What are the proper goals for the proposed update to the city's
general plan to maintain the quality of life and property values for the
residents of the city?
In a recent "Sounding Board" ("Balance can be found in general plan
update," May 5), Mayor Tod Ridgeway advocated adoption of a "balanced"
solution for the future of the city. His concept of "balance" was to
propose unspecified developments in two "underdeveloped areas" in the
city. He proposed these developments without a discussion of traffic
impacts and in advance of any feedback from the current citizens
committees trying to determine the wishes of the electorate.
His priorities on this issue appear to be developers first, city
second and residents third. Greenlight puts residents first. Its
supporters' idea of "balanced growth" is that developments expanding the
present general plan must be measured by their impact on traffic
congestion, facilities to serve the city and financial benefit to the
city.
Additionally, the mayor's advocacy of development is too broad. Some
developments like hotels or retail operations produce positive revenues
for the city. Schools, hospitals, etc., produce services for the
residents. Such developments, depending on location and full traffic
mitigation, can be considered "beneficial growth." Other developments,
principally high-rise office buildings, lose money for the city over the
long term and are heavy generators of traffic. They can be considered
"abusive growth." Growth should be beneficial or we do not need it.
To provide background and context for our position, the Greenlight
movement started in 1999, when the council voted to materially weaken the
major anti-traffic congestion protections of the Traffic Phasing
Ordinance. While ostensibly being changed for legal reasons, it failed to
close newly opened loopholes that opened the door to extensive
developments in the city. Disturbingly, 10 major projects then appeared,
ready to take advantage of the now relaxed traffic congestion rules.
Those actions threatened the delicate balance between traffic,
business and residents' quality of life. We residents had to resort to
the Greenlight Initiative in response.
Now here are some facts to assist you in judging what is really needed
in the city. By 2010, there will be 66% more internal commercial traffic
than residential traffic, according to estimates of the circulation
element of the current city general plan. Regional traffic (i.e. people
