For years, our local Safeway grocery store and pharmacy have been the heart of our community, serving families, Seniors, and people with disabilities in our neighborhood. Our Safeway grocery store and pharmacy was more than just a store; it was a lifeline for many due to its walkability. But now, we face an 5.95 acres of Mercedes Benz auto dealership plans to take over the Safeway's space, a decision that gravely endangers the welfare and health of our community and community members.

Our neighborhood is not an Auto Row. It is home to thousands of families, vulnerable Seniors, People with disabilities and chronic illnesses,  and several schools with hundreds of students. The construction of a major auto dealership brings with it a host of concerns: increased pollution, increased traffic, and heightened crime rates. Thousands more car trips would be introduced to our residential area each day, compromising the safety of our children, our elderly, and all other residents, pets, and wildlife.

The City of Vancouver current planning and zoning is supporting these applications for planning several auto dealerships in our local neighborhood while at the same time, encouraging us to participate in "CLIMATE-FRIENDLY future. This is utter hypocrisy.

With wildfires at crisis levels in recent years where will the plans for safety be with auto dealerships adjacent to homes and residential neighborhoods and schools? Where is the local/regional safety planning? The City of Vancouver says these replacement of grocery stores and open space with auto dealerships doesn't require an environmental review.

In fact they say the zoning supports it. 

"Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans are primarily powered by diesel engines, with both 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder options available, including a high-output 4-cylinder diesel engine."  
 

The City of Vancouver is piece-mealing developments like this throughout the City/County and making it impossible for community members to have a voice. They did not even schedule a meeting or a hearing so community members could voice their concerns. Their noticing only gave notice to 500 feet around Safeway which is 99% commercial businesses. We community members are having to make flyers and trying to notify neighbors. 

Please sign on to give voice to our community. Due date for signatures is April 2, 2025 no later than 12pm. 

Thank you so much.