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Mailbag: Development plans worrisome

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The Planning Board recently sent plans for First Street Village back to the drawing board. We are apparently going to be building 1,467 apartments within a quarter-mile radius. One can only imagine what this will do to traffic, the impact it will have on parking and how many new students will pour into BUSD. Looking at the design for the First Street Village, I think three stories would be overdoing it, but five stories? And this is only one of the developments.

We should know from experience that the allotted parking will never be enough to accommodate the residents. Each unit could house a family or a group of millennials (all of whom will need a car — think at least one car per bedroom). I’ve heard some wishful thinking about all these people biking to public transport, but seriously, the Red Line is several miles from this development, and the Metrolink doesn’t serve downtown L.A. the way the Red Line and its connectors do. Factor in the other developments, and you’re going to have a real parking and traffic mess.

Even though BUSD has many students on permit, I seriously wonder if there will be room for the new families even after we make adjustments. Furthermore, few of the new students will be going to their school of residence. Many will have to be driven down to the flatlands. Hence more traffic.

If we have to have a mixed-use project next to the mall, scale it down. Consider what will happen in our local schools. Really think through what the impact of all these new residents is going to have — especially on traffic and parking. Think sensible growth and make it a boon to the community, not a catastrophe.

Carol Tensen
Burbank

Offering praise for panelists

Re: The Leader’s In Theory column. Praise the Lord and a big thank you to pastors Jon Barta and Bryan Griem for using the word of God to give truthful answers — not man’s opinions —in their responses.

The Bible is the true word of God. I pray other true Christians will lift and hold these men up in prayer each day. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 32:12.)

Thank you both, Mr. Barta and Mr. Griem.

Shirley Byrd
Burbank

Disabilities group to meet

The Advisory Council on Disabilities has ended summer hiatus and is ready to begin meetings with Thursday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. at the Community Services Building in room 104. We will be reviewing updates on city projects and our list of areas that need help with accessibility.

You can provide the voices and opinions that help us move toward a fully accessible and user-friendly city. Contact us at doc@kidfind.org, or call (818) 216-9377. Bring all your friends and neighbors too.

Albert Schloegel
Burbank

Editor’s Note: The writer is president of the Advisory Council on Disabilities.

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