From: Annette Glanckopf
To: Council, City; Clerk, City
Subject: Ellsworth Place
Date: Monday, December 11, 2023 11:52:44 AM
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Dear Council Members.
For the safety of the neighborhood, the PC should not be amended. The proposals offered by the developers do not justify a PC, and they make the situation worse than it currently is.
The road conditions occurring from the Matadero Creek Overpass and incline/decline of Ellsworth Place, onto a 4-lane road, do not exist anywhere else in Palo Alto. The neighbors have complained about this for over ten years! I personally do not think the PC should be amended, but if it is my recommendations below need to be followed:
1. Implement the UPS-Approved delivery spot plan on Ellsworth. Having trucks park on Sutter will reduce much needed parking for Sutter residents as well as the medical office.
2. Line of sight. absolutely is key for safety - pedestrians, bikers, cars. South side line of sight adjusted to 160 degrees and per city code line of sight at entrance for 160 feet.
3. Middlefield facing fence to be no higher than 1' and add tactile paving to the Middlefield Road sidewalk on both sides of Ellsworth Place
4. Width of Ellsworth at entrance (Easement) should be 26 feet wide for at least 100 feet from Middlefield, not 35 feet.
5. Mobilization should not be on Middlefield, I agree with details in staff report about development of a plan that would not effect the residents.
Thank you for considering these points.
Annette
From: James Stephens
To: French, Amy; Planning Commission; Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Kou, Lydia; [email protected]; Lauing, Ed; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Stone, Greer; Tanaka, Greg; [email protected]; Veenker, Vicki Subject: Re: Regarding the Application for Amending of PC2343 - 702 Ellsworth Place and 2901 - 2905 Middlefield Road Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 7:07:19 PM
Attachments: Palo Alto City Council.docx
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Please find attached my revised letter regarding the Application for Amending of PC2343 - 702 Ellsworth Place and 2901 - 2905 Middlefield Road. Please include my letter in the printed packet for the December 11th City Council Meeting.
I teach in San Francisco at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and will be unable to present in person.
Thank you, James Stephens
James D. Stephens, DDS
Midtown Professional Building
2075 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650.248.6717
Notice of Confidentiality: This communication and any accompanying document(s) may contain health information that may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended for the sole use of the individual named above. If you receive this electronic transmission in error you are advised that any disclosure including copying, distribution, or the taking of any action is strictly prohibited. Moreover any such inadvertent disclosure shall not compromise or waive the HIPAA compliance privilege in the communication or otherwise. If you have received this communication in error, please contact Stephens & Park, DDS 650.321.9693
On Wed, Oct 25, 2023 at 5:10 PM James Stephens <[email protected]> wrote:
Please find attached my letter regarding the Application for Amending of PC2343 - 702 Ellsworth Place and 2901 - 2905 Middlefield Road.
Please include my letter in the printed packet for the November 6th City Council Meeting.
I will be out of town and unable to present in person. Thank you, James Stephens James D. Stephens, DDS
Midtown Professional Building
2875 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306
650.248.6717 [email protected]
Notice of Confidentiality: This communication and any accompanying document(s) may contain health information that may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended for the sole use of the individual named above. If you receive this electronic transmission in error you are advised that any disclosure including copying, distribution, or the taking of any action is strictly prohibited. Moreover any such inadvertent disclosure shall not compromise or waive the HIPAA compliance privilege in the communication or otherwise. If you have received this communication in error, please contact Stephens & Park, DDS 650.321.9693 TO: Palo Alto City Council
Re: Regarding: LEGISLATIVE - Amending Planned Community 2343 zoning for 2901 - 2905 Middlefield Road
11/30/2023
Dear Amy French, Mayor Kou, Vice Mayor Stone, and members of the City of Palo Alto City Council,
I am wri�ng today to comment on the unintended consequences of the development project at Elsworth Place and Middlefield Road. My wife and I own the Medical Dental building on the corner of Middlefield Road and Suter Avenue in Palo Alto. Known as the Midtown Professional Building, it has provided offices for neighborhood Physicians and Den�st since the late 1950’s.
Addi�onally, we both prac�ced den�stry in Suite #1 of the building for almost 40 years.
My concern is regarding the loss of access to parking for residents on Elsworth Place and the sugges�on that they can simply park on Suter Avenue. It is not quite that simple because Suter is already impacted by vehicles from the residents of high density living, school and church parking and recently camper vans that regularly use the street for more than overnight parking. Over the years we have had Suter Avenue residents forced to park in our lot which is reserved for our pa�ents and employees. Telling the Elsworth Place residents that they can simply go around the corner to park is disingenuous as few spaces are available at any �me of the day let alone a�ernoons and evenings. The issues around parking in the lot for the Midtown Professional Building will be significantly magnified by this near-sighted recommenda�on.
The result of displacement of the residents of the Elsworth Place community’s parking will be a significant nega�ve effect on the residents and businesses on Suter Avenue and Middlefield Road. Addi�onal demand will lead to a significant quality of life issues for the many Suter Avenue residents who already have to search for adequate parking. I would strongly encourage the City Council and Planning Department to find a solu�on that allows for adequate parking on the Elsworth Place site and does not increase the demand on the already dense parking on Suter Street that will impact the healthcare offices and the community they serve.
Thank you for your considera�on.
Respec�ully,
James Stephens, DDS
Midtown Professional Building
2875 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650 248-6717
HOW TO BEST SOLVE
THE ELLSWORTH PROBLEMS
and
MAINTAIN SAFETY & CIRCULATION IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
For the benefit of all who live on or
traverse near Ellsworth Place!
