Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

City moving too fast with North Campus plans

By Bill Ford

Why is the Saratoga City Council in such a hurry to implement a plan for the North Campus that it is willing to ignore the planning commission, and severely limit input from neighbors and the community at large?

While the recent upgrades to the administration building and plans for fellowship hall will enhance an already beautiful property, the gymnasium and preschool represent huge changes, both in the look and the use of the North Campus. Doesn't this plan deserve at least the same public process that is accorded a proposed house in a neighborhood?

Many Saratogans have commented that they voted last year to save the North Campus with the understanding that the primary use would be for senior activities, with additional community use consistent with a senior center, such as a community building for classes, workshops, etc.

Never did we imagine a child day care/preschool/kindergarten with 100 students between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., all taking place in a metal prefabricated building, nor did we imagine another metal prefabricated building--a gymnasium--to be placed in the middle of a residential area. If a project of this magnitude were on private property, there would be an exhaustive public process, including public planning commission hearings on the impact of the use of the buildings on the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, the design of the buildings would have to meet design review guidelines, including compatibility with the neighborhood.

However, with the city council's decision to fast-track this proposal, use and design of the gymnasium and preschool are subject only to city council and staff review.

There are significant impacts associated with the current proposal. The sheer volume of 100 cars dropping off children, and 100 cars picking them up each day, in addition to traffic generated by the preschool staff, administration building, fellowship hall and the gymnasium presents a safety hazard to the surrounding neighborhood. It is also reasonable to expect a substantial increase of traffic on Viewridge, Saraglen and Scully, currently quiet residential streets, because drivers approaching the North Campus from the south (most of Saratoga) will use them to avoid making a left turn into the North Campus from Prospect.

There will be significant increased parking lot noise, especially associated with athletic events, and noise associated with outdoor use of the preschool. These impacts could be occurring seven days a week, compared with the once-a-week use of the property as a Methodist church.

Given these foreseeable effects, one should expect an Environmental Impact Report to be a fundamental part of the planning process. Furthermore, if this plan were being proposed under any other circumstances in any neighborhood in the city, there would be a multitude of variances necessary. For example, the proposed project will necessitate the removal of mature trees, and will exceed the maximum allowed floor area and height limits. Community and planning commission input is imperative for the dramatic changes being considered. In light of this, why is the planning commission being left out of the loop?

People often speak about Saratoga being such a "special" place in which to live, and we have found it to be just that up to now. We are a community of educated people, eager to be involved in planning the future of our city. Why not convene a resident task force to review the options available to truly make the North Campus a property of which all Saratogans can be proud? The North Campus is a beautiful property. Time should be taken to ensure that it remain so. So, what's the rush?

Bill and Norma Ford are residents of Saratoga who live near the North Campus Prospect Road location.