March 24, 2006

LETTERS2theEDITOR

Increase in traffic will decrease quality of life

Dear Editor,
Following my earlier letter regarding the proposed development project for Evergreen (see Evergreen Times March 11-24 issue), I would like to comment specifically on the traffic aspect.

The very last line in the Evergreen-East Hills Vision Strategy (EEHVS) project draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Summary reads: “The primary issues raised by EDP-area residents and community leaders during the EEHVS process have been traffic-related concerns.” One of the goals contained within the Vision Statement for the EEHVS project is “increased quality of life”. Table S-4 of the Transportation and Traffic section of the EIR Summary identifies nine problem areas that would be created as a result of the housing build-out, with seven of the nine having no viable mitigation measures, which obviously means that traffic will get worse.

We are already suffering through standing still during green lights at various intersections in our neighborhoods because of gridlock, and sitting in long lines at all hours of the day and night in order to exit Highway 101 at Story, Tully or Capitol Expressway. The only persons I can think of for whom a worsening of this situation would result in an increase in quality of life are the developers who will be making money from the project. After the end of the public comment period (March 20th), the project will again come before the council. It is time to make our voices heard.

Jeffrey Frisbie
Long-time Evergreen resident

Neighbors protest rezoning between Meadowlands, California Oak Creek

Dear Editor,
DAL, LLC of San Jose proposes building 22 single family homes on 18 acres of land, commonly known as the Pan Clair property on the east side of San Felipe Road, nestled between the Meadowlands and California Oak Creek neighborhoods (City project number PDC05-035). The tract must be rezoned from “A” Agriculture to A(PD) Planned Development Zoning District.

Neighbors from Meadowlands and California Oak Creek are protesting the rezoning. This letter communicates our concerns, some of our actions to date and a call to action

DAL bills this development as a “low-density development.” It is not. DAL is using “distorted averaging” to push the project through the City Planning Department, the Planning Comm-ission and ultimately the City Council.

DAL communicates that the housing density of 22 homes on 18 acres of land meets the tolerance of two homes/acre (a low-density designation) per the General Plan of San Jose (“The General Plan Land Use/Transportation Diagram, Updated: January 5, 2006” (URL: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/gp_maps/images/maps/GP117.pdf)).

In fact, DAL will build 21 homes on the front 7.4 acres – (actually on 4.8 acres taking into account roads and a set aside for the Santa Clara Water District). Twenty-one homes on 4.8 acres compute to 4.3 homes/acre, much higher than the two homes/acre tolerance. The 22nd lot is considered an “estate” lot of approximately 10.7 acres. There is no home site for lot 22 shown on lot plans that we’ve seen. The estate lot size distorts the averages.

DAL communicates that average lot sizes are 10,000 square feet (the smallest at 8,200 square feet). Our calculations, based on DAL’s lot layout, approximate the average lot sizes at 9,500 square feet. Several side-to-side set backs (distance from side-house to lot boundary) appear to be 5-8 feet per the lot layouts. Home sizes will average 3,900 square feet.

The key grounds for protest are as follows:

Density: 21 homes built on 4.8 acres are incompatible with the current density of the Meadowlands and California Oak Creek neighborhoods. The housing development on George Blauer and Clara Smith Place (across from the Evergreen Community Center) is an excellent proxy for DAL’s proposal: a cluster of 21 large houses on small lots, crammed together.

Future growth: DAL appears unwilling to commit to not building out the estate lot at this time. We believe DAL intends to build many (40-60+) homes (high-density) on the 10.7 estate lot. The proposed plan is not just for 22 homes on 18 acres, it’s a lever to open up a flood of future high-density housing development in our neighborhood.

Schools: Evergreen School District communicated to DAL that this development would generate eight K-8 students and four 9-12 grade students. We believe this number is low based on an informal census of our neighborhood.

Overcrowding of Silver Oak Elementary and Evergreen and Silver Creek High Schools are well chronicled. It appears that DAL was told that Silver Oak is “at capacity” and the students will probably be transferred to JF Smith or Laurelwood schools (several miles away). How is this fair to the new residents?

Environment: The City is waiving environmental rules for some riparian setbacks. The California Environmental Quality Act states that waivers are acceptable only if there is no other recourse. There is recourse: Require DAL to build houses on the estate lot now.

The General Plan calls this area a Rural Scenic Corridor. The proposed high-density development destroys and fundamentally changes the rural character of the neighborhood. Many neighbors purchased here for the rural setting. It is expected that our housing values will drop due to the proximity of high-density housing.

To your readers: Write Dave Cortese, District 8 Councilman, the City Planning Department, and the City Planning Commission. Express your views.

Give us your feedback. Get involved: DALProtest@lycos.com.

Larry Cargnoni
San Jose
California Oak Creek

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