Hopefully, City Council members will drive by the bulldozed and
vacant lot on Miller Avenue and be reminded of something that
should be fundamental in Gilroy: neighborhood character
matters.
Hopefully, City Council members will drive by the bulldozed and vacant lot on Miller Avenue and be reminded of something that should be fundamental in Gilroy: neighborhood character matters.
Councilman Russ Valiquette is on the right track with his effort to push for a definition of neighborhood character so that it becomes a part of every planning conversation. With the way housing prices are going, the city will be faced with many decisions that will impact neighborhoods. Should a property owner be able to build a two-story home on a street filled with one-story bungalows? Gilroy should be prepared to cope with those types of questions.
Last April, when Neil Mussallem Sr. and his son asked the city to approve a zoning change that combined 7861 and 7891 Miller avenues and paved the way for six new homes, Gilroy wasn’t prepared. The Planning Commission said “no” unanimously and the City Council, on a misguided 4-3 vote, overturned that decision.
Miller Avenue neighbors were understandably unhappy that their ranch-style homes of one-story would be joined by higher density housing, some of the two-story variety.
Now there’s an empty lot and a project that apparently doesn’t “pencil out.” So, we have a few suggestions for the Council to consider regarding the empty lot:
– A BMX bike track. The city has long needed an outlet for bicycle recreation and the lot’s primed for a for dirt jumps and trick ramps. A few lights would do the trick.
– A community garden. Use the manure from the Gilroy Police Department mounted patrol unit, the reclaimed water from the sewer plant and a few donated vegetable seeds from a local company and we’re in business.
– An alternate location for Christopher High School. While we figure out where to get $12 million, we can pitch one of the tents the Garlic Festival uses and start classes – maybe the community garden could co-exist and provide the basis for an agriculture curriculum.
– The only city park where alcohol is allowed. Who needs benches when there’s a good bottle to share?
– A paint ball playground. Throw up a few pieces of plywood, roll some old barrels out there and let ’em fire away.
– A horse stable. The police could keep their steeds there and the public could rent spaces. Throwing up a corral shouldn’t be too difficult.
– A soccer field. Two goals with nets, a little grass seed, some winter rains and it’s a done deal.
Actually, we have a better suggestion. Next time, just say “no.”
