HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 03-17-2026 Item No. 11 Blesch Property Study_Written CommunicationsCC 3-17-2026
#11
Blesch Property Study
Written Communications
From:Peggy Griffin
To:Public Comments; City Council
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:2026-03-17 City Council Meeting-ITEM 11 Blesch Property
Date:Sunday, March 15, 2026 5:30:20 PM
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MEETING AGENDA ITEM.
Dear Mayor Moore, Vice Mayor Chao, Councilmembers and Staff,
The Blesch Property is located between the Black Berry Farm Golf Course parking lot (on Stevens
Creek Blvd) and the entrance to the Stevens Creek Trail (on Stevens Creek Blvd). As the Staff Report
states that:
The property and structure are in very bad shape and not up to present day standards.
It’s located in a flood plane so building something would require careful planning, significant
costs, more time with limited options.
Also, not mentioned is that this property is in a VERY NOISY area. You can barely hear or talk to
anyone if you are standing on the sidewalk in front of this property. It is NOISY!
REQUEST: Direct staff to
1.further evaluate the costs associated with demolition of the existing structure and
2.convert the property to a passive park with NO structures, MINIMAL grading to avoid floodway
impacts.
3.DO NOT consider a labyrinth because it is in the wrong area. It is TOO NOISY! It is
not peaceful. No one would enjoy spending much time here.
4.SERIOUSLY consider a pollinator garden oriented less for people and more for creatures.
5.Before spending/allocating any of the Park-in-Lie Fund money for this, ask what land is being
considered for acquisition and development of parkland. Acquiring more parkland should take
precedence because land is becoming more scarce and more costly as time goes on. Doing
something with this land could be put “on-hold” with a plan but not executed.
Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
From:Rhoda Fry
To:Public Comments
Cc:City Council; Rachelle Sander
Subject:MORE: 3/17/2026 Council Meeting Agenda #11 Blesch Property
Date:Friday, March 13, 2026 7:24:10 PM
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MORE: 3/17/2026 Council Meeting Agenda #11 Blesch Property
Short Message: Blesch is a bad location for labyrinth.
Longer Message: I just went for a walk through the orange orchard and well before I arrived at
the Blesch Property I was hearing traffic from Stevens Creek. It just isn’t peaceful.
Consequently, I don’t think that this is an appropriate location for a labyrinth. It needs to be in
a calmer location.
Regards,
Rhoda Fry
From:Rhoda Fry
To:Public Comments
Cc:City Council; Rachelle Sander
Subject:3/17/2026 Council Meeting Agenda #11 Blesch Property
Date:Friday, March 13, 2026 3:33:02 PM
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Dear City Council and Parks & Rec Director Sander,
Regarding 3/17/2026 Council Meeting Agenda #11 Blesch Property
Short Message –
1. Please consider bus-turnout in the area like at McClellan Ranch
2. Please consider additional parking for the golf/blue pheasant/trail-use
Please look at this project holistically with the adjacent golf/blue pheasant property. As
mentioned in the staff report, it had been considered for parking. It would be good to see some
sort of reconfiguration at the golf/blue pheasant in order to have a bus turnout (note there is
one on the McClellan Ranch side). Presently, buses seem to drop-off a bit uphill. Another
consideration that was probably not considered when the property was purchased is the
continued interconnectivity between the City and County open spaces. At the time of the
purchase, the orchard/Blackberry/McClellan trail was not yet completed. Now we have a
connection into Linda Vista Park and there is a possibility of connecting from there into the
County Park. Going in the other direction, there has been a trail into Varian Park that could
later become a permanent trail. So, as much as we want people to stop using cars, I do think
that we need to allow for flexibility in parking.
Perhaps there is an opportunity for having some dual uses. And I really think we need to have
some flexibility around parking. As to the labyrinth idea, I think of labyrinths as opportunity
for quiet reflection and I’m unsure whether that is possible on this property. Stevens Creek
gets pretty busy – noise, smelly cars/trucks, and visually. Perhaps there is more room on the
back portion of the property next to McClellan Ranch.
As to storage, there are presently a number of storage sheds at the orange orchard.
Regards,
Rhoda Fry