Cuesta Annex: Who benefits? Cuesta Annex: Who benefits? (January 13, 2006)

By Jim Cochran

On Jan. 17 at 6:15 p.m., our city council will hold another study session on a master plan for the vacant city property known as Cuesta Annex. This 12-acre property valued at around $15 million has been growing weeds next to our beautiful Cuesta Park for almost 20 years, while several parts of our city do not have adequate park and open space.

It's great that the council is finally tackling the question of how this community asset should be used. The neighbors of Cuesta Park have been outspoken in their desire to leave this space vacant, which may have kept the council from taking up the subject years ago. It's time for a plan that will make some public use of this space or trade it for open space where it is really needed.

Some have said that we must leave this space vacant because it's the last open parcel in the city. It is not. When Reach 4 of the Stevens Creek Trail opens, we will have access to many acres of new, city-owned open space along the creek near Highway 85.

It would be beneficial to have the 12 acres developed as playing fields -- the community needs the fields. That would certainly be better than leaving the space unused. But what about the city residents who moved into new housing during the 1990s? Their park space needs were converted to cash and used to pay for most of a 9-acre portion of Cuesta Annex -- a $5.1 million purchase from the Mountain View School District in 1987.

Approximately $4.5 million of that came from the in-lieu Park and Development Fee for residential construction all over the city, such as The Crossings development near San Antonio and California streets. It is legal to take these funds and use them in "community-wide" purposes, but what about tot lots and grassy park space within walking distance for the new residents? They are stuck with little or nothing, yet the funds came as a result of their park space needs.

Playing fields are needed. If the council wants to place them in the Cuesta Annex, then they should "buy out" the park space needed for the parts of our city where open space is deficient. I suggest $8 million should be about the right amount. This money would go into a "neighborhood park space fund" until specific properties are available. City staff would flag the areas of the city that are short of open space and watch for purchase opportunities. I believe that if staff has the money in the bank, they will find the space in a few years. This would be similar to what was done to acquire the Mercy-Bush park space and the Gemello Park space.

But the money has to be available. Opportunities may be gone within a week or two of the time a potential park property goes on the market.

I'm sure the city council will do what they believe is best for the entire city, but when decisions are made at study sessions (the "no development" decision) where only the Cuesta Park neighbors are notified and present, it will be hard for the council to consider all possibilities. That's why it is important for all who are concerned about fair distribution of open space property to attend the Jan. 17 study session.

Residents who would like to see park space added to other neighborhoods instead of seeing it all added next door to Cuesta Park should let the council members hear from them. Send an e-mail message to city.clerk@ci.mtnview.ca.us, or call (650) 903-6304. The message will be forwarded to all council members.
Jim Cochran is a former mayor and city council member.

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