These people say they're selling advice as consultants, but they're selling political influence. Routh concedes that he has come a long way from being one of the development's harshest critics, but says he believes that Redtree is earnestly trying to come up with a plan that will work for his village. A personable guy who is respected by those who have known him, Routh says he made it clear that he would only work with Redtree if it could produce a plan he could support. The wisest move may have been bringing award-winning Santa Cruz architect Gary Garmann on board. Even the development's strongest critics grudgingly admit that his design is a vast improvement over the previous one.
Sketches show a softer, folkier clutch of buildings with red-tiled roofs and faux eaves.
Numerous walkways and outside decks take advantage of the views offered by the nearby creek and senior center gardens. Architect Gary Garmann, who is responsible for Redtree Properties' new Bay Avenue design, believes that the new plans mitigate most of the environmental and aesthetic concerns. He's probably right. Routh, Garmann and Swift say they have put together at least 30 meetings with Capitola residents and city officials in the last year, seeking feedback on what Village-dwellers like and don't like about the planned development. They say that the new plans mitigate every concern the opposition had.