Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2012 02 23

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file : / / /G1/Planning %20Commis stoning endas /2012/Meeting %20Packets /02092012/ Safeway / C one spondence% 20Received /02.JohnLumpkin.07.13.2011.htm From: John Lumpkin [johnnylump @gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 2:02 PM To: Planning; City Council Subject: Resident comments on proposed mixed -use development on old Safeway site July 13, 2011 Via e -mail to planning@louisvilleco. gov, citycouncil@louisvilleco.gov Dear members of the Louisville Planning Commission and Louisville City Council, and employees of the Planning Department, My name is John Lumpkin. I live at 565 Fireside Street with my wife Alice Srinivasan and young daughter Charlotte. We moved here in 2006 and hope to remain here for many more years. I write to express certain concerns about the proposed mixed -use project at the former Safeway site in Louisville, which is very near our home. I am not opposed to the completion of a high - quality mixed -use project of some density at the site. However, the proposed four -story height is excessive given the building standards that Louisville operates under, particularly in this part of town. It seems to me that structure would loom over this part of the city and be visible from significant distances away. So I would ask the city approve this project only if it would be completed within the existing three -story maximum city law provides for. In addition, I fear the project will further blur the boundary between our subdivision of Louisville North and the commercial areas along South Boulder Road, and this risks becoming a safety issue. Already, we see cars speeding down Fireside Street several times a day, presumably doing some sort of turnaround to get back to South Boulder. Our street has several young children, and our neighbors have expressed concerns, which we share, about the danger this poses to them. With scores of new residents and visitors so close, I would further ask the city take steps to keep traffic out of our neighborhood and calm what vehicles do come our way. Specifically, I propose formal entrances to Louisville North, situated on Centennial and Garfield Streets, at some point between South Boulder and Fireside. I envision landscaped islands that divide the road. Perhaps low speed humps would also be necessary, but it is my hope that cosmetic improvements on the two streets would serve to slow traffic and mark a clear boundary into a purely residential neighborhood of single - family homes. Signage warning drivers about playing children and denoting that there's no way through to Baseline or over to 42 in that area may also be useful. I would note that the Louisville Police Department frequently posts officers and /or its automated speed feedback trailer on Centennial, so some traffic calming of this nature would perhaps allow LPD to employ its resources elsewhere. I am of the view these improvements are necessary now, but they would be come more important should the Safeway site redevelopment go forward. Given our neighborhood will be the most heavily impacted by the proposed development, implementing these suggestions would go a long way to addressing my concerns about the file : / / /G1/Planning %20Commission /agendas /2012/Meetin... respondence% 20Received /02.JohnLumpkin.07.13.2011.htm (1 of 2) [02/01/2012 12:53:31 PM]