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Letter: Vote for parkland

Dear Editor,

I appreciate the concerns of many folks who love the pristine hills around Pleasanton and who are thinking of voting No on D. Unfortunately defeat may not translate into no development of the Oak Grove property. If the voters OK Measure D, the city-approved 51-home project will go forward and all in Pleasanton will benefit from beautiful park land. At 497 acres, it would be the largest park in the city. Pleasanton has used this model well in the past: OK limited development in return for significant park expansion and hillside preservation. A No vote could jeopardize all this. Development rights are not absolute in this country, but they do exist. The choice is not between 51 homes and no development. If voters turn the developer down, he may come back with even more houses and no public protection of or access to these beautiful hills. The No backers hope someone with deep pockets will buy the land and cede it to the city. Let's get real, folks! Vote Yes on D.

Ward Belding