HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.1 2nd Written Comm. RedactedFrom:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 5:18:47 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Erin Loury
Erin Loury
Santa Cruz 95060
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 5:19:40 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Susan Hildreth
San Jose 95112
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 5:28:25 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project, it shouldn't even be considered at all.
Nancy Martin
nancy martin
gilroy 95020
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 6:01:36 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
As a former resident of Saratoga who knows the area well, I ask you to please vote to
terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Katja Irvin
SAN JOSE 95116
From:
the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 6:09:11 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
SUSAN WEIAND
San Jose 95129
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 6:38:51 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Richard Placone
Palo Alto 943062710
From:
To:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 6:56:41 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
James Pearson
James Pearson
Gilroy 95020
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:06:22 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
I live in the mountains and was evacuated for the Bear Fire. I am scared of anything that
increases fire danger or decreases my ability to egress from my home. Please adopt the
unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to terminate the Mountain
Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is no place for a hotel of
any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well as the impacts of the
traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby community, make
this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Ruth Van Sciver
Los Gatos 95033
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:11:36 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
This is NOT the time for these plans, so much uncertainty .. we must protect our region from
fires, with looming water shortages due to climate change. Oh, and the pandemic.
Sincerely,
Nancy Mager
Los Gatos 95032
From:
;
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:28:21 PM
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Council Comments Form
Your Name Marcia Wire
Phone Number
Subject Mountain Winery expansion
Comments Although I am just a Monte Sereno neighbor, my son and his
family livened to Pierce and must use it to go anywhere. It is not
safe to walk on Pierce, as one must do, or to ride bikes there.
This hilly, winding road is inadequate and unsafe for ordinary
traffic. Construction of the proposed enormous hotel-winery and
its opening to the the public would involve greatly increased truck
and car traffic. Emergency vehicles would not be able to protect
existing land and the new construction. I agree completely with
the decision of the Planning Commission against this expansion
and hope the Council will see the impractical and injurious nature
of the project.
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Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:48:54 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
I went to the Mountain Winery one year when there was a fire in Santa Cruz and they were
using the Winery area for staging the helicopters - we had to walk up the hill to the Winery
since we could not park. No place for a hotel!
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Gloria Swanson
San Jose 95124
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:54:13 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
William Nacey
William Nacey
San Jose 95125
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:57:07 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location. As a South Bay
native resident, I enjoy shopping and visiting in Saratoga. A large development like this will
definitely deter me from visiting and spending my dollars in Saratoga as often.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Elisheva Basseri
elisheva basseri
San Jose 95124
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 8:01:11 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Karen Stephenson
KAREN STEPHENSON
SAN JOSE 95128
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 8:07:04 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
James Stiefel
Cupertino 95014
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 8:13:28 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Diana Roberts
San Jose 95112
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:00:43 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Rick Umstattd
Rick Umstattd
San Jose 95130
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:22:19 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Kily TrCy
Los gatos 95030
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:35:24 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Weiden
Los Altos 94022
From:
neider
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:40:27 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Lu Shoberg
San Jose 951161526
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:52:31 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Andrew Nguyen
San Jose 95112
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:59:12 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Jeanine Eidinger
Jeanine Eidinger
San Jose 95136
From:
;
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:08:26 PM
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Council Comments Form
Your Name Susan De Nicolo
Phone Number
Email Address
Subject Hotel at Mountain Winery
Comments I live right below the Mountain Winery, as I have for the past 27
years AND I am completely against putting a hotel at the
Mountain Winery. This is a terrible idea on many levels. Fire
danger being number one, as this is a highly sensitive area for
fires. Also, the traffic on Pierce Rd, which is already impacted by
the concerts. People that don’t live in the area speed on the
roads and it’s problematic. Another problem that I have is the
effect on nature, the wild animals that live in this area that are
being crowded out of their natural surrounds. The noise level is
already high and goes later into the evening. I can not state
strongly enough how repulsive it is to me that the city council is
considering this. Greed.
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Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:15:56 PM
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Council Comments Form
Your Name Patricia Jessen
Phone Number
Email Address
Subject Saratoga Resident - End Mountain Winery Annexation - No Hotel
Comments Commissioners,
Please accept this letter as my written submission to be included
in the commissioners meeting agenda packet for the May 20,
2020 meeting.
