Autumn Glock
Bayside, CA 95524
June 13, 2025
Arcata City Council
Re: Opposition to Proposed Rodgers Garage Housing Development Due to Unsafe Infrastructure and Public Safety Risks
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to formally oppose the proposed housing development planned for our Bayside neighborhood. While I recognize the importance of addressing the housing shortage, this specific development is being pursued in an area that has long suffered from poor infrastructure, limited emergency resources, and a lack of investment in public safety-factors that make it a fundamentally unsafe location for further development.
Over the last four years, our community has experienced three major earthquakes, one of which left us without power for days. Last year's earthquake triggered a tsunami warning, causing many residents to attempt evacuation up Golf Course Road. However, Golf Course Road, a vital evacuation route, remains unmaintained and unsafe-a condition the city has long ignored, citing its "rural" status. This is no longer acceptable if you intend to add more families and increase traffic through the area.
In addition, the power poles along Old Arcata Road-from Murphy's to the Post Office area-remain vulnerable. Given that this neighborhood was marked in the General Plan for development, the city had a clear opportunity to coordinate with PG&E to bury the lines during prior road improvement projects. That did not happen. When-not if-a major earthquake strikes again, those poles may fall, sparking fires. Yet the area is severely underprepared, with limited water access, poor pressure, and only one fire hydrant that I'm aware of.
Due to these factors, many residents have already lost or seen sharp increases in homeowners insurance. Insurance companies consider this area high-risk. Adding more housing without addressing the underlying safety and infrastructure concerns will only make this worse-for both current and future residents.
Finally, the infill development allowed in the late 1980s has created dangerously close housing, with barely enough space between homes and their fences for a wheelbarrow. It's a fire hazard.
And you are proposing to add more density under these same conditions? This is not responsible urban planning. If the city had truly intended to develop this neighborhood, basic steps should have been taken years ago-improving roads, burying power lines, increasing fire protection, and ensuring safe evacuation routes.
I urge you: do not move forward with this housing development until these public safety and infrastructure issues are fully addressed.
Sincerely,
Autumn Glock