Stop the condos letters

[George Norberg]

I thought that anyone that submits letters to city officials could cut and paste them here so that everyone could see them.

[George Norberg]

I will start

Re: City View Condominiums at Crane Park

To Whom It May Concern:

It has been brought to my attention that a developer has submitted plans to build condos on the land adjacent to Crane Park. While I understand that the land in question is zoned properly to accommodate high density housing; I have real concerns about safety. The entrance to the development will be using a road that cuts right through Crane Park. This road many believed to be part of the park, much like the parkway that runs north south through the park. With 20 separate units in the development that is a potential of 80 cars or more traveling on that road each day. Not only is that a safety concern for the people that use that park, but also for the people that will be driving that road.
1.   The road is very narrow and steep, will this be corrected? It is it is very dangerous now when snow covered.
2.   When exiting the road on to Westnedge/Park you can not see all the way around the corner. Will this be fixed?
3.   The tennis courts are right next to the road. What safety precautions will be taken?
4.   As that there is a city park on both sides of the road, will there be adequate sidewalk space for pedestrians on both sides of the road?
5.   What additional needs will there be to accommodate emergency vehicles to enter the property.
6.   What type of materials will be used to replace the existing brick road?
7.   Will the developer be responsible for all of the cost associated with the needed infrastructure?

If the development moves forward I am sure that all this issues will be addressed. I would like to request that the parkway running north south through the park be blocked off at the bend, where it meets the entrance of the development. As this is park land it does not need the additional traffic.
Finally, why even allow access to the development through the park? This parcel has more than adequate road frontage on Maple. It may certainly cost more to the developer to use this as the entrance. If it is currently cost prohibitive then maybe it needs to be put on hold until it can be done right and the developer can make a healthy profit. The safety and integrity of Crane Park needs to be considered.

[George Norberg]

Here is another one from a resident. This is the only one I have recieved. The review board meets in two days, I hope they have more than two letters to read.


Messers Abbas and Bauckham,

I am a resident of the Westnedge Hill neighborhood and have been recently made aware that a new plan for a condominium development will be under the Site Plan Review process this week.  Previous plans were approved through this process, however, a setback variance was not approved through the zoning board of appeals.  As part of that process, Francis Jewell agreed with neighborhood residents that the north-south road (park road) should be closed; I applaud that effort and hope that the closure of this park road is still on track.  This is a quiet neighborhood with many runners, walkers, and children playing throughout, and any increase in traffic through the park and through the neighborhood is a serious safety issue.

As a resident with young children who frequently play at Crane Park, I strongly oppose the proposal to route traffic from the condos through the park on Betsy Ann Place.  In my opinion, the increase of at least 40+ cars daily through the park and onto Westnedge Ave/Park Street is an unnecessary and unacceptable safety risk.  The entrance onto Betsy Ann Place from the south is not highly visible during a clear summer day; and I predict there will be many accidents at this intersection with the increase in traffic, especially as traffic comes down the hill in the winter on slick streets.

The turn lane from southbound Westnedge onto Betsy Ann Place may be acceptable, but traffic coming out of the park from the proposed development will not be able to turn south.  If the park road is not closed, that traffic will likely come south through the park and into the neighborhood.  In my opinion, even if the park road does get closed, the increase in traffic will cause an unacceptable increase in congestion on Westnedge (one of the busiest roads in Kalamazoo).

The parcel for which the development is proposed also fronts Maple Street to the north.  Though the grade is steeper in this direction, it is my opinion that Maple Street should be the entrance for this proposed development and not through one of the City's most historic parks (city road or not, Betsy Ann Place is considered a park road by most).

I urge that the Site Plan review process requires the developer to seek an alternate entrance from Maple Street.  Also, the City should consider vacating Betsy Ann Place and putting that road under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department as it should be.  If the Site Plan Review process concludes that this is an acceptable proposal as is, then I strongly encourage the immediate closure of the park road so that the park may still be enjoyed and not bifurcated by traffic.

Please feel free to contact me for any reason.

Thank you for your attention,

Bill Steinmann