SHS pool clears the hurdle, construction is on schedule

By Jason Baker

Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District trustees on Aug. 17 approved a negative declaration of environmental impact for the Saratoga High School swimming pool project, clearing the way for construction.

Trustees reviewed an initial study and environmental assessment prepared for the project as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. The report concluded that the project would not result in any significant impact to the environment, and therefore qualifies for the declaration, officials said.

The report concluded, among other things, that the pool would have no impact on land-use plans or zoning. The new complex will be slightly smaller than the existing one and will better utilize the pool area, officials said.

Additionally, the report concluded that no substantial impact to public services would result from the project.

The project, however, will temporarily alter fire response. Access is provided from Herriman Street between the tennis courts and the student parking lot along the side of the fence of the existing pool complex, the library and around the science building through the rear parking lot and out to Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. The new access from Herriman Street is adjacent to the tennis courts, basketball courts and the track to the rear of the new pool complex, to the library and science building. The plan has been submitted to the Saratoga fire marshal. No objections to the revised access have been raised, officials said.

The school's existing swim complex consists of three separate pools and a deck area, encompassing about 22,500 square feet. Plans call for demolishing the pools and constructing a new 50-by-25-meter pool. The total area of the new swim complex also will be about the same at 22,500 square feet, and will include new bleachers, scoreboards, light standards, fencing, handicap-accessible entrances and landscape planters. Construction of the pool should begin sometime next summer, officials said.

An anonymous $200,000 donation earlier this year answered questions surrounding construction of a new aquatic center for the high school. For almost two years, fundraisers had been seeking donations to fund the new facility. The anonymous donation from a local family brought the school to within $100,000 of its goal.

The existing SHS pool was constructed more than 35 years ago. According to officials, the pool was too shallow for serious swimming and too small for competitive water polo. The new facility will be Olympic-sized and will be designed for competitive swimming, water polo and recreational use.

The high school district in June successfully passed Measure B, a $79 million bond initiative to modernize its campuses. Gilbane Building Company, recently hired by trustees to oversee project and construction management services of the multimillion-dollar renovations, also will handle construction of the pool.

However, since Measure B funds must be used for educational facilities construction and renovation, the pool facility construction required outside funding.

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