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April 16, 2009 @ @ [E I~ Ii:. ~ WI lE ~ m1 APR 1 U 2009 l!l1 7A Page 30 Dear Neighbor, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY PLANNING SE~VICES We have a received a copy of your petition regarding the development of our family's property at 1581 and 1617 Kentfield. We understand your concerns but also believe this development will enhance the area, not detract from it. We have as much interest in seeing responsible, aesthetically pleasing and well-designed growth on Kentfield as you do. We owe that to my parents and to you. My family has owned and occupied this property since 1939. I was born and raised on the Kentfield property and my family has lived there probably longer than anyone else currently residing on Kentfield. Over the years I have seen this area develop from a small dirt road that flooded every winter to the busy and vibrant street that it is currently. Some of the development has been good for the neighborhood, some not so good. The traffic problems you cite in the petition are due mainly to through traffic, not to the residents on the street. Stand outside for an hour and count the Cfu-S L.1.at actually stop at one of the residences. Fully 80% or more turn on Palm or go through to Redwood. The development of this new residential complex will not add in any significant way to the traffic on Kentfield. Take a walk to the Redwood end of the street. There are four townhouse projects at that end that have been built at various times over the years. None, or very little, of the issues you face with parking, noise and congestion exist at that end of the street, despite the fact that it is as densely occupied as the southern end of Kentfield. Why? Because those complexes were built responsibly. As a matter of fact, one of the largest was built by the same builder who is a partner in this project. Those complexes were built as single family, owner occupied homes. There is off street parking, there is open space with greenery and there is obviously a pride of ownership. The complex we envision for the 1581 and 1617 will bring some of that pride and community feeling back to this end of Kentfield. These new owners will help give voice to badly needed services such as street cleaning and enforcement of parking laws. We have no control over the traffic that comes from Woodside Road, nor do we have control over the overcrowding in some of the apartment complexes at that end of the street, but we can produce a development that will improve property values and raise the quality of living in a small portion of the street. We urge you to take a broader view of this development for the long-term benefit of your property as well as the ability to bring a neighborhood feeling back to Kentfield. We also want to thank everyone who attended the open house on Thursday evening at City Hall. It was very helpful to hear everyone's comments to help make this the best possible development. Sincerely, Vera Bennett Email: tagwagn2@yahoo.com