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Pillars of the community will be the topic of council's discussion

By Jason Sweeney

Saratoga's Gateway Project will be up for discussion at the next regular meeting of the Saratoga City Council on April 19 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 13777 Fruitvale Ave.

The council will discuss options for the stone pillars on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. City residents are allowed to provide input during public hearings.

Work began on the Gateway Project early last summer. A tentative completion date was scheduled for this month. However, the city began receiving complaints about the bulk and massiveness of 13 pillars in the median that were erected earlier this winter. The complaints prompted discussions at city hall on whether the pillars should be removed.

Four waist-high stone pillars followed by a cluster of nine similarly designed pillars about 9 feet tall stand in the median that begins where Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road crosses Prospect Road. The pillars are part of the $2.88 million beautification project for Saratoga's Gateway District. The pillars have so far cost $33,000.

Caltrans provided $2 million for the project. An additional $880,000 came from a Valley Transportation Authority grant. The money was provided when the city took ownership of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road from Caltrans.

At the April 19 city council meeting, four options will be proposed for what to do about the pillars. Estimated additional costs for the different options range from $6,000 to complete the original plan, up to $20,000 to place a trellis with vines over the pillars. The two other options involve removing pillars from the median.

Public works director John Cherbone said the city remains under budget on the project.

An entry monument sign, enhanced crosswalks, new sidewalks, new medians, repaving and landscaping on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road are also part of the Gateway Project.