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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 - Balboa Branch Library / Fire Station No. 1 Concept Review and Approval — Project No. 23F12 - CorrespondenceMay 13, 2024 Received After Agenda Printed May 14, 2024 Agenda Item No. 11 Mayor O'Neill and City Council Members 110 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Walter Bell, Civil Engineer 113 East Bay Avenue Newport Beach, CA 92661 waltercbeti@outtook.com Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 Replacement Project Dear Mayor and Council Members, I live part time at the 133 E Bay residence. The house is located approximately 50 feet from proposed entrance as shown in option 1 of the Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 project. We have been watching the design progress of the project and are excited about bringing some new energy to our neighborhood. The existing library holds many good memories of visiting with my grandparents. The new playground and outdoor uses add a fun element for my child and her cousins to enjoy when we visit the area. I am overall very supportive of the project and would like to help keep it on path. The two concerns I have are creating new short circuit traffic routes through the area and the entrance on the east side of the building. As you know we have a tight network of one-way streets that serve the area between the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and the "Fun Zone." The alleys are characteristically small and reminiscent of when the area was nothing more than summer shacks. The "charm" of these small alley's is also one of the draw backs of the area. The alley system is not designed to handle flow in more than one direction or even two vehicles at the same time. In order to bring my stand-up paddle boards or small boats back form the bay beaches west of the NHYC we need to drive back on Balboa Blvd. I say this to show the streets are designed with a plan to minimize the backwards flow of traffic in the neighborhood. If we add a new "short cut" or as I referred to it as a "short circuit" we will be creating a new backroad. If it was simply to serve the library, it wouldn't be an issue but as we all know summer brings frantic people looking for parking and willing to drive a little reckless to get to the next street looking for a spot. I foresee the use of this tiny alley as a short cut for summer searches. There in presents the concern. Second concern is the flip of public use on the large project lot. The current set up has a public library entrance on the corner of Balboa and Island. This is a good location for an entrance. It keeps the public uses in a public area. The new plan calls for a public library entrance close to the nearby residences. No big deal if this was necessary to make the project work, but it doesn't seem necessary. The entrance could just as well be on the western wall of the library. I envision an indoor/outdoor hallway similar to the 15t" Street pavilion. This seems reasonable to keep some privacy for the neighbors. I WILL REITERATE - I am overall very supportive of the project and would like to help keep it on path. W a.1,�&r 13&LL From: Sent: May 13, 2024 1:58 PM To: City Clerk's Office Subject: Re: city council meeting 5/14/24 Balboa Library/Fire Station Project No. 23F12 Hi, I am unable to be at the meeting on 5/14/24 due to having small children and early bedtimes, but I wanted to share my anonymous support for building the new library / fire station and playground, and I prefer the cottage house style. (I ask to be anonymous because there are some very strong opinions in our neighborhood and I don't want to alienate my neighbors). As a parent of young children within a very short walking distance of the library and fire station, we would be thrilled to have a playground and modernized library so close. I believe it would increase a sense of community and become a natural gathering place to build friendships among families. I also strongly believe our hard-working firemen and library workers deserve a nice, new, updated workspace to serve our community from. We as a neighborhood would also benefit from these buildings. While it's unfortunate that the tree will have to be removed, I'm confident there are plenty of trees around the immediate area for our beautiful herons to nest in once it's removed. Thank you for considering my feedback in this matter. Thank you, From: sclsachar@aol.com <sclsachar@aol.com> Sent: May 13, 2024 11:28 AM To: Sandefur, Tom <tsandefur@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: one more time [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Tom, am sending this letter for you to share with the other City Council members... concerning the plans you have for our Library and fire station. I'm sure you don't look forward to these planning meetings, since you are already VERY aware of the opinions of THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE as City Council members. As an actual home owner and resident of this neighborhood, it is extremely frustrating to have you all come into our area with grand ideas of changing things, in the name of PROGRESS??? I ASSUME! Progress is NOT tearing down things that work ... to replace with some random ideas of what MIGHT look good or appease us. As you know, neighbors in this particular neighborhood actually LIVE here ...forever, until they die here. It's very