Yah, I'm sure the complaints of the citizens carried as much weight as the $6M over-run when it was time to decide. The dog park, er, annex users should thank their lucky stars that a basin would be too expensive.
Personally I like the open space, but cannot buy into its "environmental" importance when it comes to wildlife. The off-leash dogs have pretty much taken care of that.
I actually find it depressing how little wildlife there is in such a large area...off leash dogs most likely to blame.

@Is it over? You're obviously a cat lover. What kind of wildlife do you think we're going to get in the middle of our neighborhood? We get opossum, raccoon, crows, squirrels and gofers. You're not missing anything, they're all still there and everywhere in spite of the dogs.

I like dogs. I have a problem with dog owners who blatantly disregard the city leash ordinance in the annex. I have frequently observed off-leash dogs disturbing birds that forage on the ground. I'm not sure why dog owners think their dogs are exempt from the leash law, perhaps they just don't care and know they can get away with it because the city doesn't have the resources to enforce the rule.

The article makes no mention of the El Camino Hospital's exposure in the 100 year flood. That was a key issue with the Cuesta Annex element -- without it, key access roads to the hospital will be flooded as much as 6 feet in places in a 100 year flood. I think this is a short-sighted decision.

" The article makes no mention of the El Camino Hospital's exposure in the 100 year flood. That was a key issue with the Cuesta Annex element -- without it, key access roads to the hospital will be flooded as much as 6 feet in places in a 100 year flood. I think this is a short-sighted decision. "

People will be using helicopters and the Army/NG will be using trucks that can ford the water.

The money is best spent elsewhere. Like spent ENFORCING LAWS for people with off leash dogs.

Isn't the water district flush with cash after voters approved the half billion dollar bond measure B?

Where is that idyllic place in those renderings? Is that wild field near the Cuesta tennis courts where the dogs "do their business"? I have never fancied a walk through it myself. Fear I might step in it.

I wish that the city could find resources to enforce the leash laws in the Annex. Firstly because many visitors who walk their dogs off leash there pretend not to notice when their pet poops and use this as an excuse not to clean up. Secondly, the dogs do disturb wildlife.
I walk my dog in the Annex most days but I never let her off leash - and I always pick up after her. It is so easy - the city even provides the bags!

@ doglover: "@Is it over? You're obviously a cat lover."

I'm going to assume this is an attempt to minimize my observations(kill the messenger, lump them into a category meant to marginalize them ). Fact is I do love cats but my two dogs chase them too much for me to own one.

As for wildlife, you wanna know what used to be in the annex yrs ago before it became an off-leash dog mecca?
- Quail. The place used to be littered with them. You could hear their calls in the sping. Very cool. Unleashed dogs love to chase ground running birds so no more quail in the annex.

- Nesting birds of prey. There used to be a few types of hawks and an occasional golden eagle nesting here regularly, about 20 yrs ago.

- Egrets and Herons. Now and again you'll see one venture in, to get chased away by an unleashed dog.

What the owners of unleashed dogs have left for us is the list you described.

Its time to start calling in complaints for off leash dogs. That's the only way something will get done.

The residents of Staten Island were not expecting a 100-year superstorm "Sandy" when they were flooded out recently. Just like the poor residents who lived below sea level in New Orleans when Katrina hit, weather happens.

@is it over? The wildlife you mentioned has a good home at Rancho San Antonio where no dogs are allowed. And that is fine. Please allow the dogs a place too where they can run and be free for a little while like the other animals.

I would hope that dog owners be responsible to pick up after their pets. Unfortunately, there may be a few bad apples. Even a few who use a leash.

I'm too old to hold a leash and run with my young dog. She needs exercise every day.

The dog park by shoreline is a dust bowl, hardly equal to what the wildlife gets at Rancho.

Please don't call in complaints and let the dogs be dogs for a little while.

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