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fact that Heron Bay residents do not feel safe in their own neighborhood. Consider further that it is <br />entirely possible that a future victim of such violent attacks could just as easily be a law abiding innocent <br />Bay Trail user as a Heron Bay Resident or guest. <br />The crime data included in the materials submitted by staff for your review and consideration are less <br />than illustrative of the actual criminal activity and the trends in the Heron Bay neighborhood of San <br />Leandro. The City web site contains a link to vovw.LnmeReoorts.corn which allows for manual <br />tabulation of all police reports connected with the Heron Bay area of San Leandro going back 6 months. <br />Exhibit "E" lists the total number of "incidents" (criminal and otherwise) for each block of time. I have <br />identified the number of alarm calls as well. More interesting is Exhibit "F" which is a selected sample of <br />incidents that appear by description to be criminal in nature. This exhibit includes 68 separate incidents <br />over the past 6 months and are identified by date and ID number which is, presumably, the police report <br />number. Conspicuously absent from the internet listing are two strong arm robberies and batteries <br />committed as recently as May 29`h and June 7'h involving Heron Bay residents being victimized by <br />trespassing criminals that have access to the neighborhood by reason of the open entrance along <br />Bayfront Drive. <br />Additional factors to consider include the relatively remote location of the Heron Bay neighborhood at <br />the end of Lewelling Blvd separated from the rest of the City by railroad tracks, and surrounded on three <br />sides by marsh lands that contain the Bay Trail. A practical result of this geographic isolation is the delay <br />in police response which can be a deciding factor in the outcome of a violent criminal act occurring <br />within the Heron Bay neighborhood. The violent crimes that afflict this neighborhood are crimes of <br />opportunity made easier by the relatively secluded nature of the neighborhood. Controlling access to <br />the neighborhood with the vehicle gate system makes the neighborhood a less attractive target by <br />creating a higher level of security. <br />Further, suggestions such as security cameras are, at most, effective in recording the criminal act, the <br />aftermath, or at best an image of the perpetrators, not in preventing the crime itself. <br />Last, but not least, precedent as recently as last month with the Floresta Gardens proposal supports the <br />idea that upon good showing, which has been done here, overriding public safety considerations are <br />good cause for an exception to the general preference regarding gate systems. <br />Design of proposed gate system <br />The staff report contains no reference to design or esthetic deficiencies in the drawings submitted with <br />this application. Further the location of the main vehicle/pedestrian controlled access system some 55 <br />feet inside the development should be a sufficiently large visual buffer to mitigate any concern about <br />the esthetic impact of the project. By reasonable inference, there are no issues from a Planning <br />perspective. <br />Operation of proposed gate system <br />The Staff report repeats BCDC concerns regarding impact of a gate system on the Bay Trail Public Access. <br />Ultimately, BCDC has the jurisdiction to approve, suggest amendments, or deny an application seeking <br />31 Page <br />