1700 Dell Avenue

SCVAS has engaged in the public Environmental process for a proposed office building at 1700 Dell Avenue.

The site is situated on Los Gatos Creek near the percolation ponds along Oka Lane (Oka Ponds). Los Gatos Creek County Park and Oka Ponds contain important riparian forest and pond habitat, together forming a ‘hot spot’ for birders. The ponds provide one of the most important wintering and migratory stopover habitats for birds in Santa Clara County. More than 700 bird-lists have been submitted to ebird, documenting 185 native species of native migratory and local birds near the Project site.

Our primary concerns were:

The height and massing of the project exceed what is allowed by the Campbell general Plan. Granting such exceptions should induce similar growth patterns and create a new the benchmark for tall, massive development along the Los Gatos Creek and the Los Gatos Trail. Overtime, a tall, massive “wall” will impose visual impacts that cannot be mitigated.
Large glass surfaces that would be hazardous to birds

The Final EIR provides better mitigation for bird-strike hazards.

In December 2019, the Planning Commission commission recommended that the City Council, the decision-maker for the project, deny the requested zoning amendment, and deny project.

The project included bird safety measures and the City Council approved the project in 2020. It has not yet been built.

A Vision for Nature

With the help of our friends at the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter, and South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition, we authored a letter to the City of Campbell asking for their new General Plan to include a vision, goals, and policies that protect nature. As the City looks to “revitalize” the Los Gatos Creek Corridor with new development, we emphasized the importance of 100-ft riparian setbacks, preserving and planting native trees, and bird-safe building design. We will continue to follow the planning process while advocating for nature and garnering support from the community.

If you live in Campbell and care about nature, please consider attending a public meeting for the plan. Updates and meeting details may be accessed here.

County Library District Project - 1344 and 1370 Dell Ave, Campbell

Following our comment letter, the County Library office building on Oka Ponds in Campbell is being redesigned to protect bird safety, reduce lighting, and increase native plantings. Working with the California Native Plant Society, the office building will include 100% native plants. The building will implement bird-safe glass and building design and reduce the amount of outdoor lighting.