Rossmoor Petition Against Events Center Plan Numbers 3,000

A leader of the Save Our Stanley ad hoc group on Thursday presented to a governing board a petition with about 3,000 signatures opposed to plans for a new events center at Rossmoor Thursday.

Francesca Johnson said the raw number of signatures was 3,136. After SOS leaders culled some unreadable addresses and duplicates from the multiple petitions that circulated, the number was 2,809, Johnson said.

"Last week alone, 300 people added their names to the petition," she said to a healthy round of applause from a crowd of 130 that came to the meeting of the Golden Rain Foundation Board of Directors, which oversees the retirement community of about 8,200 residents.

Some 30 people spoke to the board, with a few more against than for the construction of the events center on a site that now has a golf practice area. More than a dozen spoke in favor of staying the course.

Several board members voiced their advocacy of moving forward with the events center plan, and a couple indicated their minds were not yet made up on the subject.

Board member Melvin Wall said he would decide on the project in the future when more information is in. He urged opponents to listen to discussions and reports that will be filed in the near future that will indicate the efficiency of the project.

"I will wait until I see this architect's report on how much it will cost," said Wall, adding that he wanted to hear from the city's arborist and a tree expert Golden Rain has hired on the issue of the removal of some trees and the endangering of others that SOS members have warned about.

Various speakers drew applause and, occasionally, catcalls from the audience. The loudest applause came for those opposing the plans for locating the events center on the current golf practice site, with concern for traffic, trees and the effect of views on nearby Stanley Dollar Clubhouse.

Board member Donald Peterson said he admired the "passion" of the opponents but he disagreed with those who complained of the lack of democracy at Rossmoor. "This board in my view is a classic example of American volunteerism and democracy," Peterson said.

He also told the story of a woman knocking on doors in his building to get signatures for an SOS petition. Peterson said he told her he was for the events center project, and the next day found a 3-1/2 inch scratch on his Prius from keying. That same woman was arrested and booked for keying someone else's car, Peterson said.

Board member Barbara Jordan later said one person's action should lay guilt at the doorstep of the larger group of SOS supporters. "Don't let one woman color the whole thing," she said.

Jordan said the petition is "a real thing." She said board members should better understand that by calling a random sample of those in their district who signed the petition and a random sample of those not on the petition.

"And you will come to understand what is better for Rossmoor," she said to light applause from the audience.

Board member Kenneth Haley said the petition was "far from random," with some signatures a result of paid advertising. He said many concerns are being addressed — the cost is under control with estimates within "a margin of safety."

Plans are being made with experts advising on how to preserve trees. An expert is advising on solutions for traffic and parking, Haley added.

Golden Rain Chief Executive Officer Warren Salmons said, in studying traffic implications of the events center, experts are looking at ways to improve traffic safety in the area of the 18th hole of the golf course where carts cross Rossmoor Parkway.

Salmons said Rossmoor posts "a fairly substantial bond" at the time of the project with the city of Walnut Creek for preservation of trees, and the city holds that money until it's satisfied with the tree plans with mitigations.

"It speaks volume about the care and concern by the city and Rossmoor and the Golden Rain Foundation about trees," said Salmons.

Among residents speaking against the project:

• Gilbert Doubet spoke against "destroying the most iconic location in the valley, the Dollar Clubhouse grounds." The petition, he said, is "testament to residents' desire to be heard and have a voice in the destiny of their community."
• Kathleen Solaris said "the land is simply not there to build such a large project" at the planned site. She said Rossmoor could purchase the DelValle Theater and make improvements for less money than constructing a new events center.
• Hugh Gray said he was "saddened by the badmouthing of these petitions by some Rossmoorians." A retired history teacher, he said it was reminiscent of the British government belittling the petitions of grievances by American colonists in the leadup to the Revolutionary War.

Among residents speaking for the project:

• Diane Mader, a former Golden Rain board president, noted that many projects built over the years faced strong opposition, but have proven to improve life at Rossmoor -- including improvements of the pool and the Redwood Room. She said the planned location is the only suitable site in Rossmoor.
• Paul Rosenzweig said the events center and its location were extensively discussed five years ago. Some of the opposite was "deceitful," he said, implying that the Dollar Clubhouse was in danger of being demolished. "We are and intend to continue to be the premier adult community in the area, perhaps in the country," he said.
• Robert Moon, who came to Rossmoor four months ago, said he was excited when he heard about events center plans. Some 20 clubs would use the center, he said, and Rossmoor would improve its ability to attract professional performers to put on shows in the community.