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Austin family offers Foothill grazing land for park
Gift is part of 8-home development plan

by Jeb Bing

The City Council and city planners have praised Charles Austin and his family for their offer to dedicate most of the 30 acres of grazing land they own for public use in expanding the newly-approved Alviso Adobe historic park.

The offer, conveyed by real estate specialist Brad Hirst of Equity Enterprises, is bundled with a long-standing plan to build eight homes on a cluster of 1-acre lots on the flatland portion of the sloping property. The site is located just west of Foothill Road and adjacent to Jorgensen Lane.

"We submitted a preliminary application Jan. 26 for the eight residential units," Hirst said. "Once we receive comments back from the Planning Department, we will proceed with drafting a plan to take to the Planning Commission and eventually to the City Council for approval.

The offer to dedicate the Austin acreage has been made before, but for many newer members of the Planning Commission, City Council and the city planning staff, it was new news. Coupled with the council's approval of funding March 7 to proceed with developing the Alviso Adobe Park, the Austin acreage would expand the park site from 7 acres to more than 30.

With the Alviso Adobe park on hold for the last five years as city officials looked for funding possibilities, Austin and Hirst have moved forward with the geotechnical work and environmental reviews to make the land ready for the eight-home construction project and to dedicate to the city.

Austin, whose family dates back to the Briggs family that built the Meadowlark Dairy business in the 19th Century, "jumped at the chance to contribute land for the Alviso Adobe Park when he first heard about it," Hirst said. "This has always been very special land for him."

The new park will include not only the adobe but also a replica of the Meadowlark Dairy barn along with an interpretive center where adults and school children can learn about the early history of Pleasanton.

In addition to dedicating land to the Adobe project, Austin also plans to make acreage available to the local 4-H clubs, where they can raise and care for cows, sheep and pigs.

The Austin offer came during a joint workshop meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission that considered land use proposals and changes in the Foothill Road corridor and other west side sites.