Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
City should sell orchard
in park to developer
Regarding the continuing discussions about the North Campus and Kevin Moran Park: The city and citizens suffer from a "failure of imagination," in the words of the 9/11 Commission. While trying to sub-optimize each facility, we are missing the bigger picture.
Working with West Valley College begins to remove our blinders. But a solution fair to all parties needs an additional step. The city should sell Kevin Moran's unimproved northern orchard to a developer to be used for housing. This achieves the following benefits:
* Kevin Moran will be reduced from its present 10.3 acres to about 7 acres, making it the true "neighborhood park" the local residents desire; it would no longer be eyed by AYSO and others for development into a sports complex.
* The current neighbors get a built-in buffer of homes to shield them from noisy park activities.
* The frontage road will give additional parking right next to the park and free needed driving sight lines along narrow Scully Avenue, making it safer for little soccer players and others.
* With a deep access road along its northern edge, all of the park becomes visible, reducing chances for negative uses in the secluded northwest corner.
* The city is currently left with a hole in its maintenance budget because of the purchase of the North Campus; income from the property sale will substantially refill its coffers for this much-appreciated loan.
* AYSO teams can continue to use Kevin Moran as a practice field, with added parking on a safe cul-de-sac.
* The developer can assist in the expenses of putting in the cul-de-sac and the turnaround at its end.
* A new set of families can move into Saratoga's newest park-side homes.
And finally, this neighborhood park gets to keep its lovely berms, mature trees and informal setting, with the promise of minor amenities to be added as appropriate. We already have a Saratoga Heritage Orchard at a prominent intersection; this small one at secluded Kevin Moran Park isn't needed.
Let's find an optimal solution--one that satisfies all parties and the city, too!
Paul Wesling
Saraglen Drive
