GILROY
– On the surface, Kelly Urrabazo and Brenda Landon have a lot in
common.
GILROY – On the surface, Kelly Urrabazo and Brenda Landon have a lot in common.
Both Eagle Ridge residents sat at a picnic bench on a sun-filled afternoon in a community playground and shot the breeze. During their chit-chat, both women watched their toddlers at play.
But when it comes to how they feel about a pending real estate deal that could add 118 homes to their lush gated community, the two women are worlds apart.
Urrabazo, who lives off of heavily traveled Club Drive, worries about the additional traffic the new homes would cause. Landon, who lives on the other side of Eagle Ridge, covets the amenities – such as a community pool and tennis courts – being tagged on to the new development.
“We have a small backyard. We have no room for a pool because we have the mountain in our backyard,” Landon said.
Counters Urrabazo, vehicles all too often drive past the stop sign at the corner of Club Drive and the playground they are sitting at without stopping at all.
“Even as it is today, a ball goes into the street and five kids go running after it,” Urrabazo said. “I’m worried for their safety.”
Homeowners like these two women will ultimately decide if Shapell Industries – the developer of Eagle Ridge – can expand by purchasing a 33-acre parcel currently owned by Bonfante Gardens. A vote on the matter takes place later this month.
Urrabazo and Landon are a microcosm of the community that has seen neighbor go head to head with neighbor over what each party thinks is best for the community.
What is best for Bonfante Gardens and Shapell Industries is clear.
The land deal will supply needed cash for the theme park as it tries to pare down its $70 million debt. For Shapell Industries, the deal – as it’s penciled out now – will make the company many millions of dollars since the 118 homes will sell for up to $700,000 each.
But what is best for Eagle Ridge is a bit more of an enigma, as Urrabazo and Landon can attest.
Interestingly enough, the two women have a similar interpretation of a set of large signs recently posted at the playground, along the border of Eagle Ridge and Bonfante Gardens. The sign reads: “Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park Future Expansion Area.”
The timing of the posting of the signs and the effort to get the real estate deal approved raised eyebrows.
“It sounds like a threat for us to push the deal through,” Urrabazo said.
Resident Michael Mathews agrees.
“It’s a scare tactic,” Mathews said. “After hearing (Bonfante Gardens president) Bob Kraemer talk about the undesirable things that could happen next to Eagle Ridge, those signs look like they’re part of the plan (to get residents to support the real estate deal).”
Park officials have stressed that if creditors took the park over, they could turn it into a “less neighbor-friendly” money-making affair. Immediately, some Eagle Ridge residents pictured themselves becoming neighbor to rides and attractions such as a waterslide – a component of the park’s phase two expansion.
Also, many Eagle Ridge residents felt pressured to accept the 118 new homes into the community after they heard Bonfante Gardens officials say the real estate deal was the last gasp effort to keep the park afloat.
“I love Bonfante Gardens. I’m a season ticket holder. But that felt like guilt,” Urrabazo said.
According to Gilroy Planning Division Manager Bill Faus, the expansion warning signs were put up as part of an aggressive public awareness program.
“Council wanted to make sure there would be no opportunity for people to purchase homes without knowledge of the amusement park’s right to expand,” Faus said.
Although Council directed Shapell to put the signs up two and a half years ago, the signs only went up two months ago. That timing only adds to the skepticism.
“I find it interesting that the signs went up after people bought their homes,” Urrabazo said.
