SAMPLE LETTER TO CITY/COUNTY REPS

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLE LETTER OR EMAIL THAT CAN BE USED TO SUMMARIZE NEIGHBORHOOD FEELINGS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. YOU CAN ALSO WRITE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT CONCERNS YOU! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU DO SOMETHING! THE TIME IS HERE; WE NEED ACTION NOW!


San Jose City Council/Planning Commission/Board of Supervisors
Dear Sir or Madam:
I'm concerned about a planned development on Fleming Ave in East San Jose. I object most strongly to this development in our neighborhood and I urge to NOT to approve this development.
This development is on the Planning Commission agenda for December 7, 2005, item PDC05-061. It is on the City Council agenda for December 10.
The development is proposed for 18 single family homes at 139 and 145 Fleming Ave on the lot now occupied by The Lord's Baptist Church on the west side of Fleming Avenue between Alum Rock and Neves. The church lot size is only 2.66 acres, meaning these homes will be crammed into relatively small lots, with only one outlet on to Fleming Ave. I am very concerned that this development is too dense, will be out of character for the neighborhood, where existing lot sizes are much, much larger, and will significantly increase traffic congestion and danger on Fleming, which is already suffering from morning and afternoon traffic jams and speeding during off-peak times.
It is to be expected that, with the price of new homes in Silicon Valley, that there will be more than 18 families in this development, stretching the already stressed infrastructure along Fleming Ave. More likely, 2 or 3 families will share a home, exacerbating the parking, traffic, and safety issues already mentioned.
In addition, this is the 4th such high-density development now underway within a 1 mile radius of our homes on Fleming Avenue. Traffic and safety have reached the breaking point on this road, which was originally a narrow country road. Children pass by the planned development site on their way to elementary and middle school, and will soon be faced with many cars turning left on Fleming to get to Alum Rock Road, the fastest way to the freeway.
While this sort of dense development may be appropriate for downtown San Jose, it is out of character for Santa Clara County, and particularly destructive of the quality of life in the unincorporated areas of the County. It is precisely this quality that many residents of the area chose when they decided to locate along Fleming Ave.
What should be done?
1. The proposed development should NOT be approved.
2. The proposed development should be DELAYED until we can study the effects.
3. The proposed development could be considered for a lower number of homes in this parcel, given the neighborhood situation. No more than 8 homes should be allowed.

Sincerely,

[your name]