Letter: Big city thinking doesn’t work in small towns

EDITOR,
Many of us are terrified of the proposal to develop a new large shopping complex at Skypark. Safeway’s existing center has a high vacancy rate, and turn-over, as does Kings Village, and every other center in Scotts Valley.
Safeway has a very new building already, which is confounding as well. Why, in this or any other economy, does it seem reasonable when there is not sufficient market to sustain the existing supply of grocery outlets?
None of the businesses along Mount Hermon Road are doing well, they are only surviving. Blight is a great risk of moving this proposal forward. If there is any notion that this development will bring jobs, it does not fit the pattern. Because our economy is evolving so quickly, I urge you to take proposals very slowly, and not make big commitments.
Please remember, we are a collection of small towns. Limited by topography, we will never be a big city. We do not need big-city-type decision-making.
Historically, it only adds to our already high taxes and scarce resource problems in the long run. Scotts Valley has a long history of falling for sweet-talking developers and high-priced consultants who ultimately cost more than they contribute.
Skypark should remain open space with aquifer restoration capacity so you can have more water, not less.
Dave Livingston, Felton