AgdaPkt 2012-07-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

8.A. - Page 289 Statcment an FingerAvenu�Aesthet�cs I am a�inger Ave�ae resident or neighbor, who wa�ks, bicycles ar otlierwise enjays the �inger Avenue streetscape, I l�a�e seen die plans fQr t�ie McGowan nine-lot developxnent, and conc�ude that it will substantially degx�de the existing visuai c�aracter an� guality of the site anci its surroundings. What is important aesthetically aboUt my neighborhood is the serni-rural charactes•of the narth side of Finger Avenue,with many homes set far hack from the street. The appearance of la�•ge amounts of open space with mahue, old gmwth trees,provides a striking backdrop to the homes. The contrast between the noitl�side of Finger A�enue ai�d its sorath side, with its ma��y quaint, early 2a�h century hungalows and cottages,is son�ething tliat's unique to Redwooa City and treasured by its residents. Examples of how the Finger Avenue Project significantly degrades the aesthetics of aur neighborhood are: + Cansti�ction af two nomes witll wide two-stax'y facades set back the minimum a2lowa�le distan�e from the street, T3iere are no houses tliat Iax•ge set tl�at close to the street anywhere in our neighborhodd, - • Nor�vhere e�se an �inger Avenue are hnmes this Ia�•ge placed on lots this small. + AlI of tl�e homes are of similar size and a�l two-sto�y, as opposed to t6e mix of home sizes and lieights t�at are representative af the north side of Finger Avenue. ► Most of these ni�e homes will be viewabie from the public street. TZ�ere is little open space and the l�atnes are only set back a small distance frara the narrow that serves them {some from 3ft-6ft from the alleyway.) Nowhere in our neigh�orhood are iiouses situated in this fashion. • A development d�is densely packed is incompatible witi�the presence of large mature trees on the site, The evenkual lass of these trees wiIl be irrer+e�•sible. + The breafcup of the naith side af FingerAve. by creating twa new intersectians, The narrow alleyway built for the cievelopment.fails to integrate with Finger A�enue by not having a sidewalk or planting strip against the roadway. • The one-way a�leyway will require street signs on Fir�ger Ave ta direct traigic, furilier compibmising the character of the north side of the st�•eet. Tfie overall mass and scate of tlus development is compietely out af place in atn' neighborhood, aut of character for the north side of Fznger Avenue and it will only lead to fu��ther degradation of the unique character and quality of our st�•eet. , . J Name �C- .,c�es� ''t-�'�-'�"� Address 2�'' � - -'�'� Date �� /{� � ��;vc:�c� �i f-cr.� r C�� i�-(G(p 1 V