The Council needs to terminate its pursuit of the Mountain
Winery Annexation Project and vote NOT to move forward with
the Project in any form.
The reasons I’m against a 300 room hotel at the Mountain
Winery are: Development in a High Fire Danger area, Increased
Traffic and Increased Noise.
1. High Fire Area.
Two years ago I watched, from my front porch, the helicopters
and planes drop slurry on a fire behind Mt. Eden Farms. We live
in a tinder box and one small spark from construction could touch
off a firestorm. Hotel guests would be unaware of the high fire
hazard in our area. Without reasonable evacuation routes to
handle the volume it would be a tragedy in the making.
2. Traffic.
Pierce Road is very narrow, barely handling one car in each
direction. The road is a constant test of defensive driving. The
longer I drive the road, the slower I go, because something new,
crazy and dangerous is always around the corner.
Construction trucks park on the road narrowing it down to one
lane. Garbage trucks barely have room to handle pickups
slowing traffic for the entire length of the road because the is too
narrow for a passing lane. Tree trimming and moving trucks also
narrowing the road to one lane with delays.
Not to mention the number of bicyclists, runners, dog walkers,
occasional horse and rider. More traffic would also be a hazard
to the wildlife. The novice mountain driver (like a hotel guest)
would not fare well in the crazy conditions that happen on Pierce
Road.
3. Noise.
Up here in the hills, noise travels far. At night, the Mountain
Winery music, clapping and cheering can be heard quite clearly
from my house 3 miles away. Guests in the proposed hotel might
not be aware of nighttime noise ordinance. My concern is late
night parties, additional traffic noise (read motorcycles and loud
cars screaming up and down Pierce), and generally wrecking
havoc on our peaceful evenings.
Take the concerns of the people of Saratoga under serious
consideration and vote NOT to allow the hotel.
Patricia G Jessen
Saratoga, CA 95070
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From:
Subject:End Mountain Winery Annexation Project
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:23:27 PM
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City Council Members and Mayor,
Please accept this letter as my written submission to be included in the meeting agenda packet
for the May 20, 2020 meeting.
The Council needs to terminate its pursuit of the Mountain Winery Annexation Project and
vote NOT to move forward with the Project in any form.
The reasons I’m against a 300 room hotel at the Mountain Winery are: Development in a High
Fire Danger area, Increased Traffic and Increased Noise.
1. High Fire Area.
Two years ago I watched, from my front porch, the helicopters and planes drop slurry on a fire
behind Mt. Eden Farms. We live in a tinder box and one small spark from construction could
touch off a firestorm. Hotel guests would be unaware of the high fire hazard in our area.
Without reasonable evacuation routes to handle the volume it would be a tragedy in the
making.
2. Traffic.
Pierce Road is very narrow, barely handling one car in each direction. The road is a constant
test of defensive driving. The longer I drive the road, the slower I go, because something new,
crazy and dangerous is always around the corner.
Construction trucks park on the road narrowing it down to one lane. Garbage trucks barely
have room to handle pickups slowing traffic for the entire length of the road because the is too
narrow for a passing lane. Tree trimming and moving trucks also narrowing the road to one
lane with delays.
Not to mention the number of bicyclists, runners, dog walkers, occasional horse and rider.
More traffic would also be a hazard to the wildlife. The novice mountain driver (like a hotel
guest) would not fare well in the crazy conditions that happen on Pierce Road.
3. Noise.
Up here in the hills, noise travels far. At night, the Mountain Winery music, clapping and
cheering can be heard quite clearly from my house 3 miles away. Guests in the proposed hotel
might not be aware of nighttime noise ordinance. My concern is late night parties, additional
traffic noise (read motorcycles and loud cars screaming up and down Pierce), and generally
wrecking havoc on our peaceful evenings.
Take the concerns of the people of Saratoga under serious consideration and vote NOT to
allow the hotel.
Patricia G Jessen
Saratoga, CA 95070
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:43:58 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Adriana Farkouh
Adriana Farkouh
San Jose 95126
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 11:05:54 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Mimi Spreadbury
San Jose 95156
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 19, 2020 11:13:37 PM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Ellen Hall
Pacifica 94044
From:
To:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 12:01:12 AM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Armstrong
San Jose 95125
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:09:32 AM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Council Members,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project.