emotional and personal to us. Our home values were set by the area around us. Having you come in to bulldoze trees and destroy habitats for rare birds, that are PART of US ... our history, our families, is disrespectful, irresponsible, and probably costly for us. In regard to your idea for a playground here, have you ever walked around the peninsula early in the mornings? Been one of the first people near an existing playground space? I have ... and I usually arouse people who are asleep at the Marina Park playground. You might want to talk to city workers who are there to clean the disgusting trash, bodily fluids and garbage from the play ground before the children come. We DON'T WANT a playground at our library!!! We live at the beach ... and near the bay. THOSE are our playgrounds!!!! If parents want their kids on playground equipment, they go to the elementary school or Marina Park. What a playground gives a neighborhood is: convenient places for drug sales, reasons for lawsuits for the city because of unsafe equipment, frequent repairs on the equipment, noise at all times of night from young adults, quickly broken and unusable large and dangerous pieces of equipment, leftover trash from parties (that end up in the ocean and bay waters). This area is too small for a true playground. No place for balls to go, except into the streets. The existing empty land, under the shade of our large tree is just perfect. It's a place for families to sit and read, have a quick picnic lunch or just hang out. NO organized "playground" is necessary. As for the "diseased trees"...I'm going to guess that the disease began the minute they were planted here, so long ago. I say, give then the chance to go to 90% infected (whatever that means) before you consider removing any more of them. I could go on and on. I wish you lived where we do .... so you could at least try to understand what makes our neighborhood work. I wish you could understand that progress can be made by updating the insides of old buildings, not tearing them down. Nothing built today will last as long as the "bones" of this library and fire station. As you are probably aware, materials made today are no longer expected to last. Your proposal would be such a waste of money. If you need something to "fix'...a project to make people believe you are doing something good for your next election period ... look at all of those empty, unused buildings near Main Street on the peninsula. Make those sadly vacant (for years) buildings viable again. Use your power and brains to come up with something new and different for tourists to enjoy when they visit. JUST LEAVE OUR TREES ... OUR HERONS, and our peaceful neighborhood alone. Maybe keep these words as something to ponder.... Progress isn't shiny, it's green! There is SO MUCH more beauty given to our neighborhood by leaving the trees intact and the herons THEIR RIGHTFUL HOMES to return to year after year. BALANCE!!!!! Think about it! Thank you for your consideration. Carla and Louis Sachar 313 Island Avenue From: Annie Burton <annieb503@gmail.com> Sent: May 12, 2024 11:36 AM To: Sandefur, Tom <tsandefur@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Balboa library [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the tent is safe. Hi Tom: I am a resident of the area and want to share my comment on one of the aspects proposed for our new library. I am strongly opposed to the idea of a playground for a number of reasons. The library is for books and learning not playing. There are many areas children can plan in the area like the beach, elementary school and Marina Park .... all so near by. This space could be used for more library space. Also, is the proposed playground going to be monitored by staff? And if an accident happens who gets sued? Also, there are no playgrounds at other NB libraries .....why Balboa? Children like to play yes and are quite noisy which does not coincide with using a library for reading, studying or using the computers. I know I am not alone in not wanting to have playground space at our new library. Thanks for your help. 949.466.0542 annieb503(@gmail.com From: April Strong <april.balloondiva@gmail.com> Sent: May 10, 2024 2:07 PM To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Subject: Hello! Good afternoon council members and happy Friday! My name is April Strong, I am a longtime Balboa peninsula resident, and I will be in attendance at the upcoming meeting on Tuesday. I just wanted to briefly introduce myself with this greeting and send you some beautiful photos I was able to capture this week. May they give you thoughtful pause as you head into your weekend. '�•�� .. , ;ail ��,j . . , op, rA From: Paul Watkins To: Dent - City Council Subject: Balboa Branch Library/Fire Station No. 1; Agenda Item No. 11, Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Date: May 10, 2024 9:27:28 AM [EXTE ] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the -ontent is safe. Dear Honorable Mayor O'Neill and Honorable Councilmembers: Please consider supporting the "Beach Cottage Style" option (Layout 1, Option 1) for the Balboa Branch Library/Fire Station No. 1 project at the meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (Agenda Item No. 11). Our Board of Library Trustees and its current Ad Hoc Subcommittee on the Balboa Branch Replacement Project (consisting of Vice -Chair Dorothy Larson and me) have studied the Balboa Branch Replacement