Dear Mayor and Council, Nov. 10, 2022 We the residents of Civic Center neighborhood, are opposed to the proposed project on 1601 Civic Center Drive on the following grounds:
Our neighborhood is severely park deficient. This has occurred over several decades. We have only 1.2 acres per 1000 residents vs the minimum standard of 2.6. This is below the average for the City of Santa Clara, as acknowledged by the Parks and Recreation Director on Nov. 1, 2022.
Adding more density to an already impacted neighborhood is not balanced development and further lowers the quality of life and the economic viability of our neighborhood. A zero-density option, such as a park, is ideal. We realize there are challenges to purchasing the lot at 1601 for a park, but we are still hopeful with political will, a solution may be found. Any additional density will force the already low ratio of 1.2 even lower. Our neighborhood does not have the infrastructure for additional density to grow into. Over time we will end up with a neighborhood that many will not find desirable to live in. In spite of our desire for a park, we engaged with the developer several times. Charity Housing has made no concessions on our key demands, which are:
First: reduce density/# of units to 1/2, reduce the height to no more than 3 levels, and 30 degree viewing angles to neighboring 2-story homes to protect privacy.
We question why Charity Housing has not provided a detailed view of the West-facing side of their building towards our two story homes, despite our formal request thru the Planning Department, and in-person meetings. We only found out on Sept 23, 2022, and only after repeated questioning that there will be multiple balconies having a direct line of sight to the privacy of our backyards and living areas on Triton Ct. Why did Charity Housing not disclose the privacy-violating balconies in their presentation to the Planning Commission? Instead, they diverted attention away to the small windows in the stair cases facing our homes.
Second: No driveway opening into Civic Center Drive.
Third: The parking ratio for the project is unacceptable, and will exacerbate congestion in our neighborhood.
Lastly, we have no trust that Charity Housing will be a good neighbor. As late as September 27 2022, Charity Housing continues to make misleading statements to the media:
“Kathy Robinson, director of development with Charities Housing, said the organization has put up a fence to prevent trespassing on the property and works with the community to address issues of dumping and loitering. “That was a terrible situation, but the site is secured now,” she told San José Spotlight. “We feel very badly about it, but we took immediate action.”
https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-residents-say-no-to-affordable- housing-development/
The facts:
1. Charity Housing did not put up the fence voluntarily or immediately. They put it up after 13 months of hell, only after an RV dumped their toilet tank behind our homes, and to prevent further liability, and a citation from the City. 13 months is not “immediate”.
2. It took Charity Housing 4 days to clean up the mess from the toilet tank. 4 days is not “immediate”.
Conclusion: Why should the City Council or us residents trust Charity Housing when they have squandered every chance in their quest to conquer our neighborhood with their Charity?
We urge you to vote NO on Charity Housing’s proposal.