Exhibit 9 - Supplemental Correspondence from the AppellantLA Now, Could be Los Gatos Soon…
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EXHIBIT 9
Question presented:
Should former Mirassou School parcel at 220 Belgatos Road be split in two to set the stage for removal of massive defensible space grass sports fields for 12 4 to 4.5M homes?
•II. SUMMARY ARGUMENT
•Grass fields should not be split from school buildings:
•1) Buffer zone to stop wildfire.
•2) Staging ground for firefighters.
•3) Split violates GP as first step to replace open space with homes.
•4) SHS removed artificial turf & County considering this month.
•5) Potential community center by purchasing land at 25% of FMV.
•TOP TOWN PRIORITY:
• PROTECT AGAINST
DEVASTATING WILDFIRES.
From Oakland to Saratoga, Los Angeles infernos are a reminder of Bay Area’s wildfire vulnerability
1/12/25
6,622 properties properties in Los Gatos that have some risk of being affected by wildfire over the next
30 years. This represents 58% of all properties in Los Gatos.
From LG’s GP
From LG’s GP 9.2 Urban and Wild Fire Hazards
The Town must therefore
strongly incorporate
fire hazard mitigation into
its land use decisions…
LG’s GP
9.2 Urban and Wildland Fire Hazards
Santa Clara County, including Los Gatos, has a high potential for
devastating wildland fires…strong land use policies and
mitigation measures are necessary to protect the health and safety
of residents, minimize the loss of life, and minimize property damage and
damage to infrastructure. (emphases added)
•Defensible Space
•First first line of defense for your home against wildfire.
•NO FUEL; NO FIRE
•NO FUEL IN SPORTS FIELDS
LOSS OF BUFFER ZONE & STAGING AREA
Burned remains of Paradise Elementary school on Nov. 9, 2018, in Paradise.
TO FIGHT FIRE 5M GALLONS OF WATER AT
BELGATOS ROAD WATER TANKS BUILT IN 2018.
2018 Built 2 2.5M gallon tensioned concrete reservoirs.
BELGATOS WATER TANKS
KEEP PROPERTY INTACT AS AN ICP
•https://www.caloes.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Preparedness/Documents/California-Emergency-Management_A-Guide-for-Districts-and-Sites__Final-05-11-23-2.pdf
CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR SCHOOLS:•A Guide for Districts and Sites•An Incident Command Post (ICP) is in or near incident. For a school, ICP is in administrative office, conference room, or front of the school if working with first responders. ICP serves as the initial command post.
•
•NAYLOR ACT: EDUCATION CODE 17485:
•Legislature concerned about loss of playing fields.
• Act allows gov agencies to acquire school property to keep playing fields & for recreational and open-space purposes.
•USD USED NAYLOR ACT EXCEPTION WITH A
PROPERTY EXCHANGE.
•DENY SPLIT & REQUIRE USD TO OFFER LAND TO
TOWN & COUNTY AT 25% OF FMV.
•COMMUNITY CENTER, COMMAND & CONTROL
CENTER, KEEP PLAYING FIELDS & MASSIVE
DEFENSIBLE SPACE.
GRASS FIELDS BENEFIT KIDS
•https://www.unicef.org/armenia/en/stories/necessity-urban-green-space-childrens-optimal-development
•Green spaces benefit children’s physical, mental and social
development.
•https://www.childhealthdata.org/docs/nsch-docs/california-pdf.pdf
•30.5%of California’s children overweight or obese. Percentage
increased since 2003.
https://trending-topics.keenan.com/outside-use-of-school-facilities
•California Education Code encourages school districts to make facilities available for community use.
•https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/sf/ccaregulations.asp#:~:text=The%20Civic%20Center%20Act%20authorizes,civic%20center%2C%20for%20specified%20purposes.
•Civic Center Act - Effective January 1, 2025
•The Civic Center Act authorizes, and in some instances requires, school district to allow use of school facilities or grounds as a civic center.
•USD failed to maintain
fields for community
benefit.
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/disposal-school-artificial-turf-field-
environmental-concerns/3747744/
•INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
•Disposal of school's artificial turf field
highlights growing environmental
concerns
•Santa Clara County Supervisors considering
artificial turf ban on county land.
•LOT SPLIT VIOLATES THE GP:
•1) Increases risk of fire damage.
•2) Loss of open space and sports fields.
•3) Not affordable housing.
•4) Development not better for the environment, sustainability or water shed.
CONCLUSION
•DENY LOT SPLIT.
WRONG DEVELOPMENT,
AT WRONG PLACE AT
WRONG TIME.