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Jeff Atherton, 8037 Jorgensen Lane, agreed with preserving the rural character of the Austin property. The Austin family has been working with the neighbors to maintain that feeling. He believed they were sensitive to the residents of Laguna Oaks and were trying to take advantage of the trees and the natural screen and to maintain visibility up the slope to the hills. Putting eight houses in a fairly narrow corridor as opposed to five houses on five-acre parcels that could be spread throughout provides a way to screen the houses and provides a way to preserve the open space available for grazing, 4H or other similar activities. He appreciated the Austin working as a good neighbor. Cynthia Atherton, 8037 Jorgensen Lane, explained to the Laguna Oaks resident, that it is the Austin property, but Mr. and Mrs. Takens are the ones who run the cattle on the land. She said she has been impressed with the Austin family. They have walked the property and felt the proposed plan was the most reasonable for everyone involved. They have tried to cluster houses behind the Takens' residence so they are tucked away and that leaves a huge open space. They are also interested in keep livestock and working with 4H to maintain the rural feel. They are concerned about the view from Laguna Oaks and have tucked the development as far away as possible to preserve the most open space. Charles Austin, 3449 N. 37th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, indicated this property has been in his family since the 1920's. He thanked everyone involved in establishing the Alviso Adobe Park and preserving the heritage of the area. He wanted to preserve the view corridor and to keep cows in the area. At one time, the property stretched all the way to the fairgrounds. He hoped to retain the legacy of the rural area by clustering the homes, preserving the view corridor, keeping the cows so the kids coming to the Adobe would have an added experience. He looked forward to working with the city in the future. Brad Hirst, 1811 Santa Rita Road #128, referred to the Austin property and the family's desire to preserve the legacy of the dairy industry by clustering the homes onto eight acres as opposed to five or six lots on five acres each. He believed that was a much better stewardship of the property and made it more accessible to more people, including the cows. They have been working with the neighbors on Jorgensen Lane for three years and have sent letters to sixty members of the Laguna Oaks subdivision with no response. The access to the proposed project would be off Old Foothill Road, not off of Foothill Road. There is sensitivity to Mr. Lide's concern about slowing traffic on Foothill Road and endorsement of that. He wanted to see the enhancement of the Alviso Adobe Park and there has been discussion with the Parks and Community Services Director regarding security of the Alviso Adobe Park parking lot and the amphitheater. He said the proposal is to change the general plan designation from thirty acres of rural density to eight acres of low density with a maximum of eight lots and convert 22 acres from rural density to permanent open space. He hoped to work with city staff to dedicate that land to the city and to expand that Park. He would like to see 4H activities there as well for the existing barn. A preliminary application was filed in January and he is waiting to hear from city staff and to meet with all the departments. He expected a complete application to be filed in April or May and to be before the Planning Commission some time in the third quarter of this year and before Council in the fourth quarter. Mayor Hosterman indicated she had an opportunity to go to Washington D.C. to lobby for funding for the Alviso Adobe Park. Mr. Hirst said if it was appropriate, he would like to have Congressman Pombo or anyone else from the Resource Committee to tour the Austin property as well as the 230-acre Castleridge property above it. There is a desire to see all that tied together some day. Joint Workshop City Council/Planning Commission 10 03/01/06