By John Flood

joe hu/town crier Aidan Armstrong and Kai Reade play in the open space at the Cuesta Annex. The Mountain View City Council passed a motion to develop the property for open-space activities, including a museum.

After nearly two hours of public hearings in front of a standing-room-only crowd, the Mountain View City Council approved a motion Nov. 14 to use the Cuesta Annex for open-space activities.

The decision was a defeat for supporters of organized playing fields, who argued that the annex was big enough to accommodate mixed-use activities, where nature programs and youth sports could coexist.

Instead, the annex will include hiking trails, an orchard, a historical museum and a provision for a community garden. The annex meadow will be used for casual, unorganized sports.

“This is a vision for how to use the land,” said Councilman Mike Kasperzak. “It’s clearly not a final design. Future councils will decide the master plan.”

The future of the 12.5-acre annex, located on Cuesta Drive, has been mired in debate between open-space advocates and those who wanted to include playing fields for organized sports.

“At least 80 percent (who attended the council meeting) were in favor of open space and the historical museum,” Kasperzak said. “About 15 percent to 20 percent were there for organized sports.”

Bill Jarvis, a resident of Mountain View and a supporter of playing fields at the annex, was disappointed with the council decision.

“I was hopeful that the Cuesta Annex would provide some relief for soccer, baseball and the occasional pickup game needed for youth sports,” Jarvis said.

But open-space advocates made a convincing case in front of the council.

“It was a persuasive presentation,” said Kasperzak.

In the end, the council voted 5-1 in a second motion to use the land for open-space activities.

Even though Councilman Greg Perry voted in favor of the plan, he said he believes that playing fields are a good idea.

“I have advocated a mix of open space and playing fields on the site, and still believe that would have been fair,” Perry said. “The council majority is unwilling to put significant resources towards parks for teenagers - not just Cuesta, but anywhere in the city.”

The council pleased supporters of the historical museum with the decision.

Bob Weaver, president of the Mountain View Historical Association, favored the open-space concept because it worked well with the idea of a museum on the property.

“Preserving open space nurtures the spirit,” Weaver said. “The orchard nurtures the body. Education and the museum nurture the mind. All this works together. The museum is finally on the map.”