I am writing to express my views concerning the proposed development at the Blue Hills School/Azule Park site. I believe that this is a poor choice for use as an intense use soccer facility due to the inevitable noise and traffic that would result. Unlike Congress Springs Park, neighbors' homes back directly onto Azule Park or face directly into it. I am certain that neighbors of Argonaut School, for example, would object just as strenuously if this type of development were proposed for their schoolyard. The neighbors of Kevin Moran Park successfully defeated a similar development proposal in 1996 on noise and traffic grounds. The Azule Park neighborhood should not be treated differently.

Creekside Park in Cupertino has been offered as an example of how this type of development fits into a neighborhood such as ours. This is not a good comparison, because Creekside Park is accessible from a major, four-lane road, Miller Avenue, complete with a traffic light. Parking at Creekside Park is accessible from Miller and is not right across the street from homes, as would be the case at Azule Park.

Other options should be considered before moving ahead with this proposal. Are all of the existing soccer fields in the city used effectively? Could the Saratoga High School fields be used? If new fields must be developed, why not consider developing Central Park? It is centrally located, with good access from major roads.

Central Park is the largest, highest cost park in the city and the least used. Any development could even include facilities to enhance the teen center, the senior center and the library.

As a volunteer coach for AYSO, I understand the desire for good playfields, but not at the cost of neighborhood tranquillity. The Blue Hills schoolyard is currently used for after-school soccer practice. I believe that this is an acceptable use of a neighborhood schoolyard. This is also in line with the recommendation made by the city manager in 1996 for park development.

Thomas Soukup
Goleta Avenue

People should pay for being 'bigger'

Thank you, Dale Bryant, for your insightful commentary, "Why is everything so big all of a sudden?" in the April 7 issue of the Saratoga News.

Your laundry list of encounters with the "Bigger is Better" monster closely matches my own. I will park several blocks away from my destination to avoid being trapped in a "parking canyon" (small car between two sports utility vehicles, trucks or vans) rather than risk being hit as I attempt to back out. What irritates me even more is that often, these vehicles are crammed into compact parking places.

Many drivers don't even attempt to stay between the lines, thereby hogging at least two spots.

This is especially frustrating in fee-based parking garages. At the San Jose airport, I remember seeing one SUV parked exactly in the middle of two spots--the vehicle was centered perfectly over the white line. Why aren't these people ticketed and charged double the price? They are using twice the space!

I remember a time when smaller, fuel-efficient automobiles were the norm. For this, we were rewarded with "compact" parking which is often plentiful and optimal. At some point, as the practical aspects of making a living and raising a family took over, many people turned to larger vehicles.

If these types of automobiles are required for family or work, then fine. But the drivers need to realize that they are not entitled to more than one parking space and that they do not belong in compact parking. While I doubt that my comments will change the behavior of these people, I at least take comfort in the fact that my little Honda and I get the last laugh at the gas pumps these days.

Virginia L. Smith
Carrick Street

No sympathy for area NIMBYs

I am astonished at the number of NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) that exist in the Saratoga population. For the latest eruption of NIMBYism I refer to Letters, the April 14 issue of the Saratoga News.

I am sympathetic to those NIMBYs affected by commercial concerns (such as the Mountain Winery letter). However I have no sympathy, and even cry, "Shame!" on the APNA (Azule Park Neighborhood Association) NIMBYs.

APNA estimates of traffic are inflated compared to any reasonable estimate. Has the APNA been to Hoover Park on a Saturday? Hoover has two small fields and gets less than 20 cars per game. I believe the Blue Hills proposal is two small fields and one large field. And if the APNA really does have AYSO members in it, they should know that six games on a Saturday per field would be a more reasonable estimate. By my math, 20 cars per game times three fields times six games is 360 cars.

And what about these "visitors" to their neighborhood for games and practices who will threaten their safety and quietude? Mostly their own Saratoga neighbors! Gosh, I have to admit being seriously concerned here! And the APNA even mentions the threat to the elementary school. By whom? Teams of Saratogan elementary school age children practicing in their own community?

Finally the APNA suggests that "the city consider looking at alternate sites" (translation: someone else's back yard) and opines that Park Development Fund money could be better spent on worthy (translation: anything Not In My Back Yard) projects that would benefit all [Saratoga] residents (except Saratoga children interested in soccer).

Being a citizen isn't about property values and the noise of happy children on Saturdays. Would you rather have neighborhoods with no children? Or neighborhoods with gangs?

Carrell R. Killebrew Jr.
Glen Brae Drive

Saratogans can get city information online

Saratoga does have a website ("The city is stuck in high-tech dark ages," March 31, 1999). In fact it's had two for over two years (search Yahoo, for instance). At http://www.saratoga-ca.com, there is information about Saratoga business, services, restaurants, churches, clubs, organizations, recreation, your newspaper, etc.

City agendas, budget information, Argonaut Shopping Center plans, etc. have been on http://members.aol.com/GMoran01, and its descendant, http://members.aol.com/Saratogans, also has links to all levels of government, from Saratoga school districts to the White House.

Saratoga has only lacked a taxpayer-financed website (Cupertino pays $1,200 a month). The day of cost-effective e-services from City Hall is coming, but Saratoga has always had lots of volunteers doing the things a low-tax city government can't afford.

Tom Moran and Dave Delgado
Website developers

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