Farmlands group seeks creative solutions
The Mountain View Farmlands Group would like to provide a few clarifications to the article that ran last week regarding the farm on Grant Road. Three important points to note are:
• We have never tried to “thwart” the sale of the property as was stated in the first sentence of the article. The validity of our proposal doesn’t depend on who owns the property; rather our focus is on the direction the city of Mountain View provides for the future use of the property.
• We are proposing alternative scenarios that would more creatively and efficiently permit development on a majority of the property so that 5 acres could be preserved as a working farm. These scenarios could be played out if the city of Mountain View adopts a “precise plan” designation for the property prior to its annexation into Mountain View. With creativity and compromise, we can create a new housing subdivision and an even more productive farm.
• We will soon be releasing a “concept plan” for a smaller farm on this property. This study will show what this farm could become, how it could operate, be economically viable and offer a wide range of education opportunities year-round, especially for schoolchildren.
A visit to the Web site www.fairviewgardens.org offers a glimpse of what a successful small suburban farm looks like. The success of Fairview Gardens and other suburban/urban farms contradicts statements made that “small farms in urban settings are no longer viable.”
Please visit www.mvfarmland.org for more information.
Vicki Moore
Los Altos
Eucalyptus trees pose fire risk
Mr. Larry Gardner laments the removal of non-native eucalyptus trees throughout Los Altos Hills (Letters, Sept. 13, 2006), but he overlooks the serious fire risk they present.
I grew up in the Berkeley/Oakland Hills, which has similar terrain and vegetation. The East Bay Regional Parks District recognized the fire hazard and vigorously removed many eucalyptus trees in the 1970s, but private landowners, for the most part, did not.
The Oakland Hills firestorm of 1991 was fueled by the dry, oily eucalyptus and underbrush. It consumed or damaged 3,469 homes and killed 25 residents. Shortly afterward, I visited a house my sister once lived in that had been surrounded by trees; there was not a stick, nail or shard of glass remaining in the blanket of ash.
Scott Chan
Los Altos
Hysteria over eucalyptus
Cheers to Mr. Gardner, your article (”Removal of trees was shocking,” Sept. 13 letters) was right on! The removal of the eucalyptus trees in the Hills reflected mass hysteria and was purely reactive.
I have been saddened and frustrated by many of the positions that the Los Altos Hills City Council and planning department have taken.
You pointed out in your article some wonderful facts about the eucalyptus and how they suppress mosquitoes which help with West Nile Virus as well as the very obvious fact that any tree can be dangerous if not taken care of. Trees provide many vital things. They do however, need proper care and maintenance.
If the planning department and city council would take a more preventative approach with a regular maintenance program we might not have had the unfortunate accident that happened to the cyclist, or the storm damage and power outages we have in the Hills every year when trees fall over.
I hope the city council and planning department, with their newfound funds, can look at some of the basic needs that have been neglected in Los Altos Hills.
Lauren Ward
Los Altos Hills
Does Rosita pool have consensus?
I find it hard to believe that the majority of Los Altos citizens think that there is a consensus for a pool of any sort for Rosita Avenue.
Your recent editorial (Sept. 13) claims that the process is “community-driven” as opposed to “staff-driven.” What does this mean? Is SPLASH the driving force? If so, there are no safeguards for Los Altos taxpayers. As I understand it, SPLASH has been asked to identify its membership as to the number of Los Altos residents versus non-Los Altos residents - and they have refused to do so.
Later in your editorial, you claim that a community pool means more opportunities for local children to learn how to swim. Why can’t these children learn to swim at the local YMCA on Grant Road? Is it down to an issue that the YMCA is in Mountain View and not Los Altos? Grow up, folks!
Edward Kelley
Los Altos
Sidewalk reveals liberal bias
I am writing to comment on the weekly Sidewalk Interview column. In relation to this week’s topic, “Is the U.S. winning the war on terror?” (Sept. 13), I find it amazing there was not one person who offered a resounding “YES!!” to this question. Five of the six individuals depicted either answered “No” or couched a somewhat positive answer with some negative comment. But those depicted were no doubt chosen by a biased liberal on the Town Crier staff.
Further, five of the six chosen were not even from Los Altos. Los Altos is a predominantly Republican or independent populace. This section should reflect the thoughts of residents of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
And it seems to be more than coincidence that this topic ran just days after our president’s strong address to our nation, in an apparent deliberate attempt by the editorial staff to undermine his message.
Barrett McGrath
Los Altos
Editor’s note: There was no Crier attempt to undermine the president, nor was there an attempt to retrieve “liberal” answers. However, the point is well taken that more local voices should have been featured.