Project for the last several years. As Mr. Sandefur points out in his well -written Report, the Board of Library Trustees supported the "Beach Cottage Style" option at its January 16, 2024 meeting. Substantial helpful public input was provided at the Board of Library Trustees' meeting and thereafter at the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission meeting on March 5, 2024. Proper careful attention and compromises have been devoted to the eucalyptus trees remaining on site as well as the seasonal Blue Heron migration population --- particularly during nesting. The Board of Library Trustees also considered in depth the novel playground feature and believe that this feature makes a lot of sense given the summer visitor population on the Peninsula and otherwise. We also believe that the limited space available for public works storage on the Peninsula necessitates a tasteful storage facility at the replacement project. Option 1 checks all the boxes for a first class, thoughtful, and comprehensive Library/Fire Station replacement project. Please support Option 1. Thank you. Sincerely, Paul Chair, Board of Library Trustees Paul K. Watkins for Paul K. Watkins, APC 6408 West Ocean Front Newport Beach, CA 92663-1929 and 485 East 17th Street, Suite 600 Costa Mesa, CA 92627-4705 Of Counsel: Self & Bhamre Cell: (714) 403-6408 E-Mail: naul@lawfriend.com Ir'," WO q From: pamela martin <rpmartin56@sbcglobal.net> Sent: May 07, 2024 10:13 AM To: Webb, Dave (Public Works) <DAWebb@newportbeachca.gov> Cc: Pam Martin <rpmartin56@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Island Ave Eucalyptus trees [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mr. Webb, Our family has owned our Island Avenue home for 68 years. We have admired and enjoyed the eucalyptus trees that have been growing on the library lawn for all of those years. We are against removing the remaining tree and hope that the city can find a way to preserve this historic tree. It is the nesting place for the migrating blue herons which is another reason to save the tree. The Eucalyptus trees were/are iconic fixtures of our neighborhood and add to the overall beauty and charm. We don't need a city maintenance yard in our neighborhood either. There must be better places in the city to house the city trucks and not in a residential area. Please consider our opinions in the planning of this project. Thank you, Pamela and Ron Martin May 8, 2024 Charles Bell, Architect 113 East Bay Avenue Newport Beach, CA 92661 (949)584-0512 charlesbell@gmail.com Honorable Mayor Will O'Neill and Newport Beach City Council Members 110 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 RE: Agenda Item No. 11 - Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 Replacement Project Concept Review and Approval - Project No. 23F12 Dear Honorable Mayor O'Neill and fellow Council Members, My name is Charles Bell, Architect, of the Bell Family, owner of 113 East Bay Avenue, primary residence for our parents since 1987. Our home and garage are served by the existing residential alley and is located two doors to the east of the proposed Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 project. I have been in contact with Tom Sandefur, P.E., Assistant City Engineer, and participated in the City of Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission March 5, 2024 public hearing presentation the proposed Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 Replacement Project, see attachment. I have received the third concept plan Option I and appreciate the city staff s and the project architect's efforts: reducing the overall footprint of the building, increasing the onsite planting areas and beginning to address the addition of a short length of wall to screen the view of the existing back alley Residential use from the patron front entrance of the Library public facility. In plans Option 1, IA and 2 before you for consideration and discussion, the concern I hope to focus your attention on is the separation between proposed Public Facility Replacement use and existing Residential use is not adequately addressed in these designs. 1. Separation of Public Facilities and Residential Uses The existing 6-foot-tall alley wall separating the existing Public Facility uses, the Fire Station and Branch Library, and the adjacent existing Residential use -only alley serves a valuable purpose — keeping these uses separate. The proposed Option 1, IA and 2 plans all show the existing alley separation wall to be removed, allowing the public facility and residential uses to bleed into one another, thus increasing the exposure of both uses to the other. The proposed Library entrance, as shown in Option 1 and IA at the North Easterly corner of the project, is directly adjacent to the residential only alley. Use should remain separated so each use does not significantly impact the other. Maintaining the existing 6-foot-tall alley wall unchanged extending all along the easterly property line will continue maintain the existing Public Facility use and the adjacent Residential use separation. 