HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/20/2021 Item 4, Smith
Wilbanks, Megan
From:carolyn smith <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:ATC - May 20th Meeting - Agenda Item #4 - Anholm Neighborhood Greenway
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Dear Commissioners:
As a long-term SLO City resident, I'm writing to you to express my concern for the future quality of life
of many residents who live in the Anholm Neighborhood. While I don't live in the neighborhood, I
have several friends who do and I'm seriously concerned for them.
It's my understanding that the proposed protected bikeway will remove parking on a significant portion
of one side of Chorro and Broad Streets. As you may or may not know, many of the homes
throughout SLO in older neighborhoods don't have adequate on-site parking with some having short
uneven drive-ways and/or unusable garages. This results in the necessity of many residents having
to utilize street parking in front of their homes to make up for that lack of on-site parking. That is the
case at many homes in the Anholm neighborhood and on most days, particularly evenings and
weekends, cars are parked, often bumper to bumper, on both sides of Chorro and Broad
streets. Removing parking on one side of these street will result in a significant loss of residential
parking spaces, forcing residents to basically fight for a parking space on their street or parking on
other nearby streets, over burdening parking on those streets--a parking shuffle effect.
I feel the need to emphasize that parking is a big concern for elderly residents who need to park near
their homes due to disabilities. Forcing elderly residents to park further down the street, or even on
another nearby street, will create a significant hardship for them. Not only will they have to walk
(some with walkers) a long distance to get to their homes but they'll have to lug bags of groceries and
other supplies to their homes--an impossible task for most. Additionally, caregivers and/or other
medical providers who need to deliver assistance or medical supplies to the elderly residents will
have nowhere to park. These are serious consequences of removing parking in a residential street
where the elderly live, creating life-changing and potentially even life-threatening conditions.
Our City has never turned its back on its elderly residents and has prided itself in appreciating and
respecting our older population, many of whom have not only served this City well in the past but
continue to be productive participants in City issues. However, if this Greenway goes forward as
proposed at the last Council meeting, it will cause extreme hardships for many of our elderly residents
in the Anholm area, favoring a more youthful special interest segment of our City. This is not only
inconsiderate and lacks respect and compassion, but it flies in the face of the city's goal of equitable
treatment for all. It may even be considered illegal since it doesn't support ADA principles and laws.
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While there may be a goal in this city to encourage and convince residents to use alternate
transportation, much of that alternate transportation isn't practical for many of the elderly. Plans to
promote safe alternative transportation should consider all residents to assure that safety and
protection for one group isn't favored over the safety and protection of another.
I urge you to review this issue with an open mind and realize there are unintended consequences of
this plan that may not have been emphasized and seriously considered. As I recall, residents who
live in the Anholm neighborhood went to great lengths to present a viable alternate plan to the City
that would result in less impacts on all residents' needs in this area. It was accepted but then later on
rejected. I ask that that plan be seriously re-considered as an alternative to the current proposed
plan.
Thank you for your careful and respectful consideration.
Carolyn Smith
SLO City Resident
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