OPEN LETTER TO SAN JOSE PLANNING COMMISSION

This letter was sent by Julie Ramirez to the San Jose Planning Commissioners and sums of our feelings and the feelings many neighbors share about the impact this and other recent projects have had in our area.

Dear Commissioners:

Thank you for delaying the development proposal by Braddock and Logan to add 14 homes on a 2.66 acre lot on Fleming Avenue. The lack of a site plan and memo from the Fire Department clearly made this proposal incomplete. Additionally, the last minute change of a possible addition of a park added to the confusion. The delay will allow the Planning Department and neighbors to review the revised plan more carefully.

As you can tell by our overwhelming presence and demand for due process, we feel that 14 homes is still too many. Even though not everyone spoke, 25 people waited until 10:30 pm to witness this hearing. That's significant. We had the same number the last time. Our committment and unity speaks to the significant impact and unbearable conditions this project would have on our communtiy.

I am deeply concerned about the perception that Mr. Levy expressed that 14 homes would not have a significant impact on the traffic issues Fleming residents currently experience. Mr. Levy, I would invite you and your fellow commissioners to witness the conditions first hand, especially during the morning and evening commute hours, before coming to those conclusions.

As many neighbors have expressed, Fleming Avenue is truly a unique stretch of county road that buffers city and state jurisdiction. City traffic and density standards should not be imposed on a county road that lacks the infrastructure to support more and more development. Developers seem to fly under the radar by building so-called "small" projects that would have "no significant impact" according to city standards. But it is like mixing apples and oranges! The cumulative effect of these small projects is that we end up with a bigger mess than already exists.

In a effort to mitigate traffic and safety concerns, 2 studies have been launched.
(1) The planning department has agreed to work with Cal-Trans to look at the timing of the traffic light at the intersection of Fleming Avenue and Alum Rock during its peak hours. However, in the course of more than 3 months since the initial deferral, nothing has been done.

Regardless of the outcome of this study, if it ever takes place, I don't believe that the timing change will provide much relief. In fact, it may encourage even more traffic to come our way as opposed to using adjacent neighborhood streets as many commuters currently do to avoid the light.

(2) Secondly, after meeting with concerned neighbors regarding safety, City Councilmember Nora Campos commissioned a traffic study to map out the various jurisdictions, widths, conditions and traffic flow on Fleming Avenue. This data could directly support what neighbors have been saying all along.

The reality is that there are simply too many homes and cars in this neighborhood and our street is maxed-out! It's wide is some spots, narrow in others, side walks sprinked here and there, a paved shoulder here and weeds and dirt there. It is a patchwork of unsightly and dangerous conditions for 2 1/2 miles.

Adding more homes, even a few at a time, has a detrimental affect on the safety of our families.

When considering this development and city annexation, exceptionally careful scrutiny is warranted. The conditions and circumstances of our neighborhoond does not neatly fit into the formulas and standards the city has established to monitor growth. Fleming Avenue is unique--with its mixed jurisdictions and dangerous conditions--and should be treated as such.

Frankly, I believe a moritorium should be placed on all new developments along Fleming Avenue. The communication between county, city and state is clearly non-existent. And until there is a safe system in place, you should say no to this development and ones similar to it. Residents should not be forced to sacrifice their safety and integrity of their neighborhood for the sake of new homes.

For more details, including video clips, meeting recaps and comments, please visit our blog.
https://webmail.cbs.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.eastfoothills.blogspot.com/

Sincerely,
Julie Ramirez
158 Fleming Avenue

DEVELOPER'S PLAN CAUSES CONFUSION AND DELAY

Citing the absence of a specific and updated site plan, and a lack of a Fire Department variance, San Jose planning commissioners sent developer Braddock and Logan back to the drawing board on the Fleming Avenue project, a move the developer admitted could doom the project. At least 25 Fleming and Clareview neighbors sat through the marathon meeting Wednesday night at San Jose City Hall which ended near 11pm. "I don't know what we're reviewing" said a frustrated Deputy City Attorney, "What proposal are we considering?" The confusion stemmed from a series of last minute changes and additions proposed by Jim Sullivan of Braddock and Logan. After tough negotiations with the property owner and the office of City Councilmember Nora Campos, Sullivan agreed to reduce the number of homes from 18 to 14 and include a small 1/2 to 1/3rd acre "pocket park" to add open space where four homes would have been located. But the developer did not produce specific enough plans for the city planning department to review and what was submitted was so last-minute, it did not give anyone, neighbors or the planning staff, time to analyze it before the meeting. Then, in response to concerns raised by commission member Zito about home setbacks (separations), Sullivan appeared to reverse course and unfortunately, take the park proposal off the table. Neighbors stated they would accept a smaller park to allow for more setbacks. Further damaging the developer's efforts, other members noted the developer came to the meeting without a variance from the Fire Department to address safety issues which would have been needed to move forward. The developer said he could obtain a variance soon, but the planning commission said it could not approve such an incomplete proposal and they reluctantly deferred the matter until it's May 24th meeting. But Sullivan said that long of a deferral would likely make the deal with the Korean Baptist Church financially unfeasible for his company.

PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT: PLEASE ATTEND!

The San Jose Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing on our issue tonight at 6:30pm at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose. The meeting takes place in the city council chambers, located on the west side of the rotunda. Free parking with validation is available in the garage underground which can be accessed from 4th street and 6th street.
The proposal has been reduced from 18 to 14 homes with a 1/2 acre pocket park to be jointly developed by Braddock and Logan and the City. This proposal is a significant improvement for the neighborhood, and many thanks should go to all who helped shape it. But it doesn't end there.
While the number of homes has been mathematically reduced, the original plans for the remaining homes remain in place. The city has proposed asking for a variance in the fire code to allow for the smaller than standard turnaround bulb at the end of the proposed cul de sac. The lessons from the Santana Row fire(where several variances contributed to the magnitude and scope of the destruction) are that you cannot compromise on fire safety. This development is going into a semi-rural area with grassy hillsides and homes directly across the street. A fire in any one of the homes could set the others on fire due to their height and proximity to one another.
We feel that a further reduction of at least one more home is needed for several reasons. That would allow for increased setbacks between the proposed homes. Wider setbacks would solve several problems at once:
-it would increase fire safety, allowing the developer to widen the cul-de-sac.
-it would increase fire safety by allowing more defensible space between the homes.
-it would allow wider driveways and solve parking issues.
-it would allow the development to visually blend into the existing neighborhood, where average setbacks are much wider.

Meantime, traffic continues to be an issue that needs to be solved on Fleming. Below is a video taken just this morning showing a traffic jam that grew to 1/4 mile on Fleming at Alum Rock.
http://www.vimeo.com/clip:67389

UPDATE:POCKET PARK NOW IN THE PLANS

Plans to develop homes on the lot of The Lord's Baptist Church on Fleming Avenue now include a 1/2 acre pocket park, according to officials in the office of City Councilmember Nora Campos.
During negotiations with Developer Braddock and Logan, Campos was able to reduce the number of proposed homes from 18 to 14 AND include a 1/2 acre "pocket park" according to her policy aide Todd Rufo. Rufo also said the park would front Fleming Avenue in the spaces previously designated as lots 1 through 4 (CLICK ON ABOVE PHOTO FOR DETAIL). Details on the park's design would still need to be worked out, after input from neighbors.
Keep checking this space for more details and plan on attending a Planning Commission meeting this Wednesday, April 26th, at 6:30 pm at San Jose City Hall.
Please post comments regarding these developments so we can relay them to the Developer and Councilmember Campos.

DEVELOPER DOWNSIZES PLAN: 14 HOMES PROPOSED

Developer Braddock and Logan is submitting new plans for the proposed Fleming Avenue project, downsizing the number of homes from 18 to 14, but the plans do not include a "pocket-park" as requested by neighbors. This revision comes just days before the plans are scheduled to go to the San Jose Planning Commission on Wednesday, April 26th, 2006. While this revision is a step in the right direction, it falls short of the 8 to 10 home plan that neighbors have repeatedly requested based on density, traffic and safety issues on Fleming Avenue. Below you will find the SJ Planning Department memo that recommends approval of this plan. Please read it and comment in the space provided on this blog: ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THIS REVISED PLAN? LEAVE COMMENTS ON THE BLOG! AND LASTLY, PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, AT 6:30pm AT SAN JOSE CITY HALL!
SUPPLEMENTAL MEMO
SUBJECT: PDC05-061/C05-079, PREZONING FROM UNINCORPORATED COUNTY TO A (PD) PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ZONING DISTRICT AND R-1-5 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT ON A 2.93 GROSS ACRE SITE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF FLEMING AVENUE, APPROXIMATELY 1,032 FEET SOUTHEAST OF ALUM ROCK AVENUE.

