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<DIV>
<DIV>Folks: The following is forwarded from the Save BAREC email
list. About two years ago, the GPSCC endorsed the Save BAREC effort.
I have suggested that this issue offers the GPSCC an opportunity to identify
City of Santa Clara GPSCC members who might be willing to become more
active. As with everything else, it takes time and energies to go through
our voter registrations list and make telephone calls. But... at some
point this issue might involve circulating referendum petitions for City of
Santa Clara residents. Let me know if there are any questions about these
comments or the following information. Warner</DIV>
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 4/13/07 8:53:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
kmathewson@secretgardens.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><FONT
face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>BAREC Friends:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>At Wednesday night’s BAREC Final EIR
(FEIR) meeting the Santa Clara City Planning Commission were shown the
developer’s BAREC plans and heard public comments.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their agenda was scheduled to approve
the FEIR but <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">the vote was continued to
their next meeting on April 25<SUP>th</SUP> at 7 pm.</B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was an event that would be a great
movie or a chapter in a book.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
should be<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>proud of the diversity
of people who spoke in favor of open space, their well prepared and diverse
comments, and the huge number of EIR flaws that were brought out in a few
hours with little preparation time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There were people who always speak, people who we have never heard
speak, BAREC neighbors, passionate people, <SPAN
class=453404102-14042007>historians, </SPAN>students, seniors, a mix of people
from around the Valley including <SPAN
class=453404102-14042007>many</SPAN> from the City of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Santa Clara</st1:place></st1:City>, and people
with technical backgrounds in science and agriculture and law.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Long term Save BAREC supporters and
the commissioners learned a great deal.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>What a wonderful group of people BAREC has brought together!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> <SPAN class=453404102-14042007>The
commissioners were especially interested in the County Historical Commission's
support letter for BAREC to be on the State historical registry and its
criticism of the EIR. </SPAN></SPAN>The issues of open space where people
live, quality of life and not just housing everywhere, our agricultural
history, cultural landscapes, and bioremediation to clean contaminated soils
were discussed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These are
subjects which will bring balance to the <SPAN
class=453404102-14042007>Mission City and the </SPAN><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Hearts Delight</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>On the other side was the developer’s team presenting their housing
project which we have seen many times.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Their plan does not change.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It looks like all the other housing projects in the Valley.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Why can’t they learn from this unique
piece of land and design buildings and landscapes which reflect the land’s
history and have a sustainable theme?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Methodist Homes brought a bus load of seniors.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After the senior home presentation was
finished they requested those supporting senior housing stand up<SPAN
class=453404102-14042007>. A</SPAN>bout 25 seniors stood up.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These seniors remained quiet in the
comment period that followed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Even after public comment it is unclear if these seniors understand
that they are part of a plan to take away our history and public
land.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The highlight of the evening was when our new San Jose District 6
Councilman, Pierluigi Oliverio, addressed the commission and told them about
walking during his campaign on streets where the majority of people had
cancer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> <SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><STRONG>He
urged the city of <st1:City w:st="on">Santa Clara</st1:City> not to get into
the kind of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Watson</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType> soil contamination nightmare <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Jose</st1:place></st1:City> is currently
going through.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The liabilities
and costs ($24 million for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Jose</st1:place></st1:City>) are too great for any city.</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>He suggested that
they slow down and consider carefully how they will clean up BAREC to make it
safe for future generations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Thank you Pierluigi!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Public comment ended late so there was no
time to discuss the issues with the <SPAN
class=453404102-14042007>State's </SPAN>FEIR consultants.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After hearing both sides, the
commissioners were unclear how to vote<SPAN class=453404102-14042007>
and</SPAN> unanimously voted for a continuance.<B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> </B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is clear that we need to continue
educating th<SPAN class=453404102-14042007>is</SPAN> commission<SPAN
class=453404102-14042007> as well as both the Santa Clara and San
Jose City Councils</SPAN>.<SPAN class=453404102-14042007>
Commissioner Teresa O'Neil specializes in urban agricultural education.
She did not attend this meeting but hopefully will be at the April 25th
meeting so the commission's conversation will be a bit more
informative. </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><STRONG><SPAN
class=453404102-14042007>We</SPAN> encourage as many people as
possible <SPAN class=453404102-14042007>to </SPAN>attend the April 25th
meeting.<SPAN
class=453404102-14042007> </SPAN></STRONG></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><STRONG><SPAN
class=453404102-14042007></SPAN></STRONG></FONT></FONT><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>If you made EIR comments, you should read the FEIR’s comments to your
comments.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>See our website to find your comment
letter </FONT><A title=http://www.savebarec.org/
href="http://www.savebarec.org/"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#800080
size=3>www.savebarec.org</FONT></A><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Vol 1 #2 will tell your comment
number.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You should also read the
Master Responses (#3) on the subjects on which you have an interest.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Respond back because most of the
responses are weak although wordy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Anyone can get information into the public record until the City
Council votes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After hearing the
community at three meetings, this same commission voted in January 2003 for
BAREC as open space!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However,
this is an entirely different commission.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are new to the BAREC issues and
history so our comments are important.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>You can go to the <st1:City
w:st="on">Santa Clara</st1:City> main library on <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Homestead</st1:place></st1:City> and check out
or read the DEIR or visit my home <SPAN class=453404102-14042007>in the
Shasta Hanchett neighborhood </SPAN>and I will have a copy which I have
checked out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Thank you <SPAN
class=453404102-14042007>especially to those who came to the meeting, who
wrote EIR comment letters, and to the thousands of people who inform their
friends and elected leadership about the BAREC issues and the importance of
saving this historical 17 acres.</SPAN><SPAN
class=453404102-14042007> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p></o:p></FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Kathryn Mathewson</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>408-292-9595<BR></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>kmathewson@secretgardens.com</FONT> </P></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's free at <A title="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>