1) A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a
massive 300-room hotel.
2) The wildfire risk...
as well as (3) the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and
4) the nearby community, all make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely, Pat & Mike McGuire, Green Foothills members , POST stewardship team-members
and outdoor enthusiasts.
patricia & michael mcguire
saratoga 95070-6189
From:
Subject:FW: Postponing Mountain Winery Annexation
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 4:42:23 AM
From: Jasim ahmad
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 4:41:48 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Subject: Postponing Mountain Winery Annexation
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Hello City Council members
I have not met anyone in Saratoga including my neighbors who like this annexation idea. Please do not
do this if you care for citizens of Saratoga. I saw the comments by our Mayor in the San Jose Mercury
News article that is a blatant disregard for the welfare of Saratoga.
Jasim Ahmad
Saratoga, CA 95070
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 7:05:05 AM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location. For years, Saratoga
has been a desirable place to live precisely because these types of developments have not been
permitted. Please don't start us down that path.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Armen Varteressian
Armen Varteressian
Saratoga 95070
From:
Subject:FW: Postpone Mountain Winery Annexation - May 20 Hearing
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 7:31:38 AM
________________________________________
From: Kate Adams
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 7:31:27 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Cc: Duke Wiser
Subject: Postpone Mountain Winery Annexation - May 20 Hearing
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clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear City Council Members,
Thank you for the opportunity to submit our comments. We have previously written in opposition to the annexation
of the Mountain Winery. As further information and facts have been brought forward, our concerns have been
confirmed. We incorporate by reference our previous opposition letter to the Council.
The annexation issue is among the most significant to come before the City Council in decades. We do not believe a
Zoom meeting is the appropriate or democratic way to have this important discussion. As others have stated
eloquently, a virtual meeting does not allow for the robust and interactive debate this decision deserves.
We strongly urge the Council to postpone this discussion until it can be had in a public, non-virtual forum.
We remain optimistic our Council will make a reasoned decision to protect our hillsides and our bucolic community,
and reject the annexation proposal.
Sincerely,
Kate and Duke Wiser
Sent from my iPad
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 8:13:25 AM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Former resident, 1982-2017, raised children in Saratoga, active community member, enjoyed
small town community.
Please, a 300 room hotel does not fit the hills due to the environmental impact.
Vote No
Thank you, Janet Chang
Janet Chang
Campbell 95008
From:
To:
er
Subject:FW: Mountain winery
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 8:40:22 AM
________________________________________
From: DAVID DOWN
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 8:40:08 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Subject: Mountain winery
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or
clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
We are not in favor of the mountain winery Project
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 8:44:41 AM
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or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name John Page
Phone Number
Subject Mountain Winery Annexation
Comments I wish to register my strong opposition to the annexation process
in any form. I have two reasons for this:
1. Once annexed it seems that it will lose many protections it
currently has. It is my understanding that under county control
the property is limited in what it can develop. Those limits seem
appropriate and necessary. The City has made the case that it
will give the city more control, when there seems to be adequate
controls in place already. In addition it raises the specter of SB35
being invoked to build whatever the owners like.
2. The current owners have made zero effort to correct the
environmental damage they have done already. The expansion
of the concert facilities has created significant traffic, noise and
light pollution. These factors have reduced the ability to enjoy our
properties. The fact that they have arrogantly ignored requests to
correct these demonstrates that they should not be trusted with
the stewardship of such a sensitive area.
I request that the annexation process be stopped, per the staff
recommendations.
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From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 9:25:27 AM
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Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Nancy DeFever
Nancy DeFever
Los Gatos 95032
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:26:54 AM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
LINDA bAXTER
San Jose 95125
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:31:35 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Martina Keim
Martina Keim
San Jose 95120-4456
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:43:27 AM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Annie Belt
San Jose 95126
From:
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:47:00 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments
or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name Jim Frankola
Phone Number Field not completed.
Email Address
Subject Annex Winery
Comments I am in support of the annexation. I think Howard Miller
articulates the rationale well.
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From:
To:
Crystal Bothelio
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:06:22 AM
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or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name Dorothy Warren
Phone Number
Email Address
Subject Mountain Winery
Comments I believe that the Mountain Winery should become a part of
Saratoga. Any expansion would have to be through the building
department anyway. Just my opinion.
Email not displaying correctly? .
