Lakeview Stable To Get Kicked Out With Land Sale

LOS GATOS, CA -- Nestled between Calero Reservoir and St. Teresa County Park, one of the last remaining large horse ranches in the region is caught up in government legal wrangling over the sale of the property that would eliminate the boarding stables.

Jan Kearny, the manager and boarder at Lakeview Stable, is making a last-ditch, passionate plea to somehow keep the 30-year operation going and expand on its offering.

But the 135 acres owned privately is up for sale, and the Santa Clara County Parks Department has major plans to eliminate the buildings in ill-repair and keep the open space with a trail that connects Calero and St. Teresa parks. The county is using the Peninsula Open Space Trust as a go-between to conduct environmental and geological tests in order to facilitate the $4.7 million sale complete. The land went on the market last July. The goal is to keep it out of a developer's hands in commerce-rich Santa Clara County.

The matter was intended to make the county Board of Supervisors' agenda Tuesday but was postponed with no new date set.

The county contends the buildings cannot be used, with Parks Department spokeswoman Tamara Clark declaring it would take twice or even three times as much to fix or replace the structures as the sale proceeds. She estimated between $9- and $15 million would be necessary to have the boarding facility meet government standards as in earthquake codes.

"Our issue is to make it a regional facility," Clark told Patch.

No definite plans have been finalized.

That's why has hope. She would like to remain at the stables located across from the reservoir west of U.S. Highway 101 along with the 54 other boarders. The facility may house 70 horses.

Kearny is circulating a petition with currently 5,000 names on it to "save the ranch" even though P.O.S.T. is currently under contract with the property owner.

"I applaud the county for buying it and keeping it preserved," she said. "My argument is we're very compatible with a park. The lifelong Santa Clara County resident has boarded one or two horses there for two decades. The land is zoned as agricultural.

A horse whisperer of sorts, the clinical psychologist is proposing to turn the stables into a venue in which therapy riding, programs for special needs children, clinics and lessons can be provided. She'd like the stables to lease back the facility as a nonprofit.

Still, the county returns to the looming, perceived cost-prohibitive price tag to get the structures up to code or perhaps even rebuilt.

"We know it make it difficult for the boarders," Clark said, adding the county quandary in kicking them out.

--Images courtesy of Lakeview Stable