2. Unintendedly Alternate Vehicle, Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel Routes The proposed Option 1, IA and 2 plans all show the proposed Fire Station and Branch Library parking facility directly connected to the existing Residential only alley on the east property line. The concern here is should the alley be connected directly to the project parking facility and Island Avenue beyond on the west end of the project, the alley, running parallel to Balboa Boulevard, will become an alternate thoroughfare for Balboa Boulevard westbound vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian navigating the normal summer and weekend late afternoon congested Balboa Boulevard traffic. Currently, the existing Residential only alley separation wall turns and extends along the proposed project easterly property line with a separate drive approach to East Bay Avenue. The existing alley separation wall and drive approach onto East Bay Avenue should remain unchanged to not create an unintended alternate Vehicle, Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel Route. 3. Residential Alley Increased Public Safety Risk The proposed Option 1, IA and 2 plans all show the proposed Fire Station and Branch Library Parking facility directly connected to the existing Residential only alley on the east property line. The existing 15 foot wide alley narrows midway between the westerly end of the alley and Medina Way on the east end. Existing residential buildings narrow the alley so it allows one way only traffic circulation. The risk in connecting the existing alley directly to the proposed Public Facility parking is increasing the vehicle use of the existing alley beyond its current design capacity — to serve the existing 21 residential buildings with approximately 40 +/- parking spaces. The alley currently cannot safely accommodate increased vehicle count use. The alley configuration between Medina Way on the east end and turning to the north along the existing separation wall out to East Bay Avenue on the westerly end of the existing alley should remain unchanged to not create an increased public safety risk for the existing residents, service vehicles, trash haulers and others. As presented, the plan options all combine the existing alley with the proposed new Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No.1 parking facility. It is my understanding, in response to my concern on this matter, Public Works has indicated the purpose of combining the existing alley, located on the easterly boundary of the project site, with the existing alley is to reduce the number of drive approaches along East Bay Avenue to be able to provide for on -street parking. It is not clear how many offsite street parking spaces are gained or lost as this information is not yet depicted in the Option 1, IA, or 2. The focus of the plan exhibits to date depict only the onsite parking facility. I have presented a 14 onsite parking space alternative plan to Public Works for consideration that maintains the existing alley separation wall and East Bay Avenue driveway approach. My request to City Council at this juncture is to review and take into consideration the benefits of keeping the Public Facility uses separate from the existing Residential use by keeping the existing 6-foot-tall alley separation wall and driveway approach to East Bay Avenue unchanged, as it has functioned well to provide this needed separation for many years. I am looking forward to providing a long-term resident and neighbor design criteria perspective to further the long-term success of the proposed new Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 Replacement. Respectfully submitted, Charles Bell Architect Architect License C18847 Encl. Balboa Branch Library_Fire Station No.l Ltr to Parks Beaches Rec Commission 20240304 March 4, 2024 RE: Proposed Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 Site Concept Plan Review City of Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission Dear Commissioner Kate Malouf, Chair, fellow Commissioners, and City Staff, My name is Charles Bell, of the Bell Family, owner of 113 East Bay Avenue located to the east of the proposed Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 project and served by the existing adjacent residential alley behind our home. I am writing you in hope that the City of Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission will consider in your review of the proposed site plan to make a recommendation to the City Council to keep unchanged the existing easterly Alley and 5 feet tall property separation wall configuration. The existing alley paralleling Balboa Boulevard and East Bay Avenue serves 21 single and multi -family residential properties between Medina Way and Anade Avenue. The existing two-way alley provides access for 40+/- private residence automobile garage and open parking spaces and weekly waste management hauling services. Both proposed project Option 1 and Option 2 site plans show the existing wall separating the Balboa Branch Library & Fire Station No. 1 site and the existing 15 feet wide Alley alongside 111 East Bay Avenue residence to be demolished and mixing existing adjacent Alley residential two-way traffic into the proposed new Library/Fire Station onsite parking facility. In my opinion, both proposed Options 1 & 2 do not provide appropriate or adequate vehicle and pedestrian separation and screening between the proposed Library/Fire Station patron users and the existing Alley private residential users. The existing separation of the Library/Fire Station use from the existing residential alley use provided by the existing 5 feet tall solid concrete block wall should remain unchanged. Left unchanged, the existing easterly alley/property use separation wall