HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 6.A-Attch1 09/13/2004Items
Donation of Reat Property
3 07'Pet' diumaBlvd.- South
(Casa Grande -Motel Site)
Addi,t,.i,on*.al "Co ' re'sponden' ce
Cfom,P'Xatie.
Fro m:l Janet Gracyk Uanetg@Bertotti.com-]
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 11:56 AM
To:Mayor
Subject:" Fire Station
Dear Mayor,
This afternoon you will 'be discussing :the Casa Grandee,: Motel site. Have, you seen books about
of the kind of architecture that r Ow ntees onse touAmereca'm,ple of the s a good example
"Road side. Architecture" ? While t , era, it i
9, p p s love affair -with automobile travel. It
may surprise you, but there are people who.'travel around :seeKing just uch sites. I know there is
tremendous political pressure to let .the motoIgo�to,'a fire statiori,'but for a'moment, please consider
the. alternative. Part of Petaluma's charm is, its; variety. These sorts,,of motels are increasingly rare.
With some thought and care, this motel could step up* to be a ,fine,.example of its genre. Imagine a
family driving in on Petaluma Boulevard South in 2006 for the fi'rsttime; seeing a refurbished motor
court motel (with its excellent sign litin neon);- pointing, it out.to,th'eir child"ren, saying "Wow, look at
that! There used to be motels like this all over,the place!" No one':i`s going to say "Wow" when they
see another fire station.
Petaluma is a very exciting place right.now, and, I Welcome nearly all the changes occurring
.downtown, but let's be careful :not.to"let,out enthusiasm diminish the'qualities we love about this
particular place.
Thank you for your attention. r
Janet Gracyk
6.15 Prospect Street
Petaluma, CA .94952
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City Clerk _7�
City Of Petaluma .pv �
11 English Street �<',,..,`, IV - d ✓�pr
Petaluma, CA 94952
am- unable to attend the afternoon session of the Petaluma City Council, today,
September 13, 2004, and I wish my .opinion 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:OOpm today. Thank you'. (FYI,, ;my. last name is pronounced Lib -Kits.
Mayor Glass knows how 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. I have no argument against the
Fire Department wishing to relocate Station #1.,' but I 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.wo'rk. The overall scope of the project, the effects it will
have on adjacent property owners and the effects it wi,14 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„'i.ntentions of building on that propertywhen 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 putti"ng the.,cart before the horse.
Here is some of what I think thatyou .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 multipletraffic lanes onto the property and through the firehouse will
significantly reduce or eliminate all possibilities for, on -site parkfng:. You absolutely
cannot know the, scope of this until actual plans have been drawn up.
Nearby businesses,, primarily oimpacted
n Second Street, will be'greatly by the
removal of-o -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'to
allow: proper :transition on to,. the property. (Explanation - Look at the sidewalk along D
Street at the current Station #1. It provides a smooth and level run from the station
Street at the current Station #1. It provides a smooth and level run from :the station
to the street. Fire Trucks aeebig, heavy'and awkward things. If you don't make that
transition as easy as possible, you"will 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 thre&stories with a ground floor of 20 feet in, height (to accommodate the new,big
trucklhat can't fit into Station #1) and signi,fican,t utilities located on the roof, the
overall,height of this, building will''be at' least 50 feet high. Thi's will_` tower over'-
nearbyhouses.and businesses by35 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 beside the, point that the need to'relocate the fire station, was kept
secret during the development o,f the Central Petaluma Specific Plan 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 li believe that re- bui_l.ding ;Flee Station_' #1.
on the former Casa Grande Motel site 'viblates the CPSP. That in itself is reason to,
delay the d'ecisioa before. you today.
Thank you:
David,: Li,bchitz
33:3-B' Wilson Street
Petaluma, CA 949.53
763-6196 -.home