📣 Save 7th Ave and Brommer: Please attend the November 6 meeting

The clock is ticking, and we have just over three weeks until the November 6 meeting at 9am at the County building.

With the November 6 County meeting approaching, a decision on this development could be just around the corner. We have very little time left to make sure our opposition is heard and included in the official record. Please don't wait until it's too late. We need your help now.

We've worked hard to bring attention to the proposed development at 7th Avenue & Brommer, but we really need more neighbors to get involved. Please make every effort to attend the County meeting, speak up & show that we stand together in opposition to this development as currently proposed. 

Most importantly, please email your opposition to County Planner Jonathan DiSalvo as soon as possible. Make sure you clearly state that you OPPOSE Application No. 261178 and ask that your letter be included in the official public record. Signing the petition is helpful, but individual opposition letters are extremely important.

Here's what we know so far:

• The current proposal is for 100 affordable rental units on just 2.36 acres, with a four-story building reaching 58 feet, 2 inches, only 66 on-site parking spaces and only 52 street parking spots.

• An additional 1.13 acres is anticipated for future housing, and a third parcel of approximately 4.81 acres may also accommodate future development, subject to zoning & coastal restrictions.

• At the September 26 town hall, Supervisor Manu Koenig stated that three phases of approximately 100 units each are anticipated. That means we could eventually be looking at approximately 300 units, although only the first 100 are currently under review.

Here are the main issues we're fighting for:

• Height & density: Reduce the number of units and building height (58.2 ft tall) to better fit our one- & two-story neighborhood. Evaluate whether housing could be better distributed across Parcels 1 & 2.

• Traffic & parking: Provide adequate on-site parking, address existing congestion on 7th Avenue & evaluate access from Brommer Street. Neighbors counted only 52 on-street parking spaces along approximately 1.3 miles of 7th Avenue, most already occupied.

• Emergency evacuation: Require a dedicated evacuation analysis for our neighborhood, Harbor users & beach visitors, including the impacts of future phases. The Fire Marshal's approval of project fire access does not answer the larger evacuation questions.

• Public open space: Preserve meaningful, publicly accessible park space for the entire Live Oak community.

• Natural drainage & infrastructure: Explain how the retaining wall, grading, water, sewer, stormwater systems & METRO service will accommodate this development and any future phases of potentially 300 units.

• Public funding & transparency: County records reference more than $46 million in disaster-relief funding secured for this development. With that level of public investment, why aren't we seeing more improvements to the surrounding community? Our sidewalks need repairs, 7th Avenue Park needs cleanup & restoration, and Live Oak needs more accessible public open space. Why isn't a community park part of the larger plan? Why aren't improvements to roads, pedestrian safety, drainage & public transit being addressed alongside this development? We are asking the County to release the funding agreement, explain exactly how the money is being spent, identify any restrictions on its use & determine whether eligible funds can support these improvements. 

• Future development: Consider the cumulative impacts of the additional units already being discussed before approving the first 100.

We need everyone to participate and make their opposition part of the public record. The developer has identified December 11 as a possible construction start date, so we have very little time.

More than 2,071+ people have signed our petition, but we need more than signatures. We need people to show up and write letters.

We know everyone is busy, and we appreciate all the support so far. But we cannot do this alone. Even a short email stating your opposition and explaining why you oppose the development makes a difference.

Please send your comments to:

Jonathan DiSalvo, County Planner: jonathan.disalvo@santacruzcountyca.gov

State Senator John Laird: senator.laird@senate.ca.gov

Reference: Application No. 261178 — 7th Avenue & Brommer Street

Please also share the petition with your neighbors, friends & local businesses.

We have an opportunity to make our voices heard before decisions are made that will affect this neighborhood for generations. We hope you'll join us.

Thank you all for your help & support!