configuration can: 1. Yield (14) onsite public parking spaces. (The same number of onsite public parking spaces as proposed in Option 1 and Option 2. See attached Alternate Plan for Option 1 sketch) 2. Maintain the longstanding separation and screening of the existing the Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No.1 public uses and the directly adjacent residential uses. 3. Not expose the new Library playground and trellis entrance to the existing adjacent "back of house" residential alley uses. 4. Not require existing 21 private residence 40+/- vehicles, occupants and waste hauling services to use the Library & Fire Station onsite parking facility for access to East Bay Ave and Island Ave. 5. Not change the nature residential nature of the existing 15 feet wide two way "through traffic" alley by not increasing public vehicle and pedestrian use. The alley serves private garages with limited width to allow for vehicles to maneuver in and out of garages and open parking spaces. 6. Not impact the existing alley capacity where the alley narrows near west end of alley and the narrow one-way street, Medina Way outlet to Balboa Boulevard. Thank you for consideration to make a recommendation to the City Council to keep unchanged the existing easterly alley and property separation wall configuration and thereby maintaining the long- standing separation of the public and private residential uses in our neighborhood. Respectfully submitted, 113 East Bay Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92661 charlesbell@gmail.com 4Lit' qw •I• • U l l if LJ i _ r i I �l tW)-,.g 4f PUBLIC PARKING (14) SPACES C) kwD .� �... �rrl 11 •1.................. ...rr 101 "Mommommommom rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrri rrrr MMMMMMMMMll rrrriNONEoor �rrrE lirn� i► arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrommol rrrri rr� rw n �:�rrorrorroorrrrrrrorn h Lori ♦���` �.riwiwioi,ro.r.ro.r, j j rr.wrrir._r_ir �000000roor000rror r.r....RNEW A..........................I 0000i r'0 :::r :::r :::r :::r :::r :::r :::n IN n ��,_IIIIIIII :-AIEEE - T—mwm% -MMNlNMlti - - m im i INN INN INN no min INN nil-11u P j M 41 M sca . 41 , ti r T NST BAY AVENUE E W Bay Ave E Bey Ave. 4 t W 'Fig r,,- 11 + IL a'ISTING ALLEY — Newport Ees h ire �� �� i i • LL all Dept Baibaa st Fib qm } — - �i '{m-.Z - 4 "_ ••,TING.. G SEPARATION WALL SHOWN YELLOW- f = AST :A : •A : —D M E I. 17., 11 EAST BAY ti .0 Irk DENCE 4'. AVENUE RESI Lem EXISTING FIR STATION PARKING ACCESS 41 •4 EXISTING FIRE A.4 I STATION PARKING - f UT • 0 aTlyla 0 RY ix d! .• ¢'-r• �} ~ '�. r.s '��7" -.i J-iao}�.� .. .,�4 `�� .-ram - ON -o'Nil' r i w ,� EXISTING 5'-0" PROPERTY _ rAE EAST BAY 112 EAST BALBOA , SEPARATION/ALLEY WALL IBLVD RESIDENCE TO REMAIN ' J�= + NUE IDENCE BALBOA LIBRARY BRANCH FIRE STATION NO. 1 PROPERTY ll _ WILL ~ :.f l -4. EXISTING ALLEY ACCESS OFF EAST BAY AVENUE i r: a SIBALBOA LIBRARY BRANCH FIRE STATION NO. 1 PROPERTY BEYOND (EAST BALBOA BLVD RESIDENCES •11 EXISTING 5-0" PROPERTY SEPARATION/ALLEY WALL TO REMAIN 'PRIVATE PROPERTY 111 EAST BAY AVENUE RESIDENCE i PRIVATE PROPERTY Ty EAST BAY AVE RESIDENCE r WESTERLY END OF EXISTING 15 FEET WIDE ALLEY SERVING EAST BAY AVENUE AND EAST BALBOA BLVD RESIDENTS BALBOA LIBRARY BRANCH FIRE STATION NO. 1 PROPERTY BEYOND L■ ■L bk� --------- May 15, 2024 Charles Bell, Architect 113 East Bay Avenue Newport Beach, CA 92661 (949) 584-0512 charlesbell@gmail.com Honorable Mayor Pro Tern Joe Stapleton and Newport Beach City Council Members 110 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 RE: Agenda Item 11 - 05/14/2024 City Council Mtg - Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 Replacement - Existing East Prop Line Alley Separation Wall Dear Honorable Mayor Pro Tern Joe Stapleton, Thank you for representing the residents and businesses here on the Balboa Peninsula District 1 and specifically for serving on the Council workgroup to bring the Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 Replacement project forward to our neighborhood for consideration. The replacement project promises updates to both the Library and Fire Station needed to keep these facilities vital to our neighborhood. My family built our 113 East Bay Avenue single family residence in 1987 which is located just two doors to the east of the proposed project, one block to the beach on the south and one block to the bay to the north. As you know, the project is surrounded by our existing neighborhood including the two-way Balboa Boulevard, two-way Island Avenue, one-way East Bay Avenue and the existing residential alley serving the 21 single family and multi -family residential parking garages, trash/recycling access that runs east to west between Medina Way and East Bay Avenue. I am reaching out to you directly today to share my concern for the proposed onsite and offsite vehicle circulation and parking design configuration. Overall site plans with "options" exhibits depicting proposed onsite and offsite parking and pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle circulation improvements are not included in the floor plan and architectural design options before the Council tonight for consideration. How the proposed project onsite circulation options work with the existing surrounding offsite streets, alleys and parking impacts our neighborhood. I am suggesting during meeting tonight a request by the Council be made that staff "zoom out' and include preparation