BACKGROUND
This item was heard by the Planning Commission on January 11, 2006. After receiving public testimony, the Planning Commission deferred the proposal to April 12, 2006 to allow the developer to address community concerns regarding density and traffic issues and to address the Commission’s concerns regarding fire access. In response to the applicant’s request for additional time to negotiate with the property owner, the item was deferred to April 26, 2006.
In response to neighborhood concerns regarding density, the applicant is now proposing to reduce the number of allowed units from 18 to 14. Staff has prepared revised Draft Development Standards that reflect the current proposal (see attached). The Fire Department has indicated that fire access issues can be resolved either through a revised cul-de-sac/hammerhead design or via a Fire Variance. Planning and Public Works staff believe that the expanded cul-de-sac/hammerhead options are unacceptable and have recommended that the applicant pursue the Fire Variance option.
At the January 11th public hearing, residents of the area expressed concern regarding the vehicle back-up that occurs on Fleming Avenue during the morning commute due to cars seeking to turn left onto Alum Rock Avenue. Public Works staff indicated that it might be possible to improve the situation by adjusting the signal timing to allocate greater green time to the left-turn movement and agreed to initiate discussions with Caltrans, which has jurisdiction over Alum Rock Avenue. Public Works staff have indicated that they have not yet been successful in obtaining a response from Caltrans on this issue, but that they will continue to pursue the matter.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council approve the proposed prezoning to R-1-5 Single-Family Residence District on the 0.23 acre site as originally recommended, and approve the prezoning on the 2.7 gross acre site to A(PD) with a maximum of 14 units, as indicated in the attached revised Draft Development Standards.



JOSEPH HORWEDEL, ACTING DIRECTOR
Planning, Building and Code Enforcement


cc: Sue Dillion
Braddock and Logan
1700 The Alameda, #210
San Jose, CA 95126
Attachments
Revised Draft Development Standards for PDC05-061
Original Staff Report
Location Maps
Land Use Plan for PDC05-061

PUBLIC MEETING RESCHEDULED...AGAIN!

A San Jose Planning Commission meeting has been scheduled for April 26th, 2006 at 6:30pm at City Hall to discuss the future of the Fleming development on the site of the Lord's Baptist Church.

Please disregard a notice that was recently mailed out to Fleming area neighbors about a planning commission meeting on April 12th. San Jose planning officials tell us that the reason for the reschedule is that the developer, Braddock and Logan, requested a delay. The company is still in negotiations with the property owners to lower the purchase price, thereby allowing fewer homes to be built on the property. The developer is proposing to demolish the church and build 18 single family homes on the 2.6 acre site with a cul-de-sac in the middle. Neighbors have been fighting the development plans due to crowding, traffic and safety concerns on Fleming Ave.

These negotiations have been on-going for the last three months, ever since the last planning commission meeting in January. At that meeting, a big turnout and a strong showing of opposition from our neighbors prompted the planning commission to take the project off the fast track.

So far, the powers that be have listened to us because our opposition to these plans has been strong and organized. We must continue to keep up that spirit. This will be a long process, and there could be more delays. Keep checking this site for future updates!

UPDATE FROM COUNCILMEMBER NORA CAMPOS

Many Fleming area neighbors have been asking about the status of the Korean Baptist Church project. Thanks for your continued concern! We asked for and received the following update from our councilmember Nora Campos:

In January, the proposed project at the Lord's Baptist Church was deferred for 90-days to allow the developer to address concerns raised by the community and the Planning Commission. Later that month, I met with representatives from the community to discuss their concerns with the project. I presented these concerns to the developer and property owners and asked that they work to address the issues raised by the community. Since that time, the developer has been in conversations with the current property owner to try and reduce the number of proposed units. If an agreement is reached, any revised plan would come back to the Planning Commission for public comment and review. If you have any questions, comments or additional concerns regarding this project, please feel free to contact Todd Rufo of my staff at todd.rufo@sanjoseca.gov or 408-535-4948. As reference, agendas for the Planning Commission are available online at: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/hearings/

As an update on our work on Fleming Avenue, I have asked City Staff to study traffic flow and vehicle/pedestrian safety on Fleming Avenue from Alum Rock to Morrie Drive. This includes an analysis of the concerns and recommendations raised in my meeting with the community. Specific areas for review include traffic speeds, vehicle counts, analysis of stop signs / crosswalks, mapping city / county jurisdictions, and evaluating narrow points along Fleming Avenue. Because several sections of Fleming are in the County, City Staff is working with County Staff on similar data in the County sections. This study is an important first step to improving traffic flow and safety on Fleming Avenue. While I will keep you posted as we move forward, if you have any additional questions, again please feel free to contact Todd Rufo in my office.