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:20:40 AM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
There is a very important consideration here for our heritage and our legacy. Please respect
these by not allowing the hotel development.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Guimarin
Elizabeth Guimarin
Campbell 95008
From:
To:
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 12:07:53 PM
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or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name Lynn Moss
Phone Number
Email Address
Subject Mountain Winery Annexation Project, May 20th Agenda
Comments As residents of Saratoga, we are committed to preserving the
surrounding hillsides and unique, rural character of Saratoga.
Following additional review of the many and various
considerations relative to the Annexation Project, we have
concluded that the long-term interests of the City and its
residents would clearly be best served by immediate termination
of the Project.
This is to request that the Council, effective today, terminate the
Annexation Project pursuant to the Planning Commission's
unanimous recommendation, and direct staff to take no further
action to move forward on the Project in any way.
Thank you.
Lynn M. Moss
Thomas A. Pizzillo
Saratoga, CA
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From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 12:09:16 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Karen Naifeh
San Mateo 94402
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 12:56:57 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Alison Sheehey
Weldon 93283
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 12:59:52 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission to terminate the
Mountain Winery annexation project. Building a hotel, large or small, at an undeveloped site
designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone runs against common sense. Emergency
access and evacuation in case of wildfire is already limited with the existing uses. The wildfire
risk, as well as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat
and the nearby community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Construction of a hotel, and the new water tank and sewer connections that would be needed
to support it, would impact the surrounding native plant species and wildlife, including
sensitive species such as dusky-footed woodrat, and would encourage further growth in this
undeveloped foothills area. The costs of new infrastructure and damage to this relatively intact
natural ecosystem, are burdens on the public, while the developer reaps all the benefits.
In the public interest, please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Singgih Tan
san jose 95123
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:21:44 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Carlin Black
San Jose 95129
From:
the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:29:46 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Honestly, what is the need to keep using up our open spaces. With the way life is going these
days, and many hotels to remain unused for many months if not years, why take on this
development. Once this open and pristine space is gone, it is gone forever. Please vote no to
this project. I will not visit the Mt Winery if this hotel is built.
Sincerely,
Jamsheed
Jamsheed Wania
Palo Alto 94301
From:
To:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:41:22 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Greg Leonard
Greg Leonard
Los Altos Hills 94022
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:46:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
We need to notice that our poor behavior is coming back at us. COVID-19 is not an isolated
phenomenon. It is part of a much larger and pernicious environmental decline happening all
around us. Please don't exacerbate our local decline with this project.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely, Deborah Kennedy
Deborah Kennedy
San Jose 95126
From:
To:
Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:52:16 PM
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or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name James Maggard
Phone Number
Email Address
Subject Mountain Winery Hotel
Comments Having a hotel, would open the events to elderly people who
cannot see to drive after dark. It would also reduce the number of
intoxicated people driving home, and help to flatten the curve for
number of vehicles on the road immediately after an event. There
might be downsides but we should not ignore the increased
public safety and inclusion aspects of this proposal.
Email not displaying correctly?
From:
Debbie Bretschneider
Subject:FW: Postponing Mountain Winery Annexation, May 20th agenda
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 2:27:06 PM
From: Ben Connors
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 2:26:20 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Subject: Postponing Mountain Winery Annexation, May 20th agenda
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Saratoga City Council,
Please postpone further discussion of the Mountain Winery Annexation until after we have returned to
post-COVID-19 normal operations. This difficult time is the WRONG time to push through significant and
permanent changes to the character of Saratoga. We should consider the merits and costs of this
annexation proposal when we can give it the careful consideration it deserves. The COVID-19 situation
prevents us all from doing that now.
Please postpone this until in-person meetings are accessible to all of us, post any COVID-19 restrictions.
--
Best regards,
Ben Connors
From:
Subject:Tell the Saratoga City Council Not to Approve Giant Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 2:31:08 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Margot Lowe
Oceanside 92056-2101
From:
Cc:
Subject:FW: Mountain Winery Annexation Project
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 2:34:14 PM
From: Rajagopal Krishnaswamy
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:37 PM
To: Howard Miller; Mary-Lynne Bernald; Rishi Kumar; Manny Cappello; Yan Zhao; Debbie Pedro;
Cc: s.vpriya1982
Subject: Mountain Winery Annexation Project
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mr. Miller and Council Members,
We are writing to all of you today to express our extreme concern with regardstothe
annexation. It is now our understanding that you and the council members have been working
on this annexation for the past 18 months, while, us, the residents were not informed until the
February meeting. The 500ft geographic filter for notification is, in our opinion, totally flawed
as a decision of this magnitude affects all residents of Saratoga living in the neighborhoods
along or off of Pierce Road. The notification should have gone out to all us and I'd like a clear
answer from you as to why it did not.
