AgdaPkt 2012-07-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8.A. - Page 341 Statement on �'in er Avenue Aesthetics I ain a Finger Avenue resident or neiglibor,wha walks, bicycles or ot�ierwise enjoys the Finger Aven�e streetscape. T have seen the pla�7s fox the McGowar� nine-lot de�velapment, and conclude that it wil�substantially degrade the existing visual chaiacter and quality oF the site and its surroundings. What is itnportant aest��etically about �ny neighbvrhood is the semi-rura! character of the no��th side of Finger A��ent�e, vvith many homes set far back from the street. The appearar�ce af large amaunts of open space with mature,old growth trees,provicies a striking backdrop to the homes.The contrast between the north side of Finger A�enue and its south side, vvith its many c�uaint, early 20��centuiy bung�lows and cottages,is something tf�at's u�aique to Redwood City and trsasured by its residents. Exan�ples of how the Finger Avenue Piraject sigrufcant�y degrades the aestl�etics of a�ar neighborhood a��e; • Canstruction of two homes with wide two-stoiy facades set back the rninimum aLlowable distance from tt�e street. There arE no hauses tliat large set that close to the street anywhere in aur neighborhood " • Nowhere etse on Fir�ger Avenne are homes t12is large placed on lots tl�is small. • All of the �omes are of siniilar siz�and all two-story,as opposed to t��e mix of home sizes and heights that are representative of the north side af Finger Avenue. • Mast of these r�ine hornes will be viewable from the public street. There is little open space and the homes are only set back a small distance firom the naribw that serves them (some from 3ft—6f� from tha alleyway.) Nowhere in our neighboriiood are houses situated in this fashion. • A develogment this densely packsd is incompatible with the presence oflarge mature trees on the site. The eventuai lass of these h•ees will be u�reversible. • The�reakup of the no3�th side of Finger Ave, by creating two new interseetions. The nan'ow a2leyway built for the developrneni fails to integrate with Finger Avenue by not t�avi��ag a sidewalk or ptanting strip against the roadway. • The one-way al�eyway wi11 require sheet signs on Finger Ave to direct traffic,further compramising the character of the north side of the street. The overall mass axad scale af this develqpment is compl�tely out of place in p�ar neighborhood, out af character fnr tlie noi�th side of�`inger Avenue and it wi�l only tead to fitrther degradation of the►u�ique character and quality of our st�eet. ,-� . Natne �. ` Address !��?, Date (� (�,� ,�0 j �a� Ct��s� ('� � ��t�-o �