High density/below market rate housing in Saratoga

Below are excerpts from a resident's letter being submitted to the local paper.
Since not everyone reads the Saratoga News, I felt it important that you had access to the disturbing news included in the letter.

"Tucked away in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, Saratoga is a lovely residential community with a small-town feel. The City is well known for its excellent schools, fine dining, unique shops, and distinctive cultural institutions. Saratoga offers a high quality of life to its residents and a chance to escape the hustle of Silicon Valley." (From the City of Saratoga web page).

BEWARE Saratogans, our city is being forced to change because the State has taken away our City's right to plan and zone our town.    

Our City Council no longer has the sole right to determine housing density which directly affects our schools, traffic, crime, quality of life and yes, the small-town feeling .  Housing density determination is being taken over by state and regional officials .  Our City Council was forced by the State to zone for 439 high density housing  units; the City designated the Gateway at Prospect and Saratoga Sunnyvale Road and near Prospect High School at Lawrence Expwy.  

The lesson I have learned is clear…..our state officials are gradually becoming more important than our city council in determining our quality of living.

I recommend that all residents find out who represents them in the state legislature and whether they represent your values.  Ask our elected officials like State Senator Democrat Jim Beall or the candidates for Assembly District 28, (Democrat Evan Low and Republican Chuck Page) where they stand on dictating housing density to all small cities."

From: Jack Mallory, former city council and 45 year resident

Please follow Jack's suggestions: find out our candidates and representatives positions on this critical issue.  Our quality of life as we now know it depends on who is elected.  The very essence of Saratoga is at stake; however, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Campbell, parts of San Jose and Cupertino are also affected.  Talk to your friends; encourage them to be informed and engaged in the process.  We, not the State, should be in charge of our City's development.