Hargartens prepare to leave Poway

Their million-dollar, Norman Applebaum-designed home high atop a Green Valley hill is for sale, and arrangements have been finalized for the couple to move into Casa de la Campanas in Rancho Bernardo. Jerry Hargarten this week stepped down as a director of the Green Valley Civic Association, an organization he and his wife helped grow into the most politically influential neighborhood group and of which both have served as president.

They both say they will miss living in Poway — a lot — but that it’s time to turn a new page and focus on other things they enjoy, including being with family and traveling around the world.

With both the year and the Poway portion of his life concluding, Jerry Hargarten said he is content with his contributions to “The City in the Country.” He also took a moment to look ahead to the city’s future, for which he has some concerns. (See his Viewpoint under the Opinion section of this site.)

For Hargarten, getting involved in local issues was a natural outgrowth of a decision to move to Poway. He and Virginia, visiting Southern California from Delaware, decided on Poway after checking out several potential spots, including Rancho Bernardo. They purchased a lot, looked around for an architect and found Applebaum, who had designed another home in the area. (The couple knocked on the door and asked for a look around.)

That was in 1982. No sooner had the couple moved in a year later than they were approached to get involved in the Green Valley Homeowners Association and the Green Valley Civic Association.

“You know how it is,” Virginia said. “New blood gets tapped right away. And when you get him (Jerry) you get me.”

“The more you invest in a community, the more of a commitment you make,” Jerry added.

Through their early work on the GVCA, Jerry Hargarten met City Councilman Bob Emery. According to Hargarten, Emery asked him to head opposition to plans by CalMat to expand a sand-and-gravel operation. The opposition prevailed. From there, the Hargartens worked hard for the successful passage in 1988 of Proposition FF, which requires voter approval of any attempts to increase density of uses on properties.

In 1990 Hargarten organized the opposition to the construction of 800 custom homes in the Old Coach area. The final plan called for only 156 houses.

A couple of years later, rock concert promoter Bill Silva proposed building a large outdoor amphitheater in the business park. The Hargartens rallied residents concerned about noise, lightning and traffic. A live sound demonstration on the site was arranged. Prerecorded rock music could be heard up in Green Valley, and elsewhere around the city. Silva withdrew and eventually built his facility in Chula Vista.

Next on the list was the U.S. Marine Corps’ proposal to base helicopters at MCAS Miramar. Between 1996 and 2001, Hargarten, with his wife at his side, lead Move Against Relocating Choppers Here (MARCH). While the group’s alternative proposal, to station the helicopters in Riverside County, failed to gain traction, Hargarten and his followers were successful in getting the routes used by the helicopters centered over Interstate 15 and raised to lessen noise concerns.

Returning to the issue of growth planning, Jerry Hargarten successfully fought a plan by a local resident to increase the density of land at Poway Road and Highway 67. The issue was known as Proposition E.

In addition, Hargarten served three terms on the city’s Budget Advisory Committee, worked on the Poway Road Specific Plan and served on the board of the senior center. His wife, meanwhile, served on the boards of the Green Valley Homeowners Association and the GVCA and was active with the Green Valley Garden Club (past president) Wednesday, Etc. Club and the PEO.

Despite all of his political experience in Poway, Hargarten said he never ran for office because “I didn’t want to become a political person. I didn’t want to compromise. I wanted to remain an independent voice.”

Being “independent” has resulted in Hargarten clashing from time to time with the power structure at City Hall, especially with Emery, Mayor Don Higginson and City Manager Rod Gould.

An admirer of the late Mayor Mickey Cafagna, Hargarten said the current council clearly misses his leadership skills. He also said he sees the current council being less responsive to members of the public.

“As I leave Poway, having invested thousands of hours in the city, I am somewhat concerned,” Hargarten said. “Not a lot of damage has been done — yet.”

With Gould leaving for Santa Monica next week, the council will begin looking for a replacement following the November elections. Hargarten said he is hopeful a new city manager will steer the council back to a course of being “more resident-friendly, more open and positive.”

“We’re leaving Poway knowing we tried to make a contribution,” Hargarten said. “We’ll be cheering for Poway.”