Public Comments
Letters to the Editor
Cannery Park mix serves Davis best
The Davis Enterprise, October 27, 2008
On Friday, Oct. 17, The Davis Enterprise summarized the fifth community meeting held last Thursday night regarding the proposed development plan for Cannery Park. I am a homeowner who lives in the neighborhood adjacent to this site and was present at this meeting with some of my neighbors. We found the mixed-use plan set forth by Lewis Planned Communities well thought-out in terms of buffer zones and greenbelts, with roughly two-thirds of the land used for a mix of housing types for Davis' workforce and approximately a third of the land used for business/office space.
The Enterprise article, however, misstated that attendees questioned 'whether the whole property should be a business park.' This assertion was terribly misleading because in no way did anyone at this meeting suggest that this property should be developed into a 100-acre business park. In fact, the comment made at the meeting opposed any consideration of a 100-acre business park and enumerated the incompatibilities with the surrounding neighborhoods, and supported the mixed-use proposal.
Many neighbors, like myself, are opposed to a huge 100-acre business park, but we do support a mixed use of primarily residential with a smaller amount of business park for the (former Hunt-Wesson) Cannery Park site. The mixed-use strategy meets a variety of goals and integrates well into the surrounding community, and those of us who live near this parcel encourage the Davis City Council to adopt this plan, which has evolved with the input of our community.
Kevin Fort
Davis
Lobby council to stay on course
The Davis Enterprise, October 27, 2008
I have been following the Hunt Wesson/ Lewis Cannery Park site proposal with interest because I live within a short distance of it. I am concerned that there could be any consideration of a huge 100-acre business park since it would not be desirable and it would not be a good 'fit' with the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
The logical use to have at this site is a mixed-use plan with primarily homes that are affordable to Davis' working people with a smaller amount of office/business commercial. A mixed use would blend in well with the surrounding and bring less traffic than a 100-acre business park.
Please join me in urging the City Council to make the decision (after a yearlong delay) to stay on course of the mixed-use Lewis Cannery Park proposal, which has had so much community participation in its design.
This is clearly what would be best for the neighbors and for Davis.
Carole Markese
Davis
Support application for mixed use
The Davis Enterprise, October 27, 2008
I read, with great interest, a couple of letters following the joint City Council/Business and Economic Development Commission meeting regarding the Cannery project. As a co-chair of that meeting, I feel compelled to underscore several facts concerning the meeting and project that have subsequently been overlooked:
- Independent consultants in a viability study have concluded that an all-business park ('high-tech' or otherwise) is least viable;
- Lewis Communities initiated a formal application nearly two years ago and since then, the appropriate use of this 100-acre parcel has been examined many times (at five official community outreach meetings, review by the Housing Element Steering Committee and the study mentioned above);
- A 100-acre business park would have a profound (and, I would argue, 'negative') impact on the downtown and its businesses.
Mixed use is the highest and best use of the site according to the study, a majority of the commission on the night of the joint meeting, and perhaps most importantly, many community members. Alacrity on this project and application for mixed use is warranted.
Alan Fernandes
Former chairman, Davis Business and Economic Development Commission, Davis
"The old Cannery site is an eyesore. Let's do something with it!"
- Anna Grace
"I support the construction proposed for the planned Cannery Park - we need more housing".
- Rita Montes Martin
"Nice! Reuse of:
I look forward to added, mixed use, in this corner of town… "
- Scott Volmer
"Let's get this issue rolling so a final decision can be made!"
- Jon Ruth
"Cannery Park, as proposed, represents the right kind of mix to meet the needs of Davis."
- Jon Quick
"It has taken way too long to have this process started. Please start the environmental review process now."
- Jeremy Brooks
"Who will pay the cost of upkeep of greenbelt, bike paths, roads, etc? Will preference be given to those that work in Davis when buying? Will there be off street parking for RVs, trailers, etc? Will some streets have no parking?"
- Barry McClure
"This development needs more retail space."
- Coleman Randall