Instead, residents and Los Gatos planning commissioners are concerned that large construction trucks associated with the project present a hazard—to the condition of College Avenue, to the circulation of other traffic and to the safety of those who use the area for recreation.

The company's four-lot subdivision application requires 25,000 cubic yards of dirt to be trucked up to the site on Reservoir Road. Depending on the size of the vehicles used and the hours of construction, transporting the "fill" could take anywhere from 37 days to 72 days.

"This is the largest trucking project in Los Gatos since the building of Highway 85, and that wasn't on these narrow streets," said Dennis McEvoy, Reservoir resident, at the Dec. 11 planning commission meeting.

"It's incomprehensible to me that you would propose this level of truck traffic," added College Avenue resident Chris Bevis.

Planning commissioners evidently agreed, as they asked for further revisions and more information to be presented at a Feb. 12 meeting.

"I can't remember seeing a project in which the construction phase of it has such a major impact on the town," said Vice Chairman Paul Dubois. The project has no "overwhelming benefits that would outweigh traffic impacts that it would create," Dubois said.

One of those impacts would be on the people who use the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Gail Nishimura, who lives on College, said, "We're constantly dodging cyclists and joggers." Trucks would endanger those people, who don't always use the sidewalk.

In order to increase safety, Euclid Avenue resident Alan Lillich said, there would need to be a "constant stream of flaggers in visual contact with each other."

The trucks would also pose a problem for other vehicles on the road.

According to Gary Kruger, a traffic consultant hired by the water company, the trucks would go up on College and cause the narrowest section of the road to be one way only during hours of operation. Then the trucks would leave by going down Reservoir, onto E. Main Street, and then to Los Gatos­Saratoga Road. "At no time would they go through downtown," Kruger said.

On certain sections, Kruger said, trucks would have to drive no more than 15 mph. The audience laughed at Kruger's statement.

Dotti Bonner, who lives on Reservoir, pointed out that College is the route for cars to get up to the Sisters of the Holy Names convent and the Novitiate of Los Gatos. Construction trucks could delay the response time of emergency vehicles, which would jeopardize the welfare of the elderly residents.

"What's it going to be like? Chaos," Bonner said.

"There are emergency vehicles going up and down the hill every single day," added Bob Simons, College Avenue resident.

McEvoy said the trucks would cause backup that would spill over onto Main Street, especially if the construction goes into the months when school is in session.

A third effect of the trucks would be on the street itself. McEvoy said College has cracks and is falling into the creek at some points. Improvements would be needed before construction even begins "so the roads don't fall apart before we send these trucks up," McEvoy said.

"With the impact of that, and with these trucks, and with the crumbling road, I have serious concerns about the conditions of our roads and the safety of all who enjoy the recreational area," Nishimura said.

"Prior to starting the trucking, we would do some spot repair," said Ray Hashimoto, the planning manager representing the water company. According to Hashimoto, there would be more extensive repairs after construction is completed.

Simons pointed out that the 37-day construction time frame "only relates to the fill," since the rest of the building process would take approximately one year.

The community also expressed concerns with other aspects of the project, such as fire protection.

Hashimoto said a public benefit of the subdivision would be increased fire service. Hashimoto said the application includes a new fire hydrant near the subdivided lots, as well as an upgrade of an existing hydrant on Reservoir Road.

Also, the water company is planning on spending $25 million to improve its facility, which would improve water pressure in all of Los Gatos, said water company vice president and chief engineer Rich Pardini.

"The stated public benefits all seem to be project benefits," said Bill Kraus, who lives on Kimble Avenue.

McEvoy said the fire protection should be extended to the existing homes, much like it was done for the Guadalupe College homes, where developer Joe McCarthy extended the water line 1,800 feet into the Foster Road neighborhood.

Hashimoto, however, said the fire department had told him existing conditions would provide enough coverage to the four lots. Adding a new hydrant and improving another is beyond what's adequate, Hashimoto said.

Commissioners, however, elected to ask the water company to come up with alternate plans that avoid the trucking issue. That could range from restoring the property to the pre-reservoir conditions, to eliminating designs for a cul-de-sac, to changing the proposal that requires constructing flat building pads.

"I think we need to explore alternatives to bringing massive amounts of fill to the hillsides," Commissioner Jeanne Drexel said.

"Whatever options you feel are the most feasible," Commissioner Phil Micciche said.

"I am intrigued by the idea of leaving it natural," Dubois said, referring to the state the land was in before the reservoir was built in 1871. Dubois said he is concerned about the proposed 56 trees to be removed, the potential for chlorine contaminating the site and the groundwater runoff that could impact neighbors' homes.

The commission voted unanimously—with the absence of Chairwoman Lee Quintana—to continue the application to Feb. 12. Commissioners will hold a study session of the project, tentatively scheduled for 5:30 p.m. that day, during which they will ask questions of the applicant but not make any formal decisions.