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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdditional Public Comment 2.134 E Bleeker StFrom:Denise Diers To:Sarah Yoon Subject:134 E Bleeker HPC Hearing - additional comments & photos to my email comments Date:Monday, March 9, 2020 8:03:54 PM Attachments:134 E Bleeker Comments RE 134 E Bleeker Requested Parking Variances .mp4 Sarah, I have attached the photos, with comments at the top of each, as a video. (its all I could figure out) The video can be paused after each photo loads with comments at the top, to provide time to read the comments. The photos are to help show the currents conditions, including the current strain on alley access and departing issues, since the single parking spaces variances have been approved for the four homes on the west side of this alley. This is a very busy neighborhood, with the Community Church, the Red Brick and the Yellow Brick all bordering this alley. There is a constant stream of children, pedestrians, bicycles and cars in this few blocks. These Public facilities all require parking on the streets for staff, visitors, tenants and parishioners. AND it is not only during the M-F work week. With the recent approvals that have also increased the need for residential parking for the houses in the neighborhood that previously had at least 2 off-street parking spaces available, whether historical platted or not, have exasperated the problem. Plus many of these redeveloped homes serve as second homes, with 1-2 cars already housed at site, but also as rentals, that most times also come with 1-2 cars, especially in the summer months. No matter how many alternatives are found for the cars, they will never go away in a growing, affluent community. Your approvals are adding to the problem on these blocks In addition to the added stress on street parking, your decisions have moved the parking into at least this alley on a regular basis. I am concerned about the emergency response capabilities for the alley access, when access has been a chronic problem since the "big boxes" with reduced parking have been approved in this alley, on both Hallam and Bleeker streets. It is not just the residents or renters, but also the service vehicles and construction vehicles, that either can't find a parking spot on the street, nor want to be bothered with the extra walk, especially when they have tools and parts on vehicles. Access should be through the front doors, but parking isn't available, so the alley has become the choice. By continuing to approve off street parking requirement variances in this area, you are all adding to the problem, rather than being part of a solution. One example: I needed to utilize the RFTA Para-transit van for 8 months in 2019, after the bulk of the construction vehicles no longer occupied and blocked the alley, either completely or partially. So residents, renters, and service providers were the primary problem, not the construction vehicles. There were a number of times I had to cancel my appointments at AVH, etc, as the Van was unable to get through the alley, where my entrance to ADU is located, and I was not physically able to get to the street for pick up. Another was due to residents parking in alley and limiting snow removal, as well as pushing their snow into the alley, the Para-transit Van refused to go through alley for fear of getting stuck. This caused me to worry about my emergency response time if it was ever needed. Can the ambulance or fire dept get through, will they have to spend time going around, sometimes through high activity areas and times with pedestrians, children and cars. Will they even be able to go around if additional alley parking starts at the Aspen St end of my access alley and starts blocking it too? As a senior, I believe I have a reason to be concerned. Last summer I had many service vehicles park behind the garage and outside parking area, preventing anyone from getting in or out until after spending time trying to locate offender to move vehicle (difficult when you are not fully ambulatory). One was a landscaper with a trailer that parked behind the garage, right in the middle of the alley, dropped the gate on his trailer and left it there. He was found 30 minutes later working 3 blocks away? I asked him why - he said he didn't think alley parking was a violation - and this coming from an employee of a long time Aspen business. I know this is a parking enforcement issue Monday - Friday from 8 - 5, BUT it is a problem your decisions are adding to!!!!!!!! This has been causing me to miss and be late for appointments - which is negatively affecting both my business and livelihood, as well as my rehab after the accident, as I still go to rehab at least 3 days per week Please do not allow any parking variances on this "re-development" at 134 E Bleeker. They need to provide parking for 2 full size vehicles. (What percentage of people in this community that can afford this home, will likely own a compact car that can fit in the limited sized garage space? will it even be 1%?) It is just glorified storage space.. Angled parking entry into garage is a solution! Your truly, Denise Diers 127 E Hallam Carriage House Also speaking on behalf of Suttons, current owners at 131 and 127 E Hallam, and Montae Johnson and her heirs, Kevin & Valerie, to home, at 123 E Hallam. O: (970) 920-4921 dediers1@gmail.com Virus-free. www.avast.com Owner owns a Cadillac Escalade that overhangs the current driveway onto Aspen St. Why would you allow just one undersized garage spot, for all parking, for this residence. Obviously requiring a need for additional street parking. Note the Chevy Trk-service and constructions vehicles, due to no available street parking in this area currently, constantly block the alley- sometimes hours, sometimes all day. If an ambulance or fire equip was needed at alley ADU, it would not be able to respond fully! Not to mention the constant irritation with not being able to access/ depart alley parking and ADU entrance – same problem for 127 & 125 E Hallam. The lower level of the barn has been used for a garage and some storage at the front of it. I believe that a creative architect can create an angle entrance off the alley and provide for a full size garage. Plus the access in & out of the garage will be doable, especially in winter. Plus this outside parking spot should be maintained, shown here on east end of barn. Why allow for a parking space to only occupy the third of the length under the shed roof? It can be done and still remove curb cut! Especially since they are eliminating the ADU that has housed a work local since 1992? This parking spot, on east side of barn, has been used since at least 1992. It is not visible from Bleeker, Hallam, or Aspen St. I suggest it be required to remain. Now it is being used only for the small utility and trash enclosure and the new non-Bear proof trash can. The removal of the non-historic balcony addition would allow plenty of height clearance. The restored Victorian at 127 E Hallam has 4 off street parking spots, on the right. It was completed in 1988-1991. The double garage has an ADU on the upper level. The adjacent Victorian also has 3-4 off street parking spots. The 4 homes at the west end of this alley have all been given variances for 1 parking spot. The Yellow Brick is at the west end of this alley and the Red Brick on the Hallam side of Alley, both heavily used public facilities with significant parking needs. Why were these earlier owners in compliance with the zoning and the post 2010 owners allowed parking variances? Suburban may also belong to these owners as it is parked there more often than not. Thus, 2 vehicles that will not fit in the proposed garage parking spot. Community Church is directly across the street, needing street parkin for its staff, parishioners and visitors. Current parking on Aspen St and Hallam St just north of alley boarding 134 Bleeker. Notice Red Brick loading and Crosstown stop area just ahead. No parking allowed, but rest of Hallam is jam packed. The Ecos Stream Van Business adds to the congestion at this location by setting up and cleaning a never ending stream of Cadillac Escalades behind where the Black Chevy is currently parked, to the alley. Current alley parking. They just removed the large snow pile where jeep is now parked. Before the pile was removed, the jeep encroached on the alley. Snow removal with this “allowed” parking is difficult, leaving a narrow alley. Especially when owners move all their snow into the alley. Next owner at end of alley has a 1 car garage requiring renters and services to park in the street, plus commonly behind the garage, again encroaching on alley and preventing access at times when neighbor across alley is doing the same thing. Due to parking in alley on right side just before garage, snow removal is an issue. The snow pile on right has finally been packed enough by the SUV to get by it with a car, but took me a week. Emergency response is always a concern with current situation. Would hate to see other end of alley become similar. (I have tried to get Parking Dept to routinely enforce as they do for the time on the streets, but need constant reminder and it has gotten real old after a number of years. Plus they are not on at night and weekends.