HomeMy WebLinkAbout104-Letter to Council from Parker Ranch Homeowners Association Director.pdfJune 22, 2009
To The City Council of the City of Saratoga:
As you know, Parker Ranch is a hilly subdivision within the City of Saratoga (the “City”) bounded by
Prospect Road, Comer Road and Farr Ranch Road. Parker Ranch has a number of natural open space
preserves owned by the Parker Ranch Homeowners Association (the “PRHA”) through which the City
maintains an equestrian and pedestrian trail system (the “Trails”). Thanks in part to this trail system, the
Parker Ranch open space preserve at the top of Vista Arroyo Court (the “Knoll”) is frequented by many
people including people who live outside Parker Ranch (“Non-Homeowners”). Many of the Non-
Homeowners who frequent the Knoll go there to admire the views or hike the Trails. Unfortunately,
many also go there specifically to party, drink, smoke, use illegal drugs, have sex, fire weapons, etc. –
causing substantial noise and ruckus in the area, leaving a lot of litter, endangering the neighboring
residents and their guests and posing substantial fire hazards to the open space and homes in Parker
Ranch. These activities occur all year round, at all hours of the day and night, and are not restricted to
daylight hours.
There are many noteworthy examples. Last autumn, a group of young men attempted to set off a
homemade bomb at the Knoll. The bomb did not explode as planned but did leave hydrochloric acid on
some of the trees and plants. The Sheriff was called but the boys drove away before the Sheriff arrived.
Several years ago, another group of young men were witnessed to shoot rifles from the Knoll into the
valley below. The Sheriff responded with several cars quickly enough in this case to arrest the boys.
Many Non-Homeowners smoke at the Knoll and throw their lit cigarette butts into the open space.
People have been seen to do this while looking across the valley to the eastern hills while brushfires
there raged on. On another occasion a group of rowdy young men drinking on the Knoll accosted a
teenage girl who was visiting a Parker Ranch resident.
Over the years, many attempts have been made to improve the security at the Knoll. The City has
erected a number of signs that have helped reduce the problem. The Homeowners neighboring the Knoll
have each put up motion-activated floodlights along the street. While each action has improved the
situation, no one action seems to completely solve it. As the next step towards a final solution, the
PRHA Board of Directors (the “Board”) would like to install one or two motion-activated floodlights
directly on the Knoll. According to the Parker Ranch Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (the
“CC&Rs”), the City must provide written approval for any alteration to our open space. The Board and
all of the surrounding PRHA Homeowners have already approved this provided that the City approves it
as well. Therefore, for the safety and well-being of the Parker Ranch homeowners and of the Parker
Ranch open space preserve itself, the Board would like to request the City of Saratoga for their written
approval. Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Drew Perkins
Director, Parker Ranch Homeowners Association