Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

Leona Heights neighborhood interest in the future of the Leona Quarry property is easy to understand, as are apprehensions related to traffic safety, social impact, pluses and minuses of development options, and environmental concerns. So, as the Leona Quarry Advisory Committee, chaired by Councilman Nate Miley, proceeds with its work, local homeowner groups are asking fairness of the community as well as of the quarry property owners, Gallagher & Burk. One vital requirement of Leona Heights people, together with leaders of the other eight or so homeowners' groups, is that legality and honesty prevail, that is, that the developers provide to the letter of the law the required fresh factual studies indicating real impacts of various options they propose. Locals cannot be blamed for wondering how realistic for all parties regional shopping-mall options can be. We have seen the ballyhoo and demise of two regional malls within the sphere of influence of the quarry property the Eastmont and Foothill projects. We foresee serious neighborhood traffic problems related to Highway 580 and local neighborhood street potential uses. And as for the argument that City tax income and job creation would accrue, we are certainly awaiting serious and unbiased in-depth traffic, social and economic studies. We believe the developers will keep the faith with our community and that City officials will see that they do as the studies and decisions proceed.