HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 6.A-Attch1 09/13/2004r
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From_: Janet Gracyk oanet '6 ertotti.com]
Sent: Monday, September 13 2004 11:56 AM
To { Mayor'
%biecf:" Fire Station
Dear Mayor,
Thisafternoon you will be discussing the Casa Grandee „Motel site. Have.you seen books about
of the kind of architecture that re m ' � �.. -, ° p . _ � s a good example
Road side. Architecture ? While that motel isn't a fabulous. exam le of the era, it i
grew up in response to America's love affair with automobile travel. It
may surprise you, but there are people who. °travel around seeking just such sites. I know there is
tremendous political pressure to'let the motel °go °to fire statio for ” 'moment, please consider
the, alternative. Part of Petaluma's charm is, its variety. These sorts�of motels are increasingly rare.
With ly driving in on Petaluma Boulevard South e thought acid care, this motel could be step up* a f
;ine,example of its genre. Imagine a 1. h in 2006 for the fi'rsHim'e, seeing a refurbished motor
court motel (with its excellent sign lit in neon);- pointing it out',to children, saying "Wow, look at
that! There used to be motels like this all overthe place!" No one!,i`s going to say "Wow" when they
see another fire station.
Petaluma is a very exciting lac.
t let s be careful :not .to let�out enthusiasm d e ,nearl all the chap s occurring
ry g p e nght�:now, ..and I Welcome y e
q g
downtown, bu imin'ish"the,� ualities we love about this
particular place.
Thank you for your attention. r
Janet Gracyk
6.15 Prospect Street
Petaluma, CA .94952
4
1 ,.
Sept .e - ber 13, - 2
t r 2Mi4
City Clerk 1 Z CE�F z
City of Petaluma
11 English Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
am unable to attend the afternoon session of the Petaluma City Council, today
September 13, 2004, and] wish my,gpinion to be heard. Please arrange for this letter
to be read during, Unfinished Business, item 6., - I;will be hand - delivering a copy of this
letter before 1:00pm today. Thank you'. (FYI, :my- last name is pronounced Lib -Kits.
Mayor Glass knows hovV to pronounce it)
Mr. Mayor, members of the Petaluma City Council, staff
This letter is from David Libchitz, Wilson Street resident here in Petaluma. I am sorry
that I am unable to -attend this afternoon =�s meeting. 1 have no argument against the
Fire Department'wis ln.g'to re ,Locate S "tation #1.; but], have concerns about the former
Casa Grande Motel site:
Before you accept the donation. of the property and especially the designation of it as
the future location for Fire Station #1, a, feasibility study must be. done to see if this
project can be made to.work. The overall scope of ,the project, the effects it will
have on adjacent property owners and the effects it will have on our'city's
infrastructure but be known beforehand. Some of you on the, council are in the
commercial real estate 'business. Would'you ever recommend that someone obtain a
piece of property with the, intentions of building on that property when they don't
have a precise plan for what they intend to build on it? It's not °!realistic and in this
case, it's a disservice to the public: This is putting the.,ca'rt before the horse.
Here is some of what I think that -you would find in a feasibility study:
The street frontage is adequate only to include sufficient- vehicle bays to meet
current needs. Little or' no expansion will be possible ,in order to meet future
requirements:
The need for multiple traffic lanes onto the property and through the firehouse will
significantly reduce or eliminate all possibilities for on -site parking:. You absolutely
cannot know th:e, scope of this until actual plans have been .drawn up.
Nearby businesses primarily on Second Street, will be'greatlyimpacted by the
removal of..o,n- street parking in the area due to the large turning radius required by
the largest fire trucks. '
Both' Second Street and Petaluma Blvd. South will require extensive renovations I to
allow: proper :transition on to-the property. (Explanation - Look at the sidewalk along D
-Street at the current.5tation #1. It provides a smooth and level run from the station
Street at the current Station #1. It provi`d.es a smooth and level run from the station
to the street.. Fire Trucks arel big, heavy and awkward things. If you d'on't, make that
transition as easy as possible, you*J11. tear up the frames and suspensions of the
trucks. Do you want our fire trucks to be scrapped and replaced every '5 ,years (or
sooner) or do you want them to last?
At three stories with a ground floor .of 20 feet in height (to accommodate the new,big
truck'that can't fit into Station #1).'and' significant utilities located on the roof; the
overalLheight of this building will at "Ibast 50 feet high. This will` tower over'.
ne bby`houses. and businesses by 35 feet or. more.
Last and most, important, as the city continues to grow, this location will be unable -to
expand 'to meet those needs.
All,`of this is' besidel the, point that the need to're,locate the fire station was kept
secret dur`i'ng the development of the Central Petaluma Specific Phan and, that a new
fire. station could_ have been incorporated in the new parking garage if the'need had
been known .earlier. I am not certain, but I believe that re- building Fire Sta ion' #1,
on the former Casa Grande Motel site vib ates the CFSP. That in itself is reason' to,
delay the decision�'before: you today.
Thank you
pa:vid 'Li,bchitz
333 -B Wilson Street
Petaluma, CA 94953
763 -6196 home