-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Ditmann
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 2:39 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Housing crisis
I support in principle the issues that you have read by Susan Bradford.
I want to add my analysis. I walked precincts to campaign against Prop 13 in 1976. It was sold to the public as a pallia�ve against explosive increases in property values. As a community ac�vist in the Sun Valley Neighborhood Associa�on I helped to lead a victorious campaign to purchase the Sun Valley Slope and Highlands as open space through a 25 year property tax. As a bookseller I worked with the downtown community to debate and guarantee the San Rafael Courthouse Development.
I have always supported increasing workforce housing as the focus for development. I support proac�ve council financial investment, as opposed to the current approval process that relies almost exclusively on private property owners’ ini�a�ve.
Specifically there are currently proper�es in West End that could be developed that are basically developable, provided the city takes a financial role, using its eminent domain and taxa�on powers. One can do the math to determine the cost to contract with a non-profit and with prior community input get the housing that is more equitable than the current process allows. I’m sure that our current representa�ves in the legislature and the congress would support this effort.
Sent from my iPhone
From: Kristen Haviland
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 4:17 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Cc: Jeff Ballantine <[email protected]> Subject: Comments / concerns regarding 1515 4th Street building To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing with tremendous concern regarding the proposed mixed use building at 1515 4th street in downtown San Rafael.
My family and I have been residents of downtown San Rafael for 11 years, having bought our family home on F street at the corner of F and Latham Streets. My husband and I both work locally and our children attend Sun Valley Elementary School. We have watched this small city change over the last decade and are thrilled by the revitalization of the West End neighborhood. We are rooted in this community and have a vested interest in its success.
We have witnessed the significant increase in traffic that inevitably accompanies growth. Our safety, the safety of our children and families is directly impacted with the influx of people into the west end neighborhood.
Even after the addition of four way stops at F and G streets, I've watched pedestrians, children and bikers nearly get hit trying to navigate or cross 4th street. And as you're well aware, there was tragically a pedestrian death at G street not long ago.
The streets of San Rafael around the proposed building are not currently wide enough for two lane traffic when cars are parked on either side. At present it is a tremendous danger to drive down Shaver Street, Latham Street, F Street. There are frequent minor car accidents, trucks getting stuck trying to navigate the tight corners, and cars racing down F street to try to get out of 4th street traffic and onto 2nd or 3rd street only to find that F Street doesn't go through to these thoroughfares. These drivers are erratic and unsafe already. How can you possibly expect this area to accommodate for the additional traffic this building will generate even if you provide underground parking? This is a safety issue for the San Rafael community and its residents. It is your duty and responsibility to take these basic safety concerns into account. Pedestrian / child injury or death that results from the increased traffic associated with this building will be the City of San Rafael's liability and the addition of a 162 unit residential building with retail space will absolutely gridlock and already stressed city space.
I am sorry that I am not able to make tonight's meeting. I urge you to come drive down these streets to see for yourselves what impact this building will have on your community.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Kristen Haviland