11/26/1973 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Boulevard and Highland Oaks Drive and said that Highland Oaks Drive would be improved in that location as a condition of approval of the PUD. Public hearing was opened. .-- Speaking in opposition to the project_ang~favoring the appeal were: James Kays, 2085 Sunrise Boulevard, temporary chairman of recently organized group in the Hawkins Heights neighborhood Vern Gleaves, 2515 Highland Oaks Drive Donald Bick, 2585 Bowmont Drive Patricia Leonard, 2595 Highland OaksSDrive Roy Adkins, attorney, 825 East Park Street, representing some of the 'residents of the neighborhood Mr. Kays noted recent organization of a group in that neighborhood as a result of opposition to the proposed development, adding that he felt that quite a few of the residents of the area did not see notices of the proposed project. Mr. Gleaves questioned the validity of the vicinity map shown and pointed out' that Highland Oaks Drive is a one-way graveled street. Because of an intervening parcel only a small portion of the project property abuts Highland Oaks Drive. He said he had seen nothing to indicate approval had been given to improvement of High- land Oaks Drive; even though dedication of right-of-way and petition for improve- . ment of a small portion of the street abutting the project property is made a re- quirement of the development, there still exists the one-way unimproved driveway between the existing street and the development. In effect, he said, traffic on Hawkins Lane would increase. Mr. Gleaves disagreed with the PUD concept in that area. He said that even though the density proposed is less than permitted, it is higher than would occur under single-family residential development similar to that in the surrounding area. He said people in that area were concerned because of substantial undeveloped land and indications of a number of other de- velopments on Hawkins Lane. It is the only through street and is inadequate now for vehicular traffic as well as pedestrians using that route to reach transit facilities on 18th. He noted other problems anticipated - further aggravation of vehicular/pedestrian movements because of lack of street lights, potentially dangerous conditions during winter months, access problems for emergency vehicles, lack of adequate parking facilities. Mr. Gleaves urged Council recognition of existing problems which, he said, would be compounded by addition of the planned unit development. He felt permitting a higher than single-family density in that area would be creating problems rather than resolving existing ones. Mr. Bickexpressed concern with lack of turn-around space for emergency vehicles within the subdivision itself. Also, the inherent fire hazard because of the immediately adjacent forested area. He noted lack of equipment to control forest- e type fires which could occu~, saying the same type of hazard would not necessarily be present in single-family development. Mr. Bick expressed concern also about anticipated problems with crime because of inadequate police protection. He felt the ratio of multiple-family developments in this area corresponded to the higher crime incidence there, saying the crime rate increased as well as juvenile problems with the increase in population. He wondered whether lack of recreational facilities in the area contributed to those situations. He thought the City should cope with and solve those types of problems before permitting another higher than single-family density development. At his request Mayor Anderson asked for a show of hands of those present objecting to the project. About 30/40 people responded. Mrs. Leonard questioned the quality of education in schools in that area because of the use of portable units to provide space for children now attending. She wondered too why parks culdn't be used for buffering between residential areas and freeways rather than apartment development. She noted the high percentage of low-income housing in that area compared to other parts of the City and said top quality education is necessary in an area containing a high percentage of low- income children. Mrs. Leonard called attention to lack of park facilities, bike paths, swimming pools, tennis courts in that part of the City, and asked the Council to give the neighborhood an opportunity to work with staff on those types . of problems before permitting additional multiple-family housing. Attorney Adkins called attentiontto the unimproved condition of Highland Oaks Drive and said there was no assurance that the street would be improved. Even if it is improved, he said, traffic volumes would still increase because of the density proposed for the development. He noted that the property now being pro- posed for multiple-unit development carried an RA zone when purchased by the ~44 11/26/73 - 2