01 Attachment 2 - Public CommentsFrom: Hamidah Sadler
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2023 2:15 PM
To: Maria Ristow <MRistow@losgatosca.gov>; Rob Moore <RMoore@losgatosca.gov>; Matthew Hudes
<MHudes@losgatosca.gov>; Rob Rennie <RRennie@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: Mary Badame <MBadame@losgatosca.gov>; Nicolle Burnham <NBurnham@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Pinehurst Community Garden & Lynn Ave Pedestrian Path
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Good Afternoon,
I live on Lynn Ave and I oppose both the garden and the pedestrian path. It won’t be good for the
kids, traffic, parking, Blossom Valley Dr or Lynn Avenue.
Secondly, I believe the only people who should have a real say in this process is the houses that
back up to the open space. The only opinion on this matter should be those 24 families that will
be directly affected by the building of a Garden and Pathway. Please ask them directly and have
their votes be the only that count. That is the kindest thing you can do.
Again I am opposed to all proposals.
Thank you,
Hamidah Sadler
From: Gavin Hayes
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2023 3:19 PM
To: Nicolle Burnham <NBurnham@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Pinehurst Community Garden - Please Approve
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Hello Nicolle,
As an LG local and Lynn Ave resident of 10+ years I am writing in full support of the proposed 'Pinehurst
Community Garden' on the east side of town.
Would love to see the space activated and also provide an alternative for kids to traverse Union into the
neighborhood towards Alta Vista and Union Middle School.
Thank you,
Gavin Hayes
From: Kay Akervik
Date: December 15, 2023 at 9:11:56 AM PST
To: Nicolle Burnham <NBurnham@losgatosca.gov>, Marina Chislett <MChislett@losgatosca.gov>, Clerk
<Clerk@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Special Meeting of the Town Council: Study Session Public Comment Item #1
ATTACHMENT 2
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Dear Esteemed Town Council of Los Gatos,
My name is Kay Van Kirk and I am a resident of Lynn Ave. My home would be directly affected
by the addition of a community garden. Please take a moment to consider the following items
and put yourself in our shoes.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
Kay
There are several reasons why you might not want a public garden located behind your
house. Here are some considerations:
1. Privacy: Public gardens can attract visitors and potentially compromise your
privacy. Strangers walking by or using the garden may be able to see into your
property.
2. Noise and Activity: Public gardens can be gathering places for social events,
which may lead to increased noise and foot traffic. This could disrupt the peace
and quiet of your home.
3. Maintenance and Responsibility: A public garden requires ongoing
maintenance, and there may be concerns about the responsibility for upkeep
falling on nearby homeowners or the local community.
4. Safety Concerns: Depending on the design and usage, a public garden could
potentially attract undesirable activities or individuals, raising safety concerns for
the residents. Public gardens tend to be used at first, and then, with time, they fall
apart, which brings in some of the least desirable visitors.
5. Property Value: Some individuals worry that a public garden behind their house
may impact property values. While well-maintained public gardens can be nice,
poorly-maintained ones might have the opposite effect. This neighborhood has
ample yard space for each home; this is not a dense urban area. Is this garden
being reserved for those who live in apartments? What is the justification for this
need?
6. Environmental Impact: Public gardens might affect local flora and fauna,
particularly if the garden includes non-native plants or heavy use of pesticides,
which could impact the local ecosystem.
7. Parking and Traffic: The garden may lead to increased traffic in the area, and
visitors may struggle to find parking, which could be frustrating for homeowners.
(see soccer plus garden impact)
8. Property Access: Access to your property may become more challenging due to
increased foot traffic and parked cars. It may also affect your ability to use your
outdoor space.
9. Conflict of Use: The public garden might lead to conflicts over its use, such as
disputes over noise, hours of operation, or events hosted in the garden.
10. Changing Character of the Neighborhood: Some homeowners may worry that
the addition of a public garden will fundamentally change the character of their
neighborhood and the reasons they initially chose to live there.
Overall, for the people living behind the proposed garden (none of our neighbors have
expressed any enthusiasm for this project, sadly, it is the exact opposite on our street),
there will be a reduction in Quality of Life: This can manifest in various ways, such as the loss
of a peaceful and private outdoor space, increased stress due to noise and activity, or a sense of
discomfort and intrusion caused by strangers regularly accessing the area behind our house.
These factors will contribute to a decrease in our overall well-being and satisfaction with our
living environment.
Now, compound that with a major soccer field/facility across our front yard (with several
hundreds of kids daily), already impacting parking and our quality of life. This raises several
concerns that are further exacerbated by the addition of a public garden behind our house.
11. Parking Challenges will Grow: The presence of a major soccer field and its
associated facilities across our front yard has already led to parking challenges in
our neighborhood. With limited parking options, residents already struggle to
find suitable spots for their vehicles, and the addition of a public garden behind
our houses will exacerbate this issue. As a result, people may be more prone to
double park, illegally park, or block driveways, making it difficult for actual
residents to access our properties and maintain a sense of order in the
community.
12. Increase in Traffic Congestion: The combination of the soccer field and the
public garden will likely result in higher levels of traffic and congestion in our
neighborhood. This could lead to more delays and potential safety hazards,
especially if traffic rules and parking regulations are not adequately enforced.
13. Increased Noise and Activity: The soccer field and its events have brought
increased noise and activity to the area. Adding a public garden will compound
these disturbances, making it more challenging to find peace and quiet at home,
ultimately impacting our quality of life. Why must the residents of Lynn Ave be
asked to make an additional sacrifice when this garden could be placed
elsewhere where the burden can be shared?
14. Loss of Privacy: The garden's installation behind our house will further
compromise your privacy on top of the vast amount of soccer players and
families that already impact the neighborhood. With people frequently passing
by or using the garden, the sense of solitude and security that a backyard
typically provides will diminish, impacting every resident's overall comfort and
well-being.
15. Impact on Property Value: The cumulative impact of a soccer field and a public
garden may affect property values in the area. The potential downsides of these
facilities can make the neighborhood less attractive to potential buyers or
tenants, which can have a negative influence on property values.