Planning Commission,
I am writing as a concerned resident of the Willows. I recently learned that the planned project at 40 Middlefield Road is close
to approval even though it has met with much opposition from the neighborhood. I know that many people have written to the
Planning Commission in the past with their concerns for this project and the variances they are requesting. The project at 40
Middlefield has many problems not the least of which is that they are asking to only have half the required parking spaces. This
has been brought up in the past and that concern blow off by the developers. They contend that the business will not need much
parking but there is no tenant there yet and once the building is built, no control of who that tenant is and how much parking
they would need. They also want to add an additional driveway on Middlefield; this would make the 3 turn in about 100 feet and
could pose a danger to pedestrians. I am sure you are aware that the Willows is faced with a large issue with traffic, and has
been for several years. Adding a new office building to an area that is already suffering from massive traffic issues is not a
sane idea. Finally there is a preschool located very close and the additional traffic poses a danger to those children.
I understand that the developers have the right to build on the property they are leasing, however I hope you take the
neighborhood concerns into account and require them to meet the parking requirements for that zoning. Let them build but require
that they meet all the requirements set forth by the zoning code and the city. They do not have the support of their neighbors or
any residents in the Willows that I know about. If you would care to read next door or to go over the letters sent previously to
the Planning Commission, not of those concerns were addressed, you will see the neighborhood does not support this.
Best Regards,
Brian Gilmer
