Minutes 1994 0606 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - June 6, 1994 Page - 14 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) The Appellant, Kai Bender, 261 Begier Avenue, President of the Creekside Neighborhood Association, said Creekside appealed the Board of Zoning Adjustments' decision because the Board did not address any of the issues or concerns of the neighborhood. He said an unwanted apartment-building development was forced on the neighborhood eight years ago with no EIR, and the $70,000 collected for a traffic signal was never used because Cal-Trans did not deem it necessary. He said the traffic situation in the neighborhood has become a major burden for the residents. He said there are many problems, including vandalism, garbage, theft, etc. He asked how future development on East 14th Street would affect the neighborhood, including the City Hall expansion, and the impact of re-opening Lorraine Boulevard. He said the neighborhood wants precise recommendations and solutions to the current situation prior to building any new project. He thanked Mr. Kruger for his willingness to find solutions to their problems. He said comprehensive solutions are needed for the area. He said traffic generated in front of residences lowers the appeal of the neighborhood. He said 87% of the people surveyed in his neighborhood opposed Walgreen's. He discussed the results of his survey and said 297 people had responded. In response to City Council questions, Mr. Bender said the neighborhood is skeptical of the proposed plans for improvement because they have not seen corrections made in the past, such as for the 96-unit apartment building. He said they would like to see remedies in place before Walgreen's goes in, such as synchronizing the lights on Dutton Avenue and Chumalia Street, installation of a traffic signal on Haas Avenue, etc. He requested the City Council uphold the Appeal and deny the Application. He said the neighborhood would like to have advance notice of Applications so they have more time to study them. Mayor Corbett noted there has been a Town Hall Meeting plus several meetings with the developer on the subject proposal . The Hearing was then opened to the public. Susan Riskind-Poulsen, 182 Sunnyside Drive, Chair of the North Area Business Development Task Force, said they had three or four meetings with Mr. Clevenger, as•well as with staff. She said Mr. Kruger has done an outstanding job in developing alternatives to mitigate the traffic problems. She said the Task Force looks at this as an issue for the entire North Area and sees it as a prototype. She said Mr. Kruger had suggested a contract between the City and the residents for traffic improvements and