Los Gatos has agreed to sell 13 acres of land of Vasona Park to Santa Clara County in a deal guaranteeing that the $6 million will be dedicated to the town's community and youth sports facilities.
The agreement with the county also stipulates that the Vasona property is maintained "in perpetuity for open space and public park uses only."
The parcel stretches along Los Gatos Creek and is surrounded by parkland owned by the county, making it limited for use and development. The town has been leasing the parcel to the county since 1960 free of charge, with the current lease expiring in 2010.
"This passive use allows for people to connect with nature and for wildlife to exist in a protected oasis," said Freddy Howell, owner of Los Gatos Wild Bird Center. ". . . Vasona Park is full of western bluebirds and we're very lucky to have that."
The town council agreed to the sale after a June 2 public hearing. At the same time, council members decided to set up a committee to look for land for a sports facility.
"In my opinion, putting this money, as well as the interest it generates, into a designated fund for the purpose of buying property for our youth facilities is a no-brainer," said New Millennium Foundation chairwoman Joanne Rodgers.
Rodgers' statement came on the heels of comments by opponents of the sale, including Councilman Steve Glickman, the lone council member to vote against the sale.
Glickman asked if a future town council could earmark the $6 million for other purposes. Town manager Greg Larson said they could.
"Over our dead bodies will another town council let that money be used otherwise," Rodgers said.
Others thought the town was acting prematurely. "Find the land first. That's what business people do. That's what prudent people do. There's no rush here," local sports coach Joe Carroll said.
Another opponent, resident Joe Piazza, asked, "Think of Vasona Park as Central Park. Owning land is power. Why would any New Yorker or any citizen in Los Gatos ever allow a Central Park to be sold for money and never to be replaced?"
But Larson said the Vasona property is essentially landlocked, and for people to access it, a bridge would have to be built across Los Gatos Creek at Oak Meadow Park - a scenario he called unlikely because of Fish and Game regulations.
Larson described the land as unsuitable for soccer fields and other development, adding that the $6 million netted from the sale puts Los Gatos in a favorable position. "It's hard to argue for land, to negotiate for land, without money," he said.
One landowner offered his own solution. Resident Andy Eshkar said he has a usable piece of land for sale. "The land overlooks Lexington Reservoir. It's almost 6 acres, and 2.5 acres are flat." Eshkar said it is too soon to tell what his property is worth.
Another possible location for a sports facility would be to use part of 10 of the acres at a parcel called the North Forty that is being considered for development, near the intersection of Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard.
The deal with Santa Clara County also includes a land swap provision. The town is getting two-thirds of an acre of the county's Vasona property that has a building used by the Billy Jones Railroad.
The railroad originates at Oak Meadow Park. In addition to the railroad, Oak Meadow has a soccer field that has new turf, so the field will now be open four days a week for practice during the youth soccer season.