Having spoken to my neighbors and other members of the community in the Pierce Road
neighborhood, it has become very obvious that residents have vocally opposed this annexation
once they were made aware of the details. The lack of transparency in this process has been
extremely shocking and we feel that the elected council members in this case are carrying out
their own agenda instead of soliciting feedback and listening opinions of the residents they
represent. We'd like to make a very strong request for that modus operandi to change.
We are relatively new residents having moved into the neighborhood in 2016.Wehavetwo
young children and specifically chose this neighborhood as it offered us a beautiful
community nestled in the foothills away from the hustle and bustle that our kids can enjoy
riding their bikes or we can enjoy on evening strolls or weekend hikes. We'd like that to not
change, but, a commercial venture of this magnitude, with very few restrictions, on a hillside
location with a narrow country road for access, is every Saratoga resident's nightmare.
In closing, please accept the Planning Commission's recommendation to terminate the Mt.
Winery Annexation project.
Priya Subramanian and Rajagopal Krishnaswamy
From:
Subject:FW: Mountain Winery
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 4:15:08 PM
________________________________________
From: Sandra Dolmatch
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 4:14:54 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Subject: Mountain Winery
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or
clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Sirs, I inject to any construction of a 300 unit hotel or smaller at the Mountain Winery. I also object to
spending $12,000 on a study to review impact on our community. We already know what the study would reveal,
that our roads cannot absorb the impact of congestion that 300 rooms would require.
Thank you,
Sandi Dolmatch
Saratoga , Ca. 95070
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 4:25:25 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Margaret Tritton
From:
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 4:57:27 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments
or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name Kim Littlehale
Phone Number
Subject Mountain Winery Annexation
Comments I STRONGLY disagree with the City of Saratoga annexing the
Mountain Winery property. It should remain under Santa Clara
County control as a rural tract of land. Once you change the
zoning, you lose the protection of rural designation. The council
doesn't seem to understand that the zoning change removes
protection of our hillsides. Even if you are not currently planning
to build a large hotel, the zoning change makes it easily possible,
even 20 years down the road. There has been a lack of
transparency during this whole process and I do not believe the
city council is listening to the citizens of Saratoga. Without
exception, every person I have talked to DOES NOT want this
annexation. In addition, I am concerned about fire season and
having people unfamiliar with our twisty, winding roads trying to
evacuate under pressure. This is NOT the location for any further
improvement. We have more protection under the county. Please
stop this annexation process and do not reactivate it.
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From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 5:57:23 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Sincerely,
Maria Mcneir
From:
To:
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 6:01:20 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments
or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name Carol Miller
Phone Number
Email Address
Subject Mountain Winery Annexation
Comments Yesterday I read an article in the Mercury News which said that
Mayor Howard Miller claimed that there are "no plans to build a
hotel, let alone one that would be 300 rooms, and he would
fervently oppose such a proposal if it was brought forward to the
council". I was dumbfounded. For the past six months since I first
learned of the possible annexation with zoning for a 300 room
hotel at the Mountain Winery, I have watched hours of City
Council meetings, read multiple posts by the mayor on NextDoor,
and seen his responses to the letters of residents. Never have
the words "opposed", "fervently opposed" or anything even
approximating this sentiment come from Mayor Miller. The only
place that point of view has been expressed is by the residents of
Saratoga against the annexation. Howard Miller has been totally
tone deaf in regards to the desires of his constituency not to
annex the Mountain Winery as he has pushed forward with it.
Then I read letters from Bill Hirschman and Dave House, owners
of the Mountain Winery. Those statement show a high degree
entitlement and ring of extreme arrogance!
