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<br />property, to approve the Planning Commission's recommendation to deny the rezoning, seconded by
<br />Councilman Herkner and carried,,Councilman Spillers voting No.
<br />PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUATION, ADOPTING PLAN LINES JEFFERSON AVENUE. Mr. M. A. Milsap, 2107 Jefferson
<br />Avenue, presented a petition signed by 110 residents and property owners who are directly affected by
<br />the Planning Commission's recommendation toset new plan lines on Jefferson Avenue. Mrs. Milsap also
<br />attached a copy of a letter sent to each Councilman supplementing the reasons for objection heading the
<br />petition. The Supplementary reasons were arrived at after the study meeting held May 2, by the Council
<br />and the proposals regarding the yuidpning on Jefferson Avenue clearly understood by the people affected.
<br />It is hoped that the alternate solution, suggested by the signers of the petition, for relief from the
<br />existing traffic burden and future fraffic,that will travel via Jefferson Avenue will be carefully
<br />considered.
<br />Mr. Milsap's letter further stated that they wish, at this time, to re-emphasize that the safety to the
<br />children using Jefferson Avenue sidewalks to reach the three schools it serves must be given a priority,
<br />as w ell as the health hazard from monoxide fumes and litter from traffic lanes in closer proximity to
<br />the existing houses. Last, but not least, from a standpoint of civic pride, some of the most beautiful
<br />trees in Redwood City are growing in the parking strips on Jefferson Avenue. Mr. Monday read the
<br />following letter Som Mr. Roth.
<br />I regret I am unable to be at this meeting tonight to present personally my views concerning
<br />the proposed widening of Jefferson Avenue. I hope that you will consider this letter a
<br />satisfactory substitue method for presenting ny views, and have it read into the record.
<br />When we bought our new home 14 montha ago, we had hoped, as all homeowners do, to have a
<br />new life in a restful, quiet residential neighborhood, in whichtraffic was not concentrated.
<br />The proposed widening of Jefferson Avenue will destroy that hope. I am opposed to the
<br />widening for the following reasons..
<br />1. The curb -stone and the traffic will be 12 feet closer to our home, which means
<br />more noise and more exhaust fumes from more vehicles. This obviously would not
<br />be desirable to any homeowner.
<br />2. Not only will the volume of traffic increase but the speeds also will increase.
<br />The average traffic speed even now is well above the 25_mile per hour limit;
<br />there would appear to be no sound reason to expect that a wider street would
<br />bring lower speeds. Wide pavement strips are ponducive to higher speeds. This
<br />means greater dangers to motorists and to pedestrians. The danger would be
<br />particular,y great if the sidewalk were immediately adjacent to the curb. I
<br />feel that the widening would only serve to increase the dangers to my family
<br />and property.
<br />3. The widening would inevitably result in a reduction in value of my property.
<br />I feel sure that any prospective purchaser would view the effects of the widening
<br />r as I do and that if he did choose to buy my home it would be at 'a much lower
<br />price than I paid for it. It would be difficult to forecast the probable loss
<br />in value, but I feel it -could easily reach $2,000 and probably more.
<br />A
<br />I am sure that you have considered alternative solutions to the traffic problem. I
<br />urgently request that you consider some of the following possibilities instead of widen-
<br />ing Jefferson Avenue: ,
<br />1. Divert traffic to other streets: Roosevelt, Brewster, Whipple, Hopkins, and
<br />James Avenues, and Woodside Road. Determine by accurate independent traffic
<br />study whether, those streets are hadling a rightful share of the East-West
<br />traffic. r
<br />2. Make Jefferson Avenue, and other streets, if necessary, a one-way street.
<br />This is a solution adopted and in use now in countless towns and cities in the
<br />United States. If necessary and desirable make Jefferson all East -bound in the
<br />morning and West -bound in the evening.
<br />I am not against progress;,but I also am not in favor of any plan under which others,
<br />such as the.Oddstad Farm Hill residents, would receive all the benefits while those of us
<br />on Jefferson Would sustain all of the disadvantages. As many other Jefferson Avenue1
<br />residents will ask you, I too ask you to do all in you power to spare us -from the very,
<br />real disadvantages and losses that the widening, of Jefferson Avenue would bring use
<br />Very truly yours,
<br />L. J. Roth
<br />This was followed by a very lengthy discussion in regard to how much property the City would require
<br />in addition to what they already have, requiring addition of either 6" or 5' of property, number of
<br />tr$es which would be effected, possiblility of one way streets and general discussion on conditions
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