September 18, 2003

Mayor and City Councilmembers, City of San Jose
801 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95110

Subject: Alma Bowl / Tamien Project, File# PDC 02-072

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,

The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association would like to reiterate its opposition to the development of two 11-story buildings at the Alma Bowl site in the Tamien Specific Plan Area. We are very concerned with the precedent of locating these 120' buildings in a residential area.

Nevertheless, in view of the staff recommendation and the Planning Commission action on September 10, 2003, should the City Council decide to approve the project we wish to express our support of the following recommendations of the Planning Commission and Planning Staff.

Support the Planning Commission recommendation and approve the simultaneous funding of neighborhood parks and other amenities for the Tamien area.

The Tamien area is without a public park. The park needs to be configured so as to be inviting to both the new residents and the members of the surrounding community. With the money contributed by this developer and past developments in this area, it is time to begin implementation of this key commitment to the community made in the Tamien Station Area Specific Plan adopted by the city close to 10 years ago.

We also urge the City Council to require the developers to construct access routes to the nearby trail system, to help promote the multi-modal character of the development.

Support the Planning Commission recommendation and make a commitment to protecting mixed use at Tamien Station, implemented in a way that would serve both transit riders and the neighborhood residents. It is imperative that local serving commercial uses be developed at this transit hub for the Tamien area. The Tamien Station Area Specific Plan says, "A mix of uses is encouraged that will allow for the convenient location of commercial and service uses so that local residents can satisfy day-to-day shopping needs by walking rather than driving." [p. 1]

Support the Planning Commission recommendation to encourage the developer to seek ways to reduce the insular, elitist nature of the project. As stated in the Tamien Station Area Specific Plan, it is "...intended to create a unique urban setting that will also strengthen the positive characteristics of adjacent neighborhoods." [p. 1] A key Specific Plan objective was to: "Design new development to encourage residents to interact, and to foster pedestrian and neighborhood activity." [p. 4]

Support the Planning staff recommendation to require the skills of an outside architectural firm to "assist at the Planned Development Permit stage to ensure nothing but the highest architectural quality is built at the site."

As your staff report points out: "The 120-foot towers will create landmark gateway features in the Tamien Station Area. Given the prominent height and location of the buildings, the architecture should be of superior design and quality. As proposed, the towers' conceptual design does not create a 'landmark quality' gateway entry. The prominence of these buildings necessitates a superior design."

The WGNA adds that the two 11 story structures represent the highest density development outside of the downtown proposed for San Jose's transit corridors. Should their construction result in a residential development viewed adversely by the surrounding community, it could create a precedent that would generate more extensive opposition to similar high-density development elsewhere in the city. In other words, bad experience with such development as built could jeopardize the future implementation of the city's high-density transit corridor policy.

Thank you in advance for your support. We speak for our members and agree with their concerns. Please do not hesitate to call us for any additional information.

Sincerely,

Helen Solinski,
President, WGNA

cc: City Manager, Planning Director