By Bruce Barton
It was supposed to be a meeting aimed at showing Los Altos residents conceptual plans for a three-pool complex at the end of Rosita Avenue. Instead, last Thursday’s meeting turned into a litany of rapid-fire complaints from neighborhood residents who stand to be impacted by increased traffic and noise.
Most of the 40-plus neighbors filling Room A at Hillview Community Center clearly preferred discussion about mitigation measures rather than pools placement, a development that left Dick Thomas, a pools proponent, fuming as he and another neighbor walked out of the meeting in the middle of an argument.
Thomas, heading efforts to fund the new pools under the group, SPLASH (Swimmers Promoting Los Altos Safety and Health), said mitigation should not be discussed at the meeting since the neighborhood and the city are involved in litigation over the aquatic center’s potential impacts. “We never get to talk about the pool,” he said. “Give everybody a fair shake.”
However, neighbors claimed the city, and particularly city council members, have not produced answers they have long sought about an array of issues, from pool lighting to available parking, sound buffers and traffic coming to and from the proposed center.
Jim Porter, Los Altos public works director, emphasized the meeting was about the placement of two 25-by-25 yard pools and a small wading pool, along with a locker-room, surrounding fencing and landscaping.
“We’ll be going back to the council with a recommendation (based on the meeting), then get their feedback,” Porter said. “At this point the council has directed us to (pursue) the two-pool, wading pool concept.”
However, he received several written complaints from neighbors that reflect feelings that the city is trying to force this pool plan to work despite a 1998 master plan that did not account for the re-opening of Covington elementary school, located next to the proposed project. A child-care facility also is planned near the site. Porter plans to pass these along to the council.
Residents picked apart plans, citing, for instance, that parking for the site had not yet been budgeted.
“We’re piecemealing here, so you have to understand our frustration,” said one resident. “If you’re changing the rules (from the master plan), the fact is, it may not work out.”
Resident Norm Kitching noted one baseball game alone drew 63 cars, or more than 120 trips, and questioned the traffic impact brought of a new Covington School, child-care center, ballgames at the Rosita Park fields and the aquatic center. Residents stood by their contention that such traffic would “ruin the neighborhood.”
City officials have countered the impacts would not be nearly as great as those envisioned by the neighborhood. The council OK’d an environmental impact report for the complex saying as much, prompting a resident lawsuit in April to challenge the findings.
Kathy Englar of SPLASH noted “30-plus very militant Rosita neighbors who oppose this project. However, among the almost 30,000 citizens of Los Altos, there are thousands who equally passionately support the project and are very much looking forward to a time when we once again have a community pool in Los Altos.”
Porter said he doesn’t expect a council review of the Rosita plans before the Aug. 13 council meeting.
