LETTER: Who¹s a NIMBY now?

EDITOR: The AHA Petaluma Ave./ Walker project has the potential
of being the most just, sustainable, valuable, sensitive and
innovative development perhaps thus far created … invoking and
promoting an exciting and truly progressive community effort.
Although the immediate neighborhoods on Eleanor and Walker
avenues have often received a bad rap regarding being NIMBYs, the
reality is in fact that all along we have supported a low income
housing development here. However our collective vision was that of
senior housing, especially because the property is directly between
Palm Drive Hospital and Sebastopol . Convalescent Hospital. There
is less density, no pedestrian access onto Walker, more setbacks
and of course no more traffic impacts ‹ all very reasonable
requests.
Other than the vehicle access onto Walker Avenue. we have
acquiesced in good faith to all these conditions although we so
much desire to honor and retain the character of this unique very
Sebastopolian neighborhood.
Our bottom line is we absolutely will not accept public vehicle
access on to Walker Avenue; we support emergency vehicle access)
only! The safety concerns and issues of more vehicular traffic on
Walker and Eleanor avenues are too numerous to possibly
consider.
Previously Sebastopol Convalescent Hospital staff and families
would walk or push their client¹s wheelchairs out Walker Avenue to
the beauteous Laguna Uplands which is only a block or two east from
their facility on a relatively level grade. Because traffic has
become so overwhelming there in the last couple of years they have
found it necessary to curtail and eliminate this neighborhood
outing.
Regarding “The fair solution is a split one,” I do not agree
with this at all. It is fair if both playing fields are equal or
level. However the staff at Palm Drive Hospital goes home to hang
up their hats. We hang our hats right here (and many of us on
Eleanor and Walker even work at home). So the playing fields are
far from equal.
Apparently, Sebastopol has passed the Urban Growth Boundary
which makes sense especially when we do our research, consider all
options and make conscious and accountable, wise decisions in our
already very crowded downtown areas.
In all honesty, aren¹t we as a community putting the cart before
the horse by all the “in fill” new development without figuring out
how to alleviate traffic before adding to it?
I would hate to see us drop the ball now or along the way,
making less researched or thought-out decisions or letting fear
and/or pressure control our direction.
I know when we stay pro-active, look at the big picture and
respectfully listen and work together there is nothing that our
wonderful community can not achieve and be proud of in the long
term.
– Adriane Hatkoff, Sebastopol