Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2012 02 23

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file : / / /GI/Planning %20Commission/ agendas / 2012 /Meeting %20Packets /0209...2/ Safeway / Correspondence% 20Received/ 03 .WillDeaverEmai109.06.2011.txt since 2004 and look forward to many more years in the area, working, playing, and raising our family. I am writing to inquire about the status of the proposed redevelopment plan for the Safeway site on South Boulder Rd. We were able to attend a presentation of the plan earlier this summer and had mixed feelings about the proposal. We certainly want to see some positive development there, in place of the vacant building and parking lot. Much of what was proposed seemed very positive, and certainly better than some of the alternatives such as discount big box retail. At the same time, we are pretty concerned about a couple of aspects of the proposal, namely the height of the buildings and the potential for increased traffic in our neighborhood (and in particular on our street). Concerning the height of the buildings, we understand that an exception would be needed to allow the proposed 4 -story apartments. Based on that information and our own observations around town, it seems that such an exception would make these the tallest buildings in Louisville. That is a concern not only because of the visual impact it could have on the neighborhood, but because of the precedent it would set for the rest of the town. Certainly, it would seem that an exception in this case would only make it easier for future exceptions to be made, which could change the dynamic and feel of the small town we all know and love. Concerning the traffic, I believe one of my neighbors and friends, John Lumpkin, wrote you about some of the traffic issues on Fireside Street. For some reason, the street seems to be a cut through, which is strange, considering South Boulder Rd is only a block away. I believe that part of the issue is that people from the west part of the neighborhood, coming down Garfield, will cut through Fireside to get to the Safeway shopping center from Centennial, rather than wait to turn left at the light at South Boulder Rd. With any kind of redevelopment, I believe that because there is access to the shopping center off of Centennial, cars will continue to cut through Fireside to avoid the light at Garfield. Likewise, we believe that if there is increased housing developed on the Safeway site, traffic will increase at the Centennial /South Boulder light. This will likely lead to neighborhood traffic from Centennial Drive funneling towards Garfield down Fireside, as people from the east side of the neighborhood try to avoid congestion at the Centennial light on South Boulder. Regardless of development options, with Fireside just one block off of file : / / /GI/Planning %20Commission/ agendas / 2012/ Meetin... pondence% 20Received/ 03.WillDeaverEmai109.06.2011.txt (3 of 4) [02/01/2012 12:53:31 PM]