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8.A. - Page 342 ��tement on Fenger AvenUe Aesthe ics 1 am a Finger Avenue resident or neighbor,who walks,bicycles or othe��vise enjoys the Finger Avenue st�•eetscape, I have seen the�lans for the McGowan nine-lot development, and conctude thaC it will substantially degi•ade the existing visual character and yvality of the site and its surroundings. What is important aestheticalty about my neighborhood is the semi-rura] chai•actei•of the north side of Finger Avenue,with many homes set far Uack fr�om the street.The appearance of�arge amounts of open space with mature, old growth trees,pravides a striking�ackdrop to the homes.Tkte contrast between the�iorth side of Fingey Avenue and its south sfde,with its many qua3nt,early 20t� centi,iry bungalows and cottages,is samething that's unique to Redwoad City and treasui•ed by its residents. � Exarnples of how the Finger Avenue Project significantty degrades the aesthetics of our neighborhood are: • Construction of two homes with wide two-story faca�es set back the minimvm allowable distance fl•om the str�et. There are no houses that Zarge set that close to the street anywhere in our neighborhood. • Nowhere else on Finger Avenue are homes this large plac�d on lots this sma�l. • AIl of the homes are af similar size and ali iwo-story,as opposed ta the mix oF home sizes and heights that are representative of the north side oFFinger A�enue. • Most of these nine homes wi11�e viewable From Che public street.7'here is�ittle open space and the homes are only set back a sma�l distance fi•om the narrow alley that serves them (some from 3ft-6ft From the alleyway.] Nowhere in our neighl�orhood are tiouses situated in this fashion. � A development t�is densely packed is incompatible with the presence of large mature trees on the site,The eventua2loss of these trees will be irreversible. • The breakup of the north side of Finger Ave, by c�•eatfng two new in�ersections. The narrow atleyway built for the development fails to integrate with Finger Avenue by not having a sidewalk or planting stx•ip against the �•oadway, • The one-way alleyway will require stt�eet signs on Finger Ave to direct traffic, Further compromfsing Che character of the north sfde of the street. The overall mass and scale of this cievelopment is comp�ete�y out oF place in our neighborhood,out of character for the north side of Finger Avenue and it will only lead to further degradation of the uni�ue cliaracter and quality of aui•stree� � Name �/�G[�1(� �il.��G��O� �7l)� �� -� � s� r Address " Date t