Atherton resident's need to be polled or a vote taken

[Posted by Athertonians Moderator]
 
From: Colleen Anderson
Date: March 28, 2012 10:39:07 PM PDT
To: Atherton lunch lunch group , Athertonians Athertonians
Subject: Fwd: Atherton resident's need to be polled or a vote taken.


Begin forwarded message:

From: "Jerry Carlson"
Subject: Atherton resident's need to be polled or a vote taken.
Date: March 26, 2012 2:54:22 PM PDT
Reply-To: raljer@ix.netcom.com


Dear Friend,

I am calling your attention that the Draft EIR for the new library is now on the Town of Atherton home page web site - bottom right hand corner.  Written and oral comments will be taken during a 45 day window before the final EIR comes out.

I will share my comment as follows: After going through most of the DEIR, one message comes out loud and clear - the park would be a great site for the library but not so great for other users of the park.  The park setting would certainly provide a very nice adjunct to the library.

However, it raises the real issue in my mind - having the library in the park will restrict and put limits on other uses.  Although the council reversed itself to allow events to be scheduled in the park for the remainder of 2012 - except for weddings.  Why exclude weddings - easy answer because there would be no easy mitigation for bridal party use of the current Main House.  What events will be allowed in 2013?

Placing the library in the park raises potential space contention issues.  The mitigation measures recommended fall squarely on the Even Coordinators' shoulders (the EIR says the town doesn't plan to have one) to arrange for shuttles or valet parking etc. and sets limits on the size of group use of the Pavilion (92 persons on weekdays and 58 on weekends).

During the public outreach meetings there has been no transparency as to the potential impacts on other uses for the park, whereas the virtue of a park setting for the  library were made abundantly clear.

Besides the far reaching and permanent impacts associated with the library in our sole town park, there is also a more fundamental issue - the loss of local control over HPP.  That control would have to be 'shared' with the JPB in terms of resolving operational contention issues, holding types of events in the park including potential scheduling issues with library events, what maintenance costs of the park including roadways, parking lots, pathways, landscaping etc. could be funded out of library tax dollars etc.

However, I realized that there may be many - even a majority of town residents would be willing to support a library in the park.  I have repeatedly stated that if a majority of Atherton residents support moving the library to the park - so be it.  I just think that this is such a big issue that it is very important that the council knows the 'will of the people'.  After reading the Draft EIR, in my view, we either need a town conducted poll or a formal vote of our residents to see if a majority agree or disagree having the library in the park.  But, please take time to look at the DEIR and make up your own mind and please communicate any comments to Lisa Costa Sanders.

Jerry Carlson
raljer@ix.netcom.com