Letter to the Editor – More parking needed in Yountville Commons plan
Dear Editor,
(Editor’s note: Letter sent to the Yountville mayor, vice-mayor and councilors)
I’ll start by acknowledging that the ambitious undertaking of transitioning the closed Yountville School property to development that is designated as workforce housing is enthusiastically supported by a large majority of town residents. The Commons Project saved the property from outside development as luxury second homes. It also creates the needed housing opportunities for our local workforce.
I attended many of the early ‘ideas’ meetings, the later ‘choose a concept’ meetings, parking and transportation meetings, and followed online ZDRB meetings and presentations to town council.
It was in the resident comment portions of the Schimdt Hall and town meetings that the single largest and strongest headwind to acceptance of the proposed design is the minimal, some say meager, on-site NEW vehicle parking. We have been told that the proposed 59 net NEW parking spaces for upwards of 85 units, and perhaps as many as 150, are adequate. The rationale is that ride-share, autonomous, e-bike, ZipCar, etc., make this possible. Those proposed remedies have not satisfied the residents, because the majority of those remedies don’t exist in Yountville today.
- How many more times will the residents’ concerns over parking be ignored?
- How many more times will the residents be told that less than one parking space per unit is sufficient?
- How many more times will the residents be told “a new paradigm of transportation” will be coming to Yountville someday over the horizon?
- How many more meetings before this issue gets the attention it requires?
I propose that the development design builds ample parking for the world we live in now. That means at least one parking space per housing unit. If, and when, the residents of the Commons are not using all the parking available, the town can repurpose those areas in new, different and community supportive ways. That could be the commercial spaces proposed, or expanded gym facilities, or spaces for community artists, or whatever best serves the community going forward.
At the Jan. 13 town council meeting, Mr. Tenscher put in clear terms what is at stake: (paraphrasing) “If we have to build parking well after the project is completed, we will have missed the mark and not met the moment.” It follows that it would also be unnecessarily expensive. A common saying in the construction trade is, “Measure twice and cut once.” It is well past the time to measure the parking needs twice.
I ask that the town council, town staff and the project consultants amend the design plans now. In the future, when the new community adopts a less vehicle-dependent culture, we will have proof of concept.
I am not a NIMBY. I’m all in on this project, but it must work for all. That means the positives of the development do not create easily avoidable negatives for the adjoining neighborhoods and condominiums.
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Cook
Yountville resident
Sponsored
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