Los Altos Hills might have to rename Byrne Preserve “Breene” Preserve if the town’s new mayor, Breene Kerr, continues to leave his imprint around the 55-acre open space.
Kerr’s latest proposal, a $65,500 environmental education center adjacent to the preserve on Westwind Community Barn property, is one of several ideas he has promoted for the area.
Kerr has long been interested in investing town resources in alternative energy projects, and city councilmembers have had a few laughs at their monthly meetings when he proposes new ideas for green upgrades in the Westwind Barn retrofitting project.
“We’ve got to keep you away from that barn,” joked Councilman Rich Larsen at one council meeting.
On the council since 2002, Kerr spearheaded the $1 million environmental retrofitting of West -wind, pushing for solar panels, onsite water storage, a revamped sprinkler system and a “cool roof” to regulate indoor temperatures.
Kerr, who replaced Dean Warshawsky at the helm March 18 and is serving his final term on the council and his second stint as mayor, said he wants to emphasize sustainability and outdoor activities in town while he’s at the wheel.
“We want to expand the scope and reach of environmental programs” in Los Altos Hills, Kerr said. “The barn is now in a shape to perform a lot of other functions it couldn’t have done before.”
He said the barn already serves “about 95 percent of what you need for an environmental education center.”
Kerr said his vision for the education center sprung from a need. Naturalist Keith Gutierrez, formerly with Redwood Grove in Los Altos and now part of the town’s summer recreation program, works out of a temporary teepee as he coordinates summer programs.
“We’re very fortunate to have him, but his facility is a teepee,” Kerr said. “It’s hard for him to supervise a bunch of 5-year-olds with no place to go to the bathroom.”
While he’s not certain whether the facility could be built this year, Kerr said that in the meantime, the town could construct a temporary structure on a 13.5-acre lot near Byrne Preserve.
The $65,500 estimate includes $25,000 to build the facility as well as site work and staff time.
Funding for the long-term project could come in the form of grants from donors such as the Packard Foundation, which contributed $15,000 toward the Westwind Barn rehabilitation project. Kerr said the town is currently soliciting grants and has been speaking with the Packard Foundation officials since last June, when they said they wanted to become more involved in the community.
Warshawsky, also serving his final term on the council, said the March 18 meeting was the first he had heard of Kerr’s proposal, and he expressed hesitance in moving forward.
“I’m very cautious about doing anything in Byrne Preserve,” said Warshawsky, who claims he comes in “moderate” on development. “I want to be open to ideas, I want to hear both sides and I want to hear from neighbors who are going to have to live with the (environmental education) facility.”
Warshawsky, who first ran for council in 2002, had even opposed allowing picnic tables between two signature oak trees near the top of Byrne Preserve.
Contact Elliott Burr at [email protected].
