Good afternoon,
I am writing to submit a comment in reference to the proposed development at the SRI site at 333 Ravenswood Ave.
The proposed plan has many positives, especially its proximity to mass transit and avoidance of high-rise developments like the one proposed for the Sunset lot. I would like to ask the City Council to very carefully assess the impacts on traffic and public safety, however.
I live on Gloria Circle, adjacent to the SRI/church lot, and the congestion in that area of Middlefield/Ravenswood is already really difficult in the mornings, when there is a backup of traffic to M-A High School. While some of the new households would take CalTrain, many others would be making their way to Willow Road--already another traffic disaster, about to get worse with the Sunset development. Adding to the chaos at the intersection at Middlefield & Ravenswood is its layout. Drivers get confused about how to turn from Ravenswood onto Middlefield and merge, leading to delays, and the intersection has inadequate crosswalks and bike lanes (on Ravenswood) for the schoolkids, who predictably forge their own way walking against traffic and jaywalking across the street. I fear it is only a matter of time until there is an accident there involving a kid.
I warmly invite members of the City Council to bring their morning coffee to that intersection 8:00-8:45am on a weekday before the school year ends (June 6) to get a sense of what you would be adding to.
Thank you very much.
Respectfully,
Michelle Mello
