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160 property, to approve the Planning Commission's recommendation to -deny the rezoning, seconded by Councilman Herkner and carried, -Councilman Spillers voting No. PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUATION, ADOPTING PLAN LINES JEFFERSON AVENUE. Mr. M. A. Milsap, 2107 Jefferson Avenue, presented a petition signed by 140 residents and property owners who are directly affected by the Planning Commission's recommendation toset new plan lines on Jefferson Avenue. Mrs. Milsap also attached a copy of a letter sent to each Councilman supplementing the reasons for objection heading the petition. The supplementary reasons were arrived at after the study meeting held May 2, by the Council and the proposals regarding the widening on Jefferson Avenue clearly understood by the people affected. It is hoped that the alternate solution, suggested by the signers of the petition, for relieffrem the existing traffic burden and future fraffic,that will travel via Jefferson Avenue will be carefully considered. Mr. Milsap's letter further stated that they wish, at this time, to re-emphasize that the safety to the children using Jefferson Avenue sidewalks to reach the three schools it serves must be given a priority, as well as the health hazard from monoxide fumes and litter from traffic lanes in closer proximity to the existing houses. Last, but not least, from a standpoint Qf civic pride, some of the most beautiful trees in Redwood City are growing in the parking strips on Jefferson Avenue. Mr. Monday read the following letter $om Mr. Roth. I regret I am unable to be at this meeting tonight to present personally my views concerning the proposed widening of Jefferson Avenue. I hope that you will consider this letter a satisfactory substitue method for presenting my views, and have it read into the record. When we bought our new home 14 montha ago, we had hoped, as all homeowners do, to have a new life in a restful, quiet residential neighborhood, in whichtraffic was not concentrated. The proposed widening of Jefferson, Avenue will destroy, that hope. I am opposed to the widening for the following reasons: 1. The curb -stone and the traffic will be 12 feet closer to our home, which means more noise and more exhaust fumes from more vehicles. This obviously would not be desirable to any homeowner. 2. Not only will the volume of traffic increase but the speeds also will increase. The average traffic speed even now is well above the 25_mile per hour limit; there would appear to be no sound reason to expect that a wider street would bring lower speeds. Wide pavement strips are Conducive to higher speeds. This means greater dangers to motorists and to pedestrians. The danger would be particularly great if the sidewalk were immediately adjacent to the curb. I feel that the widening would only serve to increase the dangers to my family and property. 3. The widening would inevitably result in a reduction in value of my property. I feel sure that any prospective purchaser would view the effects of the widening as I do and that if he did choose to buy my home it would be at a much lower price than I paid for it. It would be difficult to forecast the probable loss in.,value, but I feel it -could easily reach $2,000 and probably more. I am sure that you have considered alternative solutions to the traffic problem. I urgently request that you consider some of the following possibilities instead of widen- ing Jefferson Avenue: 1. Divert traffic to other streets: Roosevelt, Brewster, Whipple, Hopkins, and James Avenues, and Woodside Road. Determine by accurate independent traffic stuc]y whether those streets are hadling a rightful share of the East-West traffic. 2. Make Jefferson Avenue, and other streets, if necessary, a one-way street. This is a solution adopted and in use now in countless towns and cities in the United States. If necessary and desirable make Jefferson all East -bound in the morning and Nest -bound in the evening. I am not against progress;. but I also am not in favor of any plan under which others, such as the Oddstad Farm Hill residents, would receive all the benefits while those of us on Jefferson Would sustain all of the disadvantages. As many other Jefferson Avenue residents will ask you, I too ask you to do all in you power to spare ua-from the very real disadvantages and losses that the widening of Jefferson Avenue would bring us. Very truly yours, L. J. Roth This was followed by a very lengthy discussion in regard to how much property the City would require in addition to what they already have, requiring addition of either b" or 5' of property, number of tr$es which would be effected, possiblility of one way streets and general discussion on conditions 0 F