NEW INCORRECT STATEMENT
“Based on a survey conducted when my client purchased his property in 2017…this utility pole and its supportive horizontal bracing did not exist. Apparently, they were located onto his property at some point after he purchased it without his permission.” (Attorney Letter of November 3, 2023, pages 2 - 3)
THE CURRENT PLAN HAS MANY PROBLEMS
1. Small truck delivery space is not useable by
delivery companies
2. The 24-foot and larger truck delivery space is
too far away for Ellsworth Place and removes
needed public parking on Sutter
3. Parking space #16 is not useable by the
apartments tenants
4. Insufficient line-of-sight to Matadero Creek
that would be blocked by 3 - 4’ fencing
5. The first 100-feet of Ellsworth Place becomes
significantly narrower which affects road
circulation and safety
TRUCK ABOVE IS 6.65’ WIDE x 19’ LONG
THE DELIVERY SPACE IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH
FOR 10 - 11 FOOT WIDE DELIVERY TRUCKS
● SUTTER IS TOO FAR AWAY TO SERVICE ELLSWORTH PLACE
● NO NEED TO BAN 24 FOOT “MOVING” TRUCKS ON ELLSWORTH PLACE ● UPS & OTHER DAILY DELIVERY TRUCKS ARE 14 - 18 FEET LONG x 10 FEET WIDE ● REMOVES MUCH NEEDED PUBLIC PARKING ON SUTTER AVE.
24 Foot Truck (above)
THE NEW PROPOSED DELIVERY SPACE ON SUTTER DOESN’T WORK! PARKING SPACE #16 DOES NOT WORK
18.54.020 Vehicle Parking Facilities
(a) (2) Stalls and aisles shall be designed such that columns, walls, or other obstructions do not interfere with normal vehicle parking maneuvers. All required stall and aisle widths shall be designed to be clear of such obstructions.
STALL PARKING REQUIREMENT = 18 feet long (the back of the car would be in the road!) 26 foot wide road
THE UPS-APPROVED
DELIVERY SPOT NOTICE THE RED LINE PLACEMENT
DEVELOPER'S MAP
THE UPS-APPROVED DELIVERY SPACE SOLVES THE PROBLEMS!
● Does not affect the
footprint of the house
● Provides a useable
delivery spot for
10 - 11 foot wide trucks
● Provides a useable
parking place #16
● Maintains safe road
circulation w/Middlefield
● Does not remove public
parking on Sutter
Uses a 28’ x 160’ or 145’ Scalene, Clear-Sight Distance Triangle for Driveway Ramp
A SIGHT TRIANGLE THAT WORKS FOR THE UNIQUE CONDITIONS ON ELLSWORTH
TEMPORARY FENCE CREATES A VISUAL OBSTRUCTION AT THE BLIND CORNER The line of sight must be kept clear to the Matadero Creek overpass! We look left to the bend in the sidewalk when we exit Ellsworth Place.
THIS PHOTO IS MISLEADING
● Only shows one “layer” of fencing
● Uses a solid background
THE PROPOSED FENCE WOULD RUN AROUND A CORNER ALONG TWO INCLINES ● Doubles the number of vertical fence bars and columns ● Is higher than 3-feet when looking up the hill
● NOT ALL FRONT YARDS HAVE A FENCE
NO FENCE WITHIN THE SIGHT TRIANGLE!
Who enforces what is placed inside of the fence?
Homeowner or tenant could place inside of the fence large kid’s play equipment, a table and chair set, or shrubbery as shown below.
It is NOT just about tall adults
moving at a walking pace!
Protect Our Children!
The downward slope of the sidewalk causes
bicycles to pick up speed faster than walking pace.
Did you
see me?
Currently, Exiting Ellsworth Place
Requires Being on the Sidewalk
We can’t see through the
temporary orange netting!
We Want to Prevent this!
There have been
too many close calls!
THE EASEMENT MUST BE KEPT CLEAR FOR EMERGENCIES
The proposed 4-feet of pavers is not wide enough
to park a car off of the road!
Homes on Ellsworth Place have 7-feet of pavers to
provide extra parking for guests, etc.
ADD RED PAINT, NO PARKING, LANE LINES & DIRECTIONAL ARROWS
TO CURBS & ASPHALT
This is consistent with other “driveways” on Middlefield Road and allows for traffic enforcement. 3065 Middlefield Road (left)
3069 Middlefield Road (above)
ADD TACTILE PAVING TO SIDEWALK ON BOTH SIDES OF ELLSWORTH PLACE This alerts pedestrians that a road is present, and is commonly used around town.
● THE UPS-APPROVED DELIVERY SPACE ON ELLSWORTH PLACE
○ Swaps parking space #16 with small “delivery truck space” on side of building ○ 1st utility pole is already being removed per the Ordinance Drafts ○ Does not require additional paving beyond what is proposed ● THE USE OF DRIVEWAY RAMP SIGHT TRIANGLE (18.54.070 figure 6) ○ Uses a sight triangle that fits the unique conditions of Ellsworth Place with the double incline/decline caused by Matadero Creek overpass ● NOTHING OVER 1-FOOT HIGH WITHIN THE LINE-OF-SIGHT TRIANGLE ○ CLEAR LINE-OF-SIGHT to MATADERO CREEK FENCE (at bend in sidewalk) ● SAFETY MARKINGS TO THE ROAD & SIDEWALK
○ RED PAINT, “NO PARKING”, LANE LINES & ARROWS TO CURBS & ASPHALT ○ Keeps the road clear for emergencies and allows for traffic enforcement ○ Is consistent with other “driveways” for “multi-residential complexes” along Middlefield Road
○ Tactile paving to the sidewalk on both sides of Ellsworth Place, which alerts pedestrians to the presence of a road
ELLSWORTH PLACE PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED BY APPROVING