Councilmember Nora Campos

IN OTHER NEWS: BIG FLEMING FIRE!

For DRAMATIC video clips of this fire click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRJkjgHzKhw

San Jose Fire Department crews rushed to the scene of a house fire on Fleming Avenue tonight. When fire crews arrived, smoke was rising out of the two-story house at 101 Fleming Ave. Several trucks and fire apparatus blocked off Fleming to fight the blaze. Firefighters used ladders to get to the roof of the home to vent the flames, while others ventured inside the burning home to look for possible victims. Flames and burning debris could be seen dropping around firefighters as they struggled to get the fire under control. This was the second fire on this property in the last few months. The property recently sold and the lot is on the books for a possible subdivision of three homes. Unfortunately, the fire struck at about 6:00 pm, and many Fleming area neighbors were just arriving home, only to find the road blocked off. Traffic was detoured for about two hours after the blaze. The cause of the fire was traced to electrical wiring on the second floor of the home. No one was injured, but three residents were displaced, according to San Jose Fire Department spokesman Alberto Olmos.


WATCH VIDEO:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRJkjgHzKhw

UPDATE: MEETING WITH CITY COUNCILMEMBER NORA CAMPOS

The meeting with Nora Campos went well. She promised to "work with us" and take our recommendations to a meeting she has with the seller and developer next week. She said a "pocket park" could make sense on this lot. Essentially that means the developer would design and build a green area with equipment to meet the neighbors' desires, and the city would maintain it. We recommended no more than 8 homes and various remedies to decrease speed and increase safety:

-reducing the speed limit on Fleming Avenue from 35 to 30 mph
-adding electronic speed monitoring signs, such as those recently installed on Kirk
-adding more speed enforcement
-improving city/county/neighborhood communication and outreach on proposed developments

We hope to learn more after this meeting between the seller, buyer and Nora. So far we haven't heard if either side is willing to compromise.

After our neighborhood and Planning Commission meetings, it has become clear that Fleming needs some added attention. It is now getting that attention.

Thanks to Nora and her assisant Todd Rufo for their concern and helping us work through this issue. And thanks to all the neighbors who's attention and action have fueled this effort. A special thanks to Tony Alexander and Mrs. Priccolo for attending the meeting with us. We need to keep up the pressure to get what our neighborhood needs!

PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN CONCERNS/SUGGESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS AREA OF THIS POSTING BELOW!

FLEMING NEIGHBORS AN OVERWHELMING FORCE:PROJECT DELAYED FOR 90 DAYS!

Citing an "unbearable" traffic situation on Fleming Avenue, as well as potentially dangerous fire protection issues, the San Jose Planning Commission put the Fleming development proposal on hold for 90 days to give our neighborhood and the developer time to come up with a lower density plan.
At least 30 Fleming area neighbors came to City Hall, held signs and spoke to the planning commission with passionate but thoughtful arguments against the proposal to build 18 homes on a 2 1/2 acre lot now occupied by The Lord's Baptist Church.
Neighbors brought up traffic and pedestrian safety issues, the number of recent car crashes, the cumulative effect of several recent home developments in the area, as well as appealing to the commissioner's sense of doing what's right, not just what may be legally allowed by city codes.
Noting photos showing a 1/4 mile long morning traffic jam, Commission Member Xavier Campos disputed a San Jose Planning Department staff report saying that Fleming has a relatively minor "C" traffic condition. "The reality is, there is an "F" condition on Fleming," he said.
But the one issue that seemed to doom the plan, at least for the short term, is the fact that the San Jose Fire Department recommended against the proposal, due to inadequate space for fire trucks to operate in the proposed cul-de-sac. The fire department's memo against the project was buried in the pages of a 6 month old staff report, but brought to light by Julie Ramirez who studied the document diligently in the weeks prior to the meeting.
"I can't imagine this committee approving this project with the comments made by the fire department" said Commission Member Jay James. "Without the Fire Department's approval, it is not a complete project," he added.
According to developer Jim Sullivan, there are at least two possible next steps for Braddock and Logan: negotiating with the property owner to lower the selling price enabling a lower density project to move forward, or walking away from the deal. Sullivan noted that the 90 day delay crushes the land owner's desire to close escrow by February 1st.
There will most likely be another meeting with neighbors, the developer, the property owner and City Councilmember Nora Campos to decide how to proceed from here.
But one thing is certain, the commission's action to delay this proposal was a stunning setback for the developer, and an incremental victory for the neighborhood.