Mr. Hirschman asked for a full refund of all his costs towards the
Mountain Winery annexation process up to this point if the city
council stops it now. He claimed that "any termination of the
process would be for no other reason than the council having
changed their minds." It was my understanding that the council
members should not have already made up their minds. In
addition, a huge public outcry against this process isn't "no other
reason". There are no guarantees in real estate deals, as Mr.
Hirschman knows. Sometimes things don't work out as we would
like. My husband and I spent a lot of money on a house across
from the Mountain Winery gate. We didn't count on a
construction zone, a giant resort, and destruction of the beautiful
hillsides directly across from us.
In his letter, Mr. House stated "As an owner of the Mountain
Winery, I don't really care if we are annexed or not. We will
develop the property in either case." Well, I guess no one else
has any say in this issue; not the city council, not the residents of
Saratoga, not Santa Clara County. Mr. House has spoken. He
also made the case that the county had "repeatedly permitted
development at the Mountain Winery". There is no comparison
between such jobs as replacing an old wooden building with a
new one, removal of an old deck and replacing it with a new one,
the addition of a storage building, ticket office... with a 300 room
hotel with conference rooms, a business center, spa, parking
garage, and separately platted and titled and platted
condominiums on subdivided lots. This doesn't even include the
possibility that additional Mountain Winery parcels could be
annexed to allow for more development, or SB35 could allow for
high density housing there.
This whole Mountain Winery process has given the appearance
of secrecy and underhandedness. The words "300 rooms" never
appeared in the main text of the city website regarding this
project until the last couple of months. Any mention of it was
buried in attached documents and hyperlinks. Our officials have
been working on this for years, and somehow the public was in
the dark until the beginning of this year.
It is time for you to start listening. No annexation! No annexation!
I do not trust you to control development at the Mountain Winery.
The county has been a good steward of this property forever,
and the winery should remain under their control.
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To:;
o
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 6:24:44 PM
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or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name Wei Liu
Phone Number
Email Address
Subject Oppose Mountain Winery Annexation
Comments All my neighbor Saratogans have expressed their concerns
about this annexation, I agree with them 100%. We don't need to
change Saratoga into a vacation town or tourist resort, there are
hotels in nearby towns everywhere, let them keep the visitors,
and we keep our homes and our beautiful quiet neighborhood. I
and my whole family strongly against Mountain Winery
Annexation project.
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From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 8:35:52 PM
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opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Rene Spring
From:
Subject:FW: No to Mountain Winery Annexation Project
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 8:41:23 PM
From: Srilatha Raghavan
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 8:40:48 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Subject: No to Mountain Winery Annexation Project
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Saratoga Council,
As residents of Saratoga we are deeply concerned over the proposed Mountain Winery annexation, which will cause an
increase in traffic and reduce the safety and security of the residents of Saratoga. This annexation will destroy the character of
the city and impact the quality life of its residents.
We strongly oppose the Mountain Winery annexation project.
Sincerely,
Prabhakar and Srilatha Raghavan
Saratoga CA 95070
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 9:17:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
As a forest preschool teacher I ask you to preserve open space for our children!
Meg Pelose
From:
To:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:22:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
I hope you listened to the SCIENCE tonight and voted to terminate this project. I played many
"gigs" as a backup violinist at the winery over the years - I know those roads - you don't want
traffic on them, you don't want fire crews trying to navigate them, you really don't want - or
need - a hotel up there.
Virginia Smedberg
From:
Subject:FW: opposing the Mountain Winery Annexation
Date:Wednesday, May 20, 2020 9:46:22 PM
From: AMBA RAGHAVAN
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 9:45:58 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Subject: opposing the Mountain Winery Annexation
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Saratoga Council,
As residents of Saratoga we are deeply concerned over the proposed Mountain Winery annexation, which will cause an
increase in traffic and reduce the safety and security of the residents of Saratoga. This annexation will destroy the character of
the city and impact the quality life of its residents.
We strongly oppose the Mountain Winery annexation project.
Sincerely,
Vijaya Raghavan and Amba Raghavan,
Saratoga, CA 95070,
From:
Subject:Online Form Submittal: Council Comments Form
Date:Thursday, May 21, 2020 8:08:00 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments
or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Council Comments Form
Your Name Sarah Benjaram
Phone Number Field not completed.
Email Address
Subject Mountain Winery hotel
Comments Hi, I support the building of the hotel at Mountain Winery. It would
be great to be able to stay there and for more people to be able
to enjoy the lovely hills. Thank you
Email not displaying correctly?
