We need 1,500 emails sent to the Santa Cruz City Council to tell them they have an objective standard which the proposed building project at 831 Water St. does not meet which can stop the ministerial, process from taking away their say and our say.

We do not want more fatalities of bike riders or pedestrians in the City of Santa Cruz. There is a safety concern regarding the traffic and backup of cars to get into the proposed 831 Water St. project. Experienced traffic and senior health educator in Santa Cruz, Theresia Rogerson who is involved in the Vision Zero program to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Santa Cruz, wrote "The driveway location would not be safe for pedestrians and bicyclists." 

If the developer is allowed to use SB 35, there is no environmental review on the project but an unmet objective standard can trigger a review. However, will the Santa Cruz City Council enforce the objective standards being identified by the community and protect our health and safety by recommending a change to the proposed plan and put a stop to the minstrel process on this project? Not unless WE TAKE ACTION AND WRITE THE CITY COUNCIL!
We need 1,500 emails sent to the Santa Cruz City Council From Sept 6 through Sept 11 to allow your emails to be read before the city council's meeting on the project on Sept 14th. Write citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com and the Transportation Manager, Nathan Nguyen, nnguyen@cityofsantacruz.com to let them know the driveway access does not meet our basic standard for health and safety.

Here is a sample email. (You can add to and delete as you wish).

Dear Santa Cruz City Council and Nathan Nguyen,

Your help is needed to deny the proposed project at 831 Water St. in Santa Cruz. The project does not meet the required objective standards, satisfy the requirements for health and safety, nor the requirement for a density bonus. 

1. The driveway access on the downhill slant is dangerous to bike riders and the north fire lane/commercial vehicle access is dangerous to pedestrians: Theresia Rogerson of Vision Zero for eliminating traffic fatalities in Santa Cruz wrote, "The driveway location would not be safe for pedestrians and bicyclists." Do you want a decision made that likely would cause more accidents and possible deaths?

2. Other areas of concern are the total number of units: The development would be 145 units on less than one acre, the zoning allows up to 55 units per acre. It is zoned for 40 feet tall and should include open space. This project's height is 60 ft.

3. This development currently has the affordable units segregated from the market-rate units in a separate building. The state requirement for SB 35 developments is to have affordable units distributed throughout the development. Santa Cruz City requires the affordable units to be dispersed throughout the development (Inclusionary Ordinance & Density Bonus Ordinance). 

4. Truly affordable housing is a very good idea but not at the expense of the health and safety of many in our community.

We want projects built with affordable housing that do not put the community's safety in question.

Write: citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com

and nnguyen@cityofsantacruz.com

Your email is critical. 1,500 emails are needed. It is the only way the City Council will act. Our large numbers on this petition and those who have written in the past have made a difference.

Take a stand against unsafe development as a symbol for what we will not tolerate. WRITE TODAY!