ATTEND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY

Please plan to attend the San Jose Planning Commission meeting scheduled for this Wednesday, January 11th, at 6:30 pm in the City Council chambers at the NEW San Jose City Hall. This is a crucial meeting for us, since the planning commission is the body that will recommend action to the San Jose City Council. We need to turn out in force and make our case in a compelling, fact-based manner.
The facts ARE on our side:
--This plan is too dense for our neighborhood
--This plan is dangerous because it creates a new hazard at an intersection that has been the scene several car crashes in 2005 (see list of car crashes and photos below)
--This plan would worsen traffic on a street never designed to carry the traffic it has now
--This plan is one of 5 high-density projects from the same developer Braddock and Logan w/in a 1 mile radius. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

We need to let the city know that we can do better.
WHAT WOULD WORK?
Use this forum to post your own comments and ideas!
One idea that came out of our December 1st neighborhood meeting would be to allow up to 8 homes on the lot, with the developer building-in a small green open space for neighborhood kids to throw a ball or a small playground. Let's go for high quality, not high density!

The new City Hall is located at the intersection of E. Santa Clara and 4th Street in downtown San Jose. Parking is available in the underground parking garage.
ANYONE WHO NEEDS A RIDE OR WANTS TO CARPOOL/CARAVAN contact Julie at
julcoram@aol.com
SEE YOU THERE!!

SJ POLICE CAR CRASH AT FLEMING/MAHONEY

An on-duty San Jose Police Officer was involved in a serious injury accident on Fleming Avenue at Mahoney in our neighborhood. Preliminary information is that the officer -- a canine unit with a dog in the back seat -- was the victim of a high speed hit and run. The officer may have suffered a concussion from the impact which threw his car sideways at the Mahoney stop sign. The police dog apparently escaped injury. According to witnesses, the driver of the other car may have veered into the officer's lane and forced the police car off the road.
More details to follow.

CRASH AT LORD'S BAPTIST CHURCH IS 7TH ON FLEMING IN 2005

We were awakened by the sound of screeching tires and crunching steel on Fleming Avenue. It was another crash. This one happened at the driveway to The Lord's Baptist Church, at the exact spot where Braddock and Logan plan to put a new street to access the development of 18 homes. Fortunately, no one was injured. But the driver told me he was trying to pull out of the church parking lot to turn onto Fleming when he was struck by a fast-moving pickup. There were wet and foggy conditions at the time. This goes to show how dangerous Fleming has become with too much traffic and too much speed. It also demonstrates what we have been saying all along, that Fleming is too dangerous and too narrow with the traffic it has now, and to add to it at this critical spot, is insane. This is a reminder as to why we are fighting this development. Next time, could it be one of us?
UPDATE: CHP traffic records show this was the 7th vehicle collision on Fleming Avenue in 2005, and the 3rd collision of the year at the intersection of Fleming and Fleming Court!

Here is the list of crashes on Fleming in 2005:

May 1st at Fleming Ct. 2-car collision
June 15 at Altadena Rd. 2-car collision
July 18 at Fleming Ct. 3-car collision
Oct. 22 at East Hills Dr. 2-car collision
Oct. 30 at East Hills Dr. 2-car collision
Dec. 17 at McVay single carhit and run
Dec. 23 at Fleming Ct. 2-car collision

source: Officer Perea/CHP Public Affairs San Jose

PLANNING COMMISSION POSTPONED 'TILL JAN. 11!

Citing neighborhood concerns, the San Jose Planning Department has taken the Fleming Avenue proposal OFF the Planning Commission agenda for Wednesday, December 7!

The planning department has deferred the item due to our concerns and placed it on the agenda for January 11th. The planning department did this after sending a representative to our meeting on Thursday night and listening to our concerns with this project. Your overwhelming presence at that meeting, and intelligent comments regarding density, traffic and safety have been heard. The Planning Department has, in effect told the developer Braddock and Logan, to come back with a better plan, hopefully with lower density. We can consider this a small victory, but this is certainly not the end of this.

We need to continue doing what we are doing:
-BANDING TOGETHER
-STUDYING THE ISSUES
- KEEPING UP THE HEAT ON OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES!

Thank you all for your support and hopefully, we can all make our East Foothills neighborhood a better place to live!

