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2012 Holiday Gift Guide
NOVEMBER 16, 2012 VOLUME 20, NO. 44
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MOVIES | 27
Annex flood basin dropped WATER DISTRICT REMOVES MAJOR PROJECT AT CUESTA By Daniel DeBolt
Hospital, from flooding in a 100controversial f lood year flood. detention basin at Cuesta Explaining why the Annex Annex is no longer being basin was removed from the proposed by the Santa Clara Val- proposal, Rouhani said,”The ley Water District and may be on main reasons were just the feedits way off the table entirely. back received though the draft Afhsin Rouhani, project man- EIR process and the fact that we ager for the Water District, said are meeting the original project the Annex is no longer part of the objectives. “ preferred project in the project’s While the City Council voted in environmental impact report support of the concept in January, — which the Santa Clara Valley a vocal group of residents have Water District is set to approve strongly opposed any changes Tuesday. He said the move was to the 12-acre remnant orchard made in response to years of where people retreat to enjoy public outcry and to address a rare view of the mountains, cost overruns of walk among old as much as $6 milorchard trees and lion. sometimes spot ‘They would “The majority some unusual of the comments wildlife, includrather that it on the EIR mening a great blue tioned opposiheron known to not be done.’ tion to the Cuesta hunt there. AFHSIN ROUHANI, annex basin,” “I feel its PROJECT MANAGER FOR Rouhani said. a beautif u l THE WATER DISTRICT “Over a period of resource to have,” years it seems like said resident that’s the majority Mike Hayden, a sentiment — they would rather computer engineer who says he that it not be done.” found discrepancies in the Water The basin would have required District’s flood modeling. “I like the removal of 18 trees, including to walk there myself and a lot of one large enough to classify as a other people do. I’m pleased they heritage tree by city standards. decided not to do it and I think it The Water District Board will was unnecessary from the study vote on the proposal on Nov. 20 I’ve done of the hydrology.” as part of a “final subsequent The proposed project aims to environmental impact report” for fulfill voter approval in 2000 of the project, which now includes the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natubasins only at McKelvey Park in ral Flood Protection Act. Mountain View and Rancho San The proposal includes a $10 Antonio in unincorporated Los million revamp of McKelvey Altos. Rouhani said there is a Park, most of which will be chance that the Annex could be lowered to crate a flood basin. added back to the project by the Local Little League teams were Water District Board in order to promised new ball field faciliprotect an additional 300 to 400 See CUESTA ANNEX, page 13 properties, including El Camino
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MICHELLE LE
Julia Goebel leads with the ball as Jannik Moeller, Moritz Tamm, Max Goebel and Eric Roeck try to tag her out during a rugby scrimmage at the German International School of Silicon Valley on Nov. 12.
Rugby league is still kicking By Nick Veronin
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n an effort to increase the visibility of the sport he loves so much, the cofounder of the locally based American Youth Rugby Union
has declared this week — Nov. 11 through Nov. 18 — to be the inaugural “Rugby Week.” Mountain View resident and AYRU co-founder Paul Lynch said he has been working hard to build his league into a top-
Consultants justify big housing fee increases COUNCIL LOOKS TO DOUBLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FEES ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT By Daniel DeBolt
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n a city soon to be flooded with building proposals from Google and Intuit, council members said Tuesday that com-
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mercial developers of commercial buildings should pay more towards affordable housing. In a study session Tuesday, Nov. 13, council members showed support 5-2 to double the fees
notch organization since he and fellow rugby enthusiast Tom Trill established the league in 2009. “AYRU aims to be the leading See RUGBY, page 8
commercial building developers pay towards subsidized housing projects, such as the 50-unit family home project under construction at the corner of Evelyn and Franklin streets. Members Tom Means and John Inks were opposed. In a presentation, San Francisco-based consultants from Keyser-Marsten painted a portrait of a growing “affordability gap” between low-wage workers and most office workers in See HOUSING FEE, page 12
VIEWPOINT 18 | GOINGS ON 29 | MARKETPLACE 30 | REAL ESTATE 32
H O L I D AY P A G E S SECTION 2
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