DNVN-56577\2279282.1
1331 N. California Blvd.
Fifth Floor
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
T 925 935 9400
F 925 933 4126
www.msrlegal.com
Arthur F. Coon
Direct Dial: 925 941 3233
arthur.coon@msrleg al.com
Offices: Walnut Creek / San Francisco / Newport Beach
May 20, 2020
VIA E-MAIL
Honorable Mayor Miller
Vice Mayor Bernald,
and City Councilmembers
13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 9070
email: hmiller@saratoga.ca.us
mlbernald@saratoga.ca.us
rkumar@saratoga.ca.us
mcappello@saratoga.ca.us
yzhao@saratoga.ca.us
Re: Visual Simulations for City Council Hearing of May 20, 2020,
Agenda Item Nos. 2 and 3: Mountain Winery Annexation Project
(Application ANX 20-0001, ENV 19-003, ZOA20-0001, GPA20-001)
Dear Honorable Mayor Miller, Vice Mayor Bernald, and City Councilmembers:
This letter is sent in follow up to the letter this office submitted to the Council
yesterday outlining numerous fundamental conflicts between the Mountain Winery
Annexation Project (the “Project”) and the City’s and County’s general plans
(“General Plan Letter”).
As referenced in the General Plan Letter and for your reference, please find
attached two visual simulations prepared by First Carbon Solutions that depict the
Project site from site plan and bird’s eye views before and after construction of the
regional resort hotel proposed as part of the Project. These visual simulations
demonstrate some of the intensive urban development that would be authorized by
the Project in violation of City, County, and LAFCO land use policies.
Honorable Mayor Miller, Vice Mayor Bernald, and City Councilmembers
May 20, 2020
Page 2
DNVN-56577\2279282.1
I look forward to virtually attending the hearing this evening.
Very truly yours,
MILLER STARR REGALIA
Arthur F. Coon
AFC:tzb/klw
attachments
cc: James Lindsay, City Manager (jlindsay@saratoga.ca.us)
Richard S. Taylor, Esq., City Attorney (rtaylor@smwlaw.com)
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk (debbieb@saratoga.ca.us)
City of Saratoga Planning Division (planning@saratoga.ca.us)
Neelima Palacherla, Executive Officer, Santa Clara LAFCO
(Neelima.Palacherla@ceo.sccgov.org)
Dunia Noel, Executive Assistant Officer, Santa Clara LAFCO
(Dunia.Noel@ceo.sccgov.org.)
Nadia L. Costa, Esq. (nadia.costa@msrlegal.com)
Matthew C. Henderson, Esq. (matthew.henderson@msrlegal.com)
Travis A. Brooks, Esq. (travis.brooks@msrlegal.com)
Concerned Citizens of Saratoga
From:
Subject:FW: Mountain Winery Annexation
Date:Thursday, May 21, 2020 1:15:28 PM
________________________________________
From: Kim Tran
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2020 1:15:03 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Council
Subject: Mountain Winery Annexation
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or
clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear City Council members,
I am a resident of Saratoga and I am opposed to the Annexation of the Mountain Winery. I urge the City Council to
follow the City Planning Commission and terminate this project.
Kim Tran
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Thursday, May 21, 2020 8:13:24 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Catherine Langone
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Friday, May 22, 2020 7:32:29 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Mary Ann Convertino
Mary Convertino
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Friday, May 22, 2020 7:49:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Cassandra Sprenger
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Friday, May 22, 2020 11:24:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Amy Wright
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Saturday, May 23, 2020 2:15:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project. We will appreciate your foresight for generations to
come!
Thank you,
Laurie Winslow
Laurie Winslow
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Sunday, May 24, 2020 9:46:51 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Rashelle Rasmussen
From:
Subject:Please Do Not to Approve Hotel in the Hillsides
Date:Tuesday, May 26, 2020 9:35:50 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor Miller and Councilmembers,
Please adopt the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission and vote to
terminate the Mountain Winery annexation project. A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is
no place for a hotel of any size, let alone a massive 300-room hotel. The wildfire risk, as well
as the impacts of the traffic, lights, noise and human activity to the local habitat and the nearby
community, make this project completely inappropriate for this location.
Please vote to terminate this project.
Erica Stanojevic