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Milpitas Post
November 27, 2002
 
Look to the hills  for inspiration, beauty and hopefully no new sets of housetops

When Milpitas voters strongly expressed their wishes through Measure Z  back in 1998, they wanted the strongest possible protection against a  sprawling view of houses on the ridgelines. They clearly wanted an end  to the spoiling of a most dramatic backdrop for our suburban scene.

That protection was enacted for the city limits but it did not extend  into the unincorporated areas which are governed by the county planning  commission and the Board of Supervisors.

Currently on the table is a much-watched 17-home development along Felter  and Marsh roads which will transform the Patrick Ranch into a subdivision  of very expensive homes. And when you spend that kind of money, you want  that "million dollar view." There's the rub.

The project, created by Citation Homes, calls itself a "cluster"  subdivision. The 17 4- to 6-acre parcels will spread over 57 acres of  the 517-acre ranch. The remainder will be in permanent open space. The  county is taking the better part of a year to weigh all of the aspects  of this development because it is clear that environmental groups as well  as ranchers, land speculators and homebuilders all are closely watching  the decisions. The critics have honed in on the fact that the county has  not dealt with the ridgeline issue in its laws.

There has always been a good deal of sympathy at the county for ranchers  who have held their land for a long time wishing to develop. Traditionally,  planning commissioners and the supervisors who appoint them have tried  to find ways to accommodate to these developments. Often these approvals  come despite concerns such as water supply or sewage disposal. The aesthetic  issues and the visual impacts seem to have a far lower priority. Nonetheless,  however,the county's general plan says that "roads, building sites,  structures and other facilities shall not be allowed to create a major,  lasting visible scar on the landscape."

Environmental groups like the Committee for Green Foothills, the Greenbelt  Alliance and the county Audubon Society all are anxious to see some redesign  to lower the home profiles below ridgelines. They remind the supervisors  that their own workplan for this year asked staff to address the weakness  of county laws relating to ridgeline homes.

This project by the Patricks, understandably has sympathy from many Milpitas  residents in view of their involvement with the community. And it is evident  that the county must reckon with some intense pressure to open up hillsides  for those big-bucks homes. In addition, it will be difficult, if the Citation  Homes project slides through without any redesign, to stop others from  seeking the same treatment on other ranches in the eastern hills.

The final decisions on this project will be coming early in 2003. It is  almost certain that the present design could have some negative effect  on the natural beauty of our hillside backdrop which will not be able  to be reversed. If you have opinions on this issue, we suggest you urge  the supervisors to quickly establish some new zoning rules for hillside  that protect the ridges. Write or call Supervisor Pete McHugh, the former  Milpitas mayor who represents this area on the board, at 70 W. Hedding  St., San Jose, Calif. 95110.


Page last updated December 6, 2002 .

 

 

Copyright 2001 Committee for Green Foothills