By Clarence Cromwell
A Monte Sereno resident purchased the Claravale Dairy, shortly after plans to save the dairy fell through, and the as-yet-anonymous buyer has made plans to build a house on the lot that currently is a pasture for cows.
The historical dairy is without a permanent home, although its new owner, Ron Garthwaite, wants to stay in business.
The demise of the dairy loomed March 11 when the dairy foundation declared that it had failed to raise enough money to purchase the dairy property from owner Kenneth Peake, who founded the dairy in the 1930s. The foundation attempted to raise funds for more than a year.
Two foundation members were disgruntled, saying the foundation could have raised the money if it had tried harder.
Other sources affiliated with the dairy said Garthwaite and the foundation had a falling out over varying interpretations of his lease, which may have led volunteers to drop the fundraising efforts.
The new owner phoned the Monte Sereno Planning Department and indicated that he might want to build a house on the rear parcel of the dairy, Planner Brian Loventhal said. The house would probably face onto Danielle Place, away from dairy buildings and Peake's home.
Loventhal said he did not know who the caller was, except that he mentioned being a Monte Sereno resident.
It's likely Peake will remain on a portion of the property. When the foundation stepped back from buying the land, Peake said he would sell the two acres of dairy land to a developer and keep his house and the one-acre parcel surrounding it.
Garthwaite said he's following a few leads, but he doesn't know where he'll move the business if it can't remain on the farm.
He's already received 90 days' notice to vacate the dairy, which gives him until sometime in June. Garthwaite said he hopes to negotiate an extension that will let the dairy remain on the farm until he finds a new piece of property.
He's currently looking for agricultural land in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Garthwaite said the dairy will be a profitable business and can afford a substantial amount of rent.
One reason the deal with the foundation fell through, he said, was that Monte Sereno land was just too expensive.
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This article appeared in the Saratoga News, May 14, 1997.
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