Fire crews who respond to emergencies in the Bohlman Road area may have several things running through their minds. Aside from having to mentally prepare themselves for any potential hazards they may encounter on the site, they also have to deal with problems getting to their destination.

According to Gordon Duncan, chief of the Saratoga Fire Department, maneuvering engines up the narrow two-way Bohlman Road can be tricky and dangerous because of traffic going the opposite direction, which causes a bottleneck and slows down fire crews.

Over the next several weeks, the city will investigate potential sites to construct an alternate access route designated specifically for rescue crews in emergency situations to help alleviate traffic congestion and increase the safety of the approximately 400 residents who live along Bohlman Road.

Two of the five proposed areas run along Norton Road and sit on the Villa Montalvo property. One of the sites, which is 700 feet long and costs approximately $160,000 to construct and add aesthetics, cuts across a gathering place situated next to the 10 cottages currently under development as part of the Artist in Residency Program. The second option on the Montalvo site is a quarter-mile longer and wraps around the opposite end of the property. According to Saratoga Public Works Director John Cherbone, this would cost at least $500,000 to develop. The other three sites branch off from different sections of Bohlman Road and enter into privately owned properties.

At a Jan. 7 city council meeting, the Montalvo Association received sharp criticism from residents and a council member, who accused the organization of trying to delay the construction process, thereby hindering the safety of others.

Concerned resident Dave Dolloff said he believes cutting through the Montalvo property would make the most sense because it is the closest route to Bohlman Road.

"The shortest distance between two points is one line. Norton Road is the easiest and most functional route," Dolloff said. "I'm wary that Montalvo is attempting to prolong the process."

Councilman Stan Bogosian agreed and said that the issue should have been taken care of long ago.

"We have a constitutional obligation to provide for the health and safety of our residents," Bogosian said. "We've been jerked around for too long. It's time to get real."

Greg Prow, president of the Montalvo Association, said he understands the city's concern in protecting the welfare of the residents and agrees that the issue should be resolved in the near future. However, he added that the issue is not as easy as it may appear.

According to him, the association, which acquired the property from the San Francisco Art Association in 1953, is bound to a trust agreement drafted by James Phelan, former senator and original owner, who transferred the property to the San Francisco Art Association before his death. The agreement states that all developments that take place on Montalvo grounds must foster art education.

"We're working as fast as we can on this issue and in as neighbor-friendly way as possible," Prow said. "We look forward to cooperating with the city, but as a board, our duty is to follow the trust agreement."

In addition, he said the association has reservations about putting a road in an area specifically designed to give artists some peace and quiet and to allow potential donors a place to show support through naming rights.

"Putting a road in this area would jeopardize our ability to fundraise and decrease the value of the property," Prow said.

However, he said that if the city determines that the Montalvo property is the best location, he hopes it would compromise with the association by helping it "develop ways to foster the mission of the organization," such as expanding the theater to allow more tickets to be sold.

"The end result is the same," said Elisbeth Challener, Montalvo's executive director. "We care about our patrons' and neighbors' safety as well. But we'd like to see all of the options explored and publicly presented with all of the costs, pros and cons detailed. We also want what's best for the neighborhood as well as the trust agreement."

At the meeting, Vice Mayor Kathleen King said, "Montalvo's request is not unreasonable," adding that if she were a neighbor, she would like to see other options explored as well.