Vote yes on Measure G

Santa Clara County, CA

November 7, 2000 Election

Vote yes on Measure G

By Ann Waltonsmith

Candidate for Council Member; City of Saratoga

This information is provided by the candidate

Measure G is a temporary moratorium on the conversion of Saratoga's retail and commercial properties to high-density housing. The City Council needs the moratorium while it completes the implementation of its economic development plan. Keep Saratoga on track!

I am promoting the passage of Measure G, the temporary moratorium on the conversion of Saratoga's retail and commercial properties to high-density housing. Because retail and commercial properties have been reduced to slightly more that 1% of the total land acreage in Saratoga, we have to protect, support, and promote what we have left. All towns and cities, not only need local retail and commercial property for services to their citizens and but also are helped by a center of town focus. Towns that have no retail become less cohesive and the citizens have to travel out to other towns and cities on crowded streets and highways to obtain basic goods and services. In addition, a town with no retail does not receive the much needed sales tax revenues, which in return support basic city services to its citizens. Due to rising prices for residential property, Saratoga has recently had increasing pressure from commercial property owners to convert their land to more lucrative high-density housing. This is not in the best interest of Saratoga citizens.

In response to the above increasing issues, the City Council in the spring of 2000 placed a temporary moratorium on any more conversion of commercial property to high-density housing. The moratorium will have to legally expire this December, without the voters support for a longer temporary moratorium. I am asking the Saratoga voters to extend the temporary moratorium to March 2002. This extension will help the City Council develop an overview and a significant plan for bolstering the commercial districts and attracting new businesses to serve Saratogans. The City Council has started the plan by authorizing an Economic Development Coordinator, provided a beautification project in the Village, and was instrumental in the attraction of a new business into the Village. But revitalization takes time. Much more has to be done. The Gateway commercial area must be enhanced and the new traffic light has to be installed. The Village commercial area has parking problems that must be addressed and more retail building plans have to be put into place. The plans are developed but must be agreed upon and implemented. Again all this takes time.

So help your City Council finish this vital job. Vote yes on Measure G and Vote yes on sending me, Ann Waltonsmith, back to the City Council. Keep Saratoga on track!!

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