BROWN Daren M <br />From:Ocean Howell <ohowell@uoregon.edu> <br />Sent:Monday, March 05, 2018 8:13 PM <br />To:GIOELLO Nick R <br />Subject:public comment on Capital Hill PUD (PDT 17 Ï 01) <br />Dear Nick Gioello, <br /> I am writing about the Capital Hill PUD (PDT 17 – 01). I ask that you enter this letter into the record <br />and that you confirm receipt of this letter. <br /> I am stunned to see that the Planning Staff Report of 2/28/18 recommends approval of this project. I am <br />concerned about the impact on Hendricks Park and the Ribbon Trail, as well as on property values for the entire <br />neighborhood, but I am particularly worried about safety along Capital and Spring. <br /> I live at 2480 Malabar Dr., near the 5-way intersection of Madrona, Spring, Capital and <br />Woodlawn. From my kitchen window I watch multiple cars a day speed through this intersection without even <br />braking, mostly coming down Capital. I am a professor--an historian of urban history and urban planning--at <br />the University of Oregon, and I commute by bicycle. The ride is threatening. The roadway is narrow, with <br />multiple blind curves. I have had countless close calls with cars, particularly when returning up the hill, and a <br />car passes me on a blind curve, only to encounter opposing traffic. If I'm at the office after dark, I will not bike <br />home because reflective clothing and bike lights are not enough to make a rider visible. I do not feel safe. I <br />commuted by bike, during rush hour, on Market Street into downtown San Francisco for five years, and I had <br />nowhere near the number of close calls that I have had in just two years on Spring. I'd like to add that I am an <br />avid road biker and a retired professional skateboarder. I am no alarmist when it comes to traffic (in fact I made <br />a living out of playing in traffic in my late teens and early twenties). The blind curves and the condition of the <br />shoulders makes these roads truly dangerous. The walk is not much better, particularly at night. I have often <br />found myself pushed into shrubs on the side of the road in order to avoid cars. I have a two-year-old daughter, <br />an eight-year-old son, and a puppy. I am already incredibly nervous about walking with them through the <br />neighborhood, and I cannot imagine what it will be like if this project is permitted. Are there 34 houses on <br />Capital and Alta Vista now? This PUD will essentially double the traffic on these narrow, winding, non- <br />conforming streets. <br /> I'd also like to add that I am a big supporter of infill. This project, however, is not in keeping with the <br />spirit of the movement towards infill development. The definition offered by the Maryland Sustainable Growth <br />Commission is typical: "Infill refers to the development of vacant parcels within previously built areas. These <br />areas are already served by public infrastructure, such as transportation, water, wastewater, and other <br />utilities." By contrast, the Capital Hill PUD is poorly served by literally every category of infrastructure, <br />perched at the very edge of the urban area, abutting protected parkland. It would be irresponsible to approve <br />this project under the rubric of infill. Most importantly: it's not safe. <br /> I strongly urge you to reject the proposal. <br />1 <br /> <br />