PURPOSE
This petition requests that the City of San Jose Planning Department and the Pacific Companies (the Developer) halt construction until a formal Fire Evacuation & Safety Plan is completed.  This plan should encompass the East Foothills for those living East of Alum Rock Ave., upward past Kirk Ave., Flemming Ave., Porter Lane, Golf Drive, Mt. Hamilton, Clayton Rd., Miguelito Rd., Enchanto Vista, Chula Vista, Highlands Dr.
and all neighboring streets and storefronts located East of Alum Rock Ave.

JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES

The Alum Rock Urban Village at 2940 Alum Rock Avenue and 2880 Alum Rock Avenue are within San Jose City limits - District 5, making fire safety and evacuation planning the primary responsibility of the San Jose Fire Department and City Planning, rather than Santa Clara County.  The neighboring streets  East of Alum Rock Ave. are not city-zoned.  They are county-zoned.  Thus, to why we are petitioning for a Fire Evacuation & Safety Plan.  According to recent findings,  the City of San Jose (District 5) failed to work with the County Officials to create a Fire Evacuation & Safety Plan prior to the approval of a state-mandated low-income housing density and urban development.

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WHY IS A FIRE EVACUATION & SAFETY PLAN IMPORTANT?

Just last year, a wildfire ensued above Alum Rock Avenue past the San Jose Country Club (the old Alum Rock
Park entrance), and the neighboring streets East of Mt. Hamilton were on an Evacuation Alert.  Fortunately,
the wildfire subsided, and no evacuation alert was activated.  However, Alum Rock Ave. 130 Corridor is designated as "High Risk Fire" by the CWPP (County Wildfire Protection Plan).   

STREAMLINED APPROVALS
Under state laws such as SB 330, the city’s ability to modify or delay housing projects based on local evacuation concerns is legally restricted once the project meets objective safety standards (applied only to the city and not to the East Foothills, which is county).

EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS

 -  Infrastructure and Traffic concerns, adding up to 400–1,000 new units, will create traffic bottlenecks on  Alum Rock Avenue. 
-  Traffic will affect emergency vehicles' ability to access streets beyond Alum Rock Ave. (East), potentially obstructing emergency access and egress for those families living in the foothills (county).
-  Alum Rock Avenue, 130 Corridor, is a two-lane downward from the hills and a two-lane upward to the hills.   Four lanes total.  That is it.  If there is a mandated fire evacuation, how long will it take for families and businesses to drive to an exit? 

BACKGROUND
Alum Rock Avenue (State Route 130) functions as both a major urban corridor and a connection to foothill and wildland areas. During past wildfires, evacuation warnings have been issued to communities connected to this corridor.

CONCLUSION

Corridor-level evacuation feasibility and cumulative traffic capacity analysis have not yet been completed.

Given the cumulative nature of the proposed development, residents request that public safety and transportation capacity be evaluated before any further implementation decisions are made.