-----Original Message-----
From: Winston Albert
To: charlessands@aol.com; bbeaumont@co.marin.ca.us
Cc: les@homesteadvalley.org; skinsey@co.marin.ca.us; jtejirian@co.marin.ca.us; BCrawford@co.marin.ca.us; info@marinhorizon.org; RHamar@marinhorizon.org
Sent: Fri, Jul 9, 2010 12:12 pm
Subject: Re: DPW hearing re: Proposed Evergreen Ave. "sidewalk".
Dear Mr. Sands et al,
With all due respect, this conversation regarding a proposed Evergreen Avenue sidewalk as presented in Mr. Sands’ email below seems to be obsessed with all the micro technicalities of the issue: how wide is it, what type of edging should be specified, how far apart on center are the galvanized metal bollards, what sort of crushed granite is used, and so forth.
Can we back up here and take a look at the larger picture? Who proposed that we run a sidewalk of any kind down Evergreen Avenue? Who voted for or petitioned for such a proposal? Is that what we want for our neighborhood? Have the homeowners along Evergreen said that’s what they want? Won’t such a sidewalk change the character of the street in a very significant way? How would it impact on-street parking and right of way for the cars driving along the street? If a sidewalk is desirable, who decides how it’s constructed or what it looks like? Aside from the aesthetics, who will maintain it? I imagine all of these questions are just the tip of the iceberg.
Furthermore, this conversation has a distinct vindictive ring to it: who pays what percentage of the proposed sidewalk, what prohibitions are placed on MHS vehicles, who is responsible for what percentage of the area’s traffic. It feels to me as though someone is looking to punish MHS for their expansion and allegedly biased environmental impact report by sticking them with the cost of a gigantic, potentially hideous sidewalk.
Let’s please not cut off our nose to spite our face here. If MHS needs to be penalized for erroneous omissions in their report or other building/operating code violations, or if they need to revise their traffic plan to improve pedestrian safety, then let’s find the proper forum for that discussion rather than trying to create financial burdens and other impositions for them. Let’s keep the issues clear. Let’s be constructive. Let’s put common sense before codes and regulations. And let’s be darned sure we know what we are asking for.
If the Homestead Valley community as a whole has grievances with MHS, or any other body for that matter, I would like to know that we have properly vetted the issues and have engaged in an open process to establish the objectives before we make allegations of gross misconduct, call for punitive actions, or seek specific remediation that affects us all as a neighborhood.
Speaking of which, when and where is the DPW hearing on this sidewalk proposition to be held?
Sincerely,
Winston Albert
XXX Rydal Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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