TO: City Council and Planning Commission members of Sunnyvale RE: Crescent Avenue Project- FILE# 2021-7826
Dear members of the Sunnyvale City Council and Planning Commissions, I am writing on behalf of myself and the rest of the neighbors surrounding 148 and 156 Crescent Avenue on the proposed development plans associated with File #2021-7826.
I was only able to attend the 5/22/23 Public Hearing online and was surprised that there were only two of us in “attendance”. The only other public meeting I was aware of was 12/7/22 in which I was not able to attend. I believe there was low attendance due to inadequate notice of this project to allow neighbors to provide input.
I am writing to contribute to other letters I know of in an effort to Appeal to significantly revise or completely shut down the current project plan. I understand the City’s desire to add housing but this high density project will greatly change the neighborhood, suburban feel in a negative way.
I have lived in a townhouse at 141 Crescent Ave. for over 25 years. This is located directly across the street from the proposed project and next door to the Senior care home at the corner of Crescent and Greco. I wish to continue to live here for several more years.
Some concerns and suggestions for possible changes to the proposed project :
1) SIZE – 19 units is far too many for that lot. That means no fewer than 19 new residents coming with their additional cars, traffic, parking, garbage/recycle and yard waste cans, and noise to name a few.
Reduce the total number of units so there would be less traffic, etc and more space to safely move around the complex and park within the complex.
Three stories – too high and ugly. Blocks sun, views and produces new shade pattern for neighboring buildings on either side as well as across the street. Why not have at least a few units that are single or only two story?
Move the proposed project to another parcel of land in Sunnyvale. If something must go here, please build another little park!
2) PARKING – Parking is already a huge problem/nightmare on the street especially between 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. There are very few times during the day that the parking is not full. My housemate will come home from work at night and sometimes won’t be able to park in our one guest spot for our small complex nor find a place on the street and will have to go spend the night elsewhere so that she can park.
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If you reduce the number of units in the proposed complex, you can provide more parking.
Yes, there are 2 car garages per unit in the plan. I know a huge number of people don’t use their garage anymore for a car or cars but for storage and they will park on their driveway or street. There doesn’t appear to be room for residents to park in front of their garage. Five guest spots would not be adequate.
You have proposed that there will be a public transportation incentive to new residents.
Good luck with that! How can you ensure they will do? People like to drive their cars as it’s faster and more convenient/reliable to get to where they want to go.
Mark parking lines on Crescent Avenue so that the parking can be at least a little more efficient. However, I doubt that will “add” very many new places. 3) Traffic & Safety- Crescent Ave is the most narrow at this point on the street. Many cars speed up and down the street throughout the day every single day of the week. It is a frequently used street to cut through from Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road to Fremont Ave or Remington or vice versa. Recently, a car made “donuts” on the intersection of Greco and Crescent. It was a very terrifying sound.
The street has many regular pedestrians (seniors and students included) all day long on the sidewalks, crossing the street, walking dogs, pushing strollers or wheelchairs. Adding more traffic or not addressing the speed issue will jeopardize the safety.
It’s difficult enough to merge out of my driveway onto Crescent now. .Add more traffic from the complex across the street will making it more difficult. Perhaps add a few speedbumps on Crescent?
There doesn’t seem to be enough room for Emergency vehicles to safely get in and out of the complex. They would have to back out and not be able to turn around. Parking at the street would take time to get to the unit and potentially save a life or home. If the number of units were reduced and more parking added, there may be some space for a safe turnaround of Emergency vehicles as well as Garbage trucks. 4) Garbage and Utilities – What is the impact to surrounding/existing neighbors to the power grid, water, sewer and storm drain use by adding 19 units? Where will garbage and recycle bins go on collection days of the new residents? It is already a problem for existing residents on the street to find a place on collection days. It also impacts the already existing parking problem.
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5) Construction Noise, Equipment and Traffic Flow – I, for one am NOT looking forward to hearing the noise of the construction let alone the equipment coming and going. I know I’m not the only one with this concern. How can the traffic and parking of workers and equipment be minimized?? I don’t see that happening. I know that it will be difficult to get into and out of my complex during that time too, Regular vehicle traffic during construction will be a huge problem and I’m concerned about safe traveling on the street for all.
Thank you for your attention to all citizens that will contribute to Appeal the final approval of this project. Please give careful consideration to major adjustments to or decline this extremely disruptive project and the impact on this neighborhood.
Respectfully,
Lisa Prather
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TO: City of Sunnyvale Council
RE: Crescent Avenue Project - FILE # 2021-7826
Dear Sunnyvale City Council,
It is with interest in the Sunnyvale Community that I write this letter to wholeheartedly reject the current proposal for development plans associated with File#2021-7826 on Crescent Avenue.
Unfortunately, I was not able to make the Monday, May 21 meeting.
QUESTION: As a long-time Sunnyvale citizen, what can we do to alter or STOP this project?
Here are the concerns I have:
1. AMOUNT OF UNITS (19)
That is TOO many for that space - too much high density housing on this street causes many problems.
2. SMASH & GRABS: Crescent Ave is regularly a victim of 'smash and grab' attacks throughout the year - probably about 10 in the last year.
3. PARKING: I encourage you to drive down the street at either 6a or 6p, there are parking problems - SO MUCH so, we can't find a place to put out our garbage cans on a weekly basis. The street is completely full every night with cars.
4. TRASH & BLIGHT:
- With so many cars consistently parked on the street, this has led to problems with the cleanliness of our little street.
- Street cleaning is not effective because of the consistent presence of cars - Often times, during storms, storm drains are backed up and we have flooding because proper removal of garbage and yard waste cannot be achieved. - Due to the already unsightly presence of garbage and other debris, people have no issues adding to the trash.
- People often throw their garbage in my and my neighbors garbage cans, sometimes it is animal waste
5. MAIL THEFT
We regularly experience mail theft, there doesn't seem to be any activity on the part of Sunnyvale Safety to curb the appeal of this street for personal mail.
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6. WATER SUPPLY
As you’re aware, our part of Sunnyvale is on a well system. I don’t think adding this high density housing will help with our scarce water supply.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Students and other folks regularly walk along Crescent Ave to get to school and/or for recreation. In addition, there is a senior center directly across the site. This project will result in our small street being overwhelmed with construction vehicles and gear that would not be beneficial for anyone living here.
SUGGESTIONS
Ideally, it would be great to develop a small townhome community with 6-8 units. This would prop up our property values for myself and my neighbors. I realize that this may be impossible, therefore, I have some other suggestions for you to consider:
1. REDUCE the number of condo units for that space to 9 or 10
2. REQUIRE MORE PARKING ON SITE: I think I saw there was something like 5 spaces for 19 units - that is not acceptable, there should be at least 1 space for every 2 units.
Thanks for 'listening' and PLEASE let me know what Sunnyvale citizens can do to adjust the current plan and focus on a better plan for our community.
PRINT NAME: Manohar Jammalamadaka
ADDRESS:
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