of a "neighborhood" site plan of the existing and proposed offsite and onsite vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian circulation options be developed for Council review, discussion and approval. To date, offsite parking and circulation information included in staff report is written information and parking spaces gained tables for Council review and approval. I believe this approach leaves much to the imagination and does not allow for Council members and residents of the neighborhood to assess the impact of the onsite improvements on the existing offsite surrounding neighborhood circulation. The specific offsite concern that I have is that the existing residential neighborhood alley separation concrete block wall along the project easterly property line should remain, as is, unchanged with no direct access from the proposed Library and Fire Station parking facility to the existing adjacent residential alley. Earlier in the project public hearing process, I addressed the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission at their March 5, 2024 public hearing I presented a letter and spoke during public comment to express my concern. Staff responded to my comments during this meeting to the commission as follows: 1. The south easterly part of the site plan(s) design had not yet been fully developed and exposure of the Library entrance and parking circulation to the alley would be addressed in the development of the design going forward with planting and screening. In response, I believe the existing alley wall serves to separate residential and public facility uses. Our neighborhood currently benefits from the existing separation even though we are directly adjacent to the public facility, the existing wall provides a distinct physical separation and should remain unchanged. Providing direct access to and from the new Library parking facility to the existing residential alley will inadvertently intensify the single lane alley use with increased two way automobile, bicycle and pedestrian traffic through the back of our "high density" neighborhood. Proposed screening and additional landscape now depicted in Option 1A site plan will not provide a significant separation of residential and public facility uses. 2. Staff also suggested combining the existing alley width with the proposed Library Fire Station parking access drive aisle would afford additional on street parking along East Bay Avenue. In response, the curb length gained by combining the existing 15 feet alley width with proposed 24 foot wide Library/Fire Station is equal to the length of one parallel parking space. I believe this benefit, one street parking space added, is not worth the expense of losing the existing separation between residential neighborhood use and a public facility use. / shared with staff and commissioners a proposed site plan indicating (14) onsite parking spaces, the same number of onsite parking spaces shown in Option 1 and 1A, can be achieved with the existing alley separation wall to remain unchanged. See attached sketch. 3. Staff suggested the proposed combination of the Library/Fire Station parking facility is similar to the Corona Del Mar Library/Fire Station facility and has not presented circulation problems to date. In response, the Balboa Peninsula vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian circulation sees summer and holiday seasons where the small streets and large boulevards are jammed with beach or bay visitors. The Corona del Mar Library/Fire Station parking facility is indeed adjacent to the existing residential neighborhood on one side, it is also adjacent to an alley running the back of the commercial properties along Coast Highway and is several blocks from the beach. I believe the two facilities are quite different where our Balboa Branch Library/Fire Station is surrounded by a residential neighborhood and the Corona del Mar facility is located in a commercial neighborhood. As presented to date, I am strongly opposed to all three Options 1, 1A and 2 onsite parking facility plans as designed since all three options propose to provide direct vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian access from the proposed new Library/Fire Station parking facility to the existing alley serving the Balboa Boulevard and East Bay Avenue residents located between Medina Way on the east end of the alley and the existing Library and Fire Station No. 1 property on the west end of the alley. That said, it doesn't mean we can't get there. I would hope that with your help we can request staff "zoom out" and provide the Council and neighborhood the opportunity to review, comment and make approvals to welcome this public facility improvement into our neighborhood. Thank you again for your efforts and contribution to our Balboa Peninsula lifestyle Respectfully submitted, t 44" DU Charles Bell, Architect Architect License C18847 Encl. Alternate (14) Space Onsite Parking Plan for Balboa Branch Library_Fire Station No.1 L J I � w m w m 0 is ► INN INN INN 0 101111 INN -fool' mg:!iate. � rjlil.�jzu Ole 0, CUM M sca . 41 , ti r T NST BAY AVENUE E W Bay Ave E Bey Ave. 4 t W 'Fig r,,- 11 + IL a'ISTING ALLEY — Newport Ees h ire �� �� i i • LL all Dept Baibaa st Fib qm } — - �i '{m-.Z - 4 "_ ••,TING.. G SEPARATION WALL SHOWN YELLOW- f = AST :A : •A : —D M E I. 17., 11 EAST BAY ti .0 Irk DENCE 4'. 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