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]

CARPOOL CARAVAN TO TAKE ON CITY HALL

Join the carpool caravan to go to San Jose City Hall Wednesday night to attend the Planning Commission meeting. Julie Ramirez, julcoram@aol.com is coordinating this effort. Please meet at the Save Mart parking lot at 5:00pm, Wednesday, December 7th. Signs will be distributed at this time. Feel free to make your own if you wish. We will depart promtly at 5:30pm. Let's make a strong, united showing at this very important meeting!

BY POPULAR DEMAND! LINKS TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL

Several neighbors asked for me to establish links on this site to the San Jose Planning Commission and City Council. The links are now up, and can be found on the right margin of this blog. Please take the time to email commission members and city councilmembers. Each person on the commission and the city council should be emailed by as many people as possible. At this stage of the game, it's our only hope.
By the way...the Fleming development is on the Planning Commission agenda for December 7th, at 6:30 pm and the City Council agenda for December 13th at 7:00 pm . In both cases, our issue is listed on the CONSENT CALENDAR, which lumps it in with a bunch of other proposals that do not get much, if any, individual consideration because they are recommended by the city staff and deemed to be ROUTINE! This is anything but routine to us, but it goes to show that to city officials, this is nothing more than a rubber-stamp process, IF WE DON'T SPEAK UP! There will be an opportunity for all of us to speak at the time the consent calendar is brought up.

NEIGHBORS MAKE STRONG SHOWING, ARGUE FOR SMALLER DEVELOPMENT

About 35 neighbors braved a Thursday night storm to voice their opposition to a proposal to build 18 homes on Fleming Avenue between Alum Rock Avenue and Neves Way. Neighbors stood shoulder to shoulder inside Len and Julie Ramirez' Fleming Avenue home to express concerns to Jim Sullivan of Braddock and Logan Group, the developer of the project, and Todd Rufo, Policy Advisor to City Councilmember Nora Campos. Neighbors said their biggest concerns are density, traffic and the danger the project would create for drivers and pedestrians as well as aesthetic and quality of life issues. Sullivan told the neighbors that his company is complying by San Jose General Plan development guidelines since the property would be annexed to the city of San Jose. Currently, the property of The Lord's Baptist Church is in county jurisdiction. Sullivan also said those guidelines stipulate that the project would have no major impact on traffic since it is less than 50 units. Neighbors strongly disagreed, pointing to photo enlargements displyed on a TV screen showing a 12-hundred foot traffic backup that occurs daily on Fleming Avenue as it is. Neighbors also made several suggestions to mitigate the problems, such as acquiring a lot on Clareview to build a second road outlet to the development, lowering the number of homes to be built, and/or creating buffers to lessen the impact of traffic and congestion. Rufo promised to make a detailed report of the meeting to Councilmember Campos, and neighbors were urged to write emails to their city and county representatives.
Neighbors concerned about this must speak up at the San Jose Planning Commission meeting, scheduled for December 7th at 7:00 pm in City Hall. More on this meeting coming soon.

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLANNED

Mark December 1st, 2005 on your calendars. We have scheduled a meeting with a representative from Braddock and Logan regarding the development of the lot now occupied by The Lord's Baptist Church.
The meeting is set for Thursday, December 1st, 2005 at 7:00pm at our home, 158 Fleming Ave. This will be an important first meeting for neighbors concerned about this project. We will have a chance to let the developer know exactly what our concerns are, such as traffic, high density, and hear directly from them, what they plan to do in our neighborhood. Also attending the meeting will be the policy advisor to District 5 City Councilmember Nora Campos. Please check back to this blog for updated information. And please feel free to use this blog to write in your own questions or concerns in the comment area. Let's make our East Foothill neighborhood a better place to live!

IS THE FLEMING TRAFFIC JAM ABOUT TO GET WORSE?

If you're visiting this site, you've probably been stuck in the massive traffic jam that happens every weekday morning on Fleming Avenue. If not, let me clue you in. So many cars jam on to Fleming that traffic routinely backs up 11 to 12-hundred feet from Alum Rock Avenue. Sometimes the string of cars goes all the way back to Neves. What's going to happen if a developer builds 21 new houses right in the middle of this? Figuring two cars per household, that may be up to 42 more cars joining the line-up.

Click here for a slideshow on Fleming's traffic jam:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1963980577152606501&q=fleming

Please join other Fleming neighbors who would like to make our East Foothills a better place to live.
Attend a Planning Commission meeting on December 7th, @ 6:30 pm in City Hall.
Attend a City Council meeting on December 13th, @ 6:30 pm in City Hall.

BE INFORMED! SPEAK OUT!

Len and Julie Ramirez
lenramirez@aol.com
julcoram@aol.com