GILROY
– Two weeks before Eagle Ridge homeowners decide the fate of a
33-acre real estate deal designed to lift Bonfante Gardens’ from
financial ashes, the community’s most vocal group is urging
residents to vote no.
GILROY – Two weeks before Eagle Ridge homeowners decide the fate of a 33-acre real estate deal designed to lift Bonfante Gardens’ from financial ashes, the community’s most vocal group is urging residents to vote no.
Lower home values and unbearable traffic levels are just a couple of reasons why the grassroots group, Homeowners of Eagle Ridge, opposes the land deal. In a bulk e-mail the group released late last week, a total of seven reasons detail why residents should oppose the deal between the theme park and the developer of Eagle Ridge, Shapell Industries.
“The annexation proposed by Shapell and Bonfante benefits everyone but homeowners of Eagle Ridge. Therefore, we, the undersigned, will vote ‘no’ on the annexation,” the group stated in the e-mail.
The undersigned include the four core members of Homeowners of Eagle Ridge. At least two of those members are running for open seats in the April 25 delegate election.
The handful of delegates elected April 25 will cast votes May 2 to determine whether Eagle Ridge expands. If the land deal is approved by Eagle Ridge residents, Shapell Industries would build 118 homes and long-sought amenities such as a swimming pool and tennis courts would also be built.
Until last week, Homeowners of Eagle Ridge had yet to oppose the land deal, despite its vocal stance against the delegate-based voting process. Homeowners of Eagle Ridge wanted a homeowner-by-homeowner vote on whether to annex the 33 acres of the park.
Success of the land deal is most crucial for Bonfante Gardens. The theme park is counting on the real estate deal as a catalyst for lowering its $70 million pile of debt to a more manageable $14 million.
Here are the seven reasons Homeowners of Eagle Ridge wants residents to vote no:
• If permitted, the annexation will make Eagle Ridge traffic unbearable.
“Our streets are small and traffic is already a problem with only 50% of homes occupied. Adding another 120 homes – and 240 cars and trucks – combined with 3-4 more years of construction traffic will overpower our quiet, narrow, private streets,” the group states.
• If permitted, the annexation will decrease the value of our homes because there will be smaller homes on smaller lots at prices below existing Eagle Ridge home prices.
• Dense city-like blocks destroy the unique style of Eagle Ridge.
• Our homeowners association is not protecting the interests of Eagle Ridge.
“The homeowners association is pursuing its own agenda to eliminate our front-gate guard and extract money from Shapell for meager street improvements which Eagle Ridge can afford on its own,” the group claims.
• The so-called cabana and pool amenity is a “bait and switch” ploy.
“Shapell is not legally bound to build anything like this, and it won’t commit itself to anything adequate because it is of no financial benefit to Shapell. Those of you who have lived here several years know Shapell’s history with fulfilling its promises – this one won’t be any different,” the group states.
• If permitted, the annexation still won’t save Bonfante Gardens.
“The fact is that Bonfante is in a niche business. It will never use all its land for gardens because big gardens with rides for only small children don’t make money – residential homes sites make money,” the group says.
• There is an alternative that benefits everyone.
“Bonfante should sell the 33 acres (or any of its other 400 or so unused acres) to a builder to build single family homes as a development separate from Eagle Ridge. The separate project should connect to Highway 152 or the planned Third Street extension,” the group says.
