Public Meeting: Tuesday, May 14 at 5 p.m.
On Tuesday, May 14 the board of directors will receive an update on the Bear Creek Stables Repair Project, County permitting status, and updated projected costs. The board will consider and vote on next steps for the project. Alternative options to the full Repair Project include:
- Closing the Stables
- Replacing horse boarding and public programming with an equestrian- experiential opportunity
- Reducing Stables operations to only allow either horse boarding or public equestrian programming
In 2019, a targeted project construction budget of $4.4 million was affirmed by the board. Recent calculations now estimate the project costs have increased to range between $9.5 and $10.5 million. The increase is partially due to the inclusion of unanticipated Santa Clara County code requirements, conditions of permit approvals and economic inflation.
More details and instructions on how to attend and comment are available in the meeting agenda the staff report linked below.
Located within Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, Bear Creek Stables is a boarding and training facility for over 70 horses that has been in operation since the 1930s. Dr. Harry L. Tevis first developed the site in 1916 to accommodate his Tennessee walking horses on his extensive estate. Following the Midpen’s acquisition of the site in 1999, the stables have continued under lease with a tenant.
Midpen has kept the century-old horse stable operational allowing existing uses and public programs to continue. In 2019, Midpen elected to move forward with a Capital Maintenance and Repair Project to maintain equestrian programming, implement key repairs and incorporate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Planning and permitting are currently underway for the capital maintenance and repair projects. These include:
- Repairing existing structures
- Replacing the caretaker’s cottage with a pre-fabricated residence
- Replacing the public restroom, septic and leach field
- Updating ADA parking, water system and driveway