The possibility of a high school as well as a county park kept interest high at the latest Alpine Community Revitalization Meeting.
Alpine’s leaders, business people, organization representatives, agencies, residents and county staff also discussed the latest news about road paving, local signage and other needs.
County Supervisor Dianne Jacob handed out praise as she led the Jan. 24 session in the Alpine Library at 1752 Alpine Blvd.
“I think this was excellent,” Jacob said after the meeting. “It helps me and the other county people to know what the needs are and what we need to do.”
The county supervisor said the park proposal, which will be discussed at the county board’s Feb. 13 meeting, is “definitely a priority.”
Final board approval is needed to buy 98 acres of land abutting the Wright’s Field preserve, which is owned and maintained by the Back Country Land Trust (BCLT).
BCLT Vice President George Barnett said it was “absolutely wonderful” to hear Jacob speak enthusiastically about the county buying the balance of Wright’s Field and intending to use it for community access.
He said it was also good to hear her fully support the proposed upgrade of sports playing fields at Joan MacQueen Middle School, because both projects benefit Alpine.
Almost everyone leaned forward to hear Travis Lyon, an Alpine Union School District (AUSD) board member, talk about the latest effort to get a high school in Alpine.
It might be done by using Alpine Elementary School in some way, Lyon said.
“We’re undergoing a process right now to identify options for the future,” AUSD Superintendent Dr. Rich Newman said in an interview. “They’ve identified nine options to date.”
Newman said a Superintendent’s Advisory Task Force of parents, staff, community members and school site administrators are developing a proposal for the school board.
“We’re really seeking community input,” so a number of public forums will be held, he said. “My goal is the board will hear the recommendations in February and in March the board will make a decision after the community forums.”
President Neville Connell of the Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council revealed that research after Alpine’s West Fire on July 6 shows that roads have an impact on fire prevention and safety. The blaze destroyed or damaged 38 homes and 36 other buildings.
There was very little damage to buildings on east-west roads in the fire area, but defending structures on roads that “spread out like fingers” was more difficult and those buildings were more prone to damage, Connell said.
“It provided us with some very interesting conclusions in how development should go forward in Alpine,” he said
A partnership between the Alpine Chamber of Commerce and BCLT to beautify Alpine Boulevard is trying to work with county permit and insurance requirements in order to pursue the project, Chamber Executive Director Alex Ward and Jon Green, BCLT outreach and program director, told Jacob.
“You’re doing great work,” she replied after encouraging them to work with county personnel and to contact her office if that didn’t work out
Mary Kay Borchard, a volunteer community representative with the revitalization committee, said she thought the meeting was positive for Alpine’s development.
“I would invite and encourage any interested resident to attend the next Alpine revitalization meeting on June 27, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Alpine Library,” Borchard said.
