GILROY
– The cantankerous debate over the 33-acre real estate deal
between financially strapped Bonfante Gardens and Eagle Ridge
homeowners appears headed for court.
Eagle Ridge homeowner Michael Patterson is so disgruntled with
the process of approving or rejecting the land deal, he said he
will file a complaint this morning with the Santa Clara County
District Attorney’s office.
GILROY – The cantankerous debate over the 33-acre real estate deal between financially strapped Bonfante Gardens and Eagle Ridge homeowners appears headed for court.
Eagle Ridge homeowner Michael Patterson is so disgruntled with the process of approving or rejecting the land deal, he said he will file a complaint this morning with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office.
“It’s become a three-ring circus. They’re breaking the laws of California,” Patterson said. “I just want the process done right, and I’m tired of getting bullied by the president of the board (Dave Light).”
By not letting each homeowner vote on the land deal, Patterson claims Light and the rest of the board are violating both the bylaws of Eagle Ridge and state law regulating homeowners associations.
“I promise you this is going to the DA,” said Patterson, who used to work for Eagle Ridge developer Shapell Industries and had a major role in writing the community’s bylaws.
Meanwhile, Light, who supports the Bonfante Gardens land deal, says he has won the most powerful delegate seat – District 1 – in an election held Sunday night.
Light’s District 1 delegate position is important to the Bonfante land deal because it may hold up to 62 percent of the association’s voting power. Two-thirds approval (66 percent) is needed to approve the land deal.
If the land deal goes through, Bonfante Gardens will have the cash to start paying down its $70 million debt. If it fails, creditors may soon foreclose on the park.
Besides potentially saving Bonfante Gardens Theme Park from financial ruin, the land deal with Eagle Ridge would bring 118 homes to the gated, west side community, as well as long-sought amenities such as a community swimming pool, tennis courts and a meeting room.
The delegates are expected to vote on the Shapell-Bonfante land deal sometime in May.
Sunday’s homeowners meeting was underscored by heated debate over the deal and the process by which it may get approved.
Light exerted heavy-handed control over the homeowners association meeting Sunday. The Shapell-appointed president denied media access and called two Gilroy police officers to the Eagle Ridge clubhouse to escort a Dispatch reporter out of the meeting room.
Light also used the opening of the meeting to highlight his and the board’s accomplishments over the last year. The statement was made roughly an hour before residents in attendance were to vote for or against Light as a delegate.
For Patterson and Eagle Ridge residents such as Michael Mathews, the entire process reeked of foul play.
“My concern is who counts the votes (in the delegate election). I question the fairness of the board counting the votes when some of its members are running for delegate seats,” Mathews said.
For several weeks now, the Bonfante Gardens land deal has pit neighbor against neighbor. Some worry that 118 homes on 33 acres will trigger density and traffic issues, ultimately lowering the value of their homes.
Others figure the land deal is the only way homeowners will get their long-sought amenities.
“It’s to our advantage to have Shapell develop (the 33-acre lot) because it gives us more control over the planning of it,” Eagle Ridge homeowner Roland Hennessy said.
What a developer other than Shapell would do with the land is open to debate. The area is zoned commercially, making some residents worry that anything from motels to used car lots could sprout up. Also, theme park creditors could foreclose on Bonfante Gardens and build less neighborhood-friendly, more commercially-viable rides and attractions on the 33-acre parcel.
In any case, plans would have to get City Hall approval.
