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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.1 LIFSET, TED EMAIL 022426Ted Lifset 21 Cavalry Ct Danville, CA 94526 Email: tslifset@yahoo.com February 24, 2026 Planning Commission Town of Danville 500 La Gonda Way Danville, CA 94526 Email: devserv@danville.ca.gov Re: Agenda Item 5.1 – Resolution 2026-05 - Danville Village Apartments (02/24/2026) Dear Members of the Planning Commission, My name is Ted Lifset. I reside within 750 feet of the proposed Danville Village Apartments at 107 Town & Country Drive. I want to begin by stating clearly that I am not opposed to housing and understand that this site was identified in the Town’s Housing Element. I also recognize that state housing laws significantly limit local discretion and that multiple parcels throughout Danville have been rezoned for multifamily development. My concern is not whether housing should be built, but whether life-safety considerations have been fully and objectively evaluated before approving 200 units along a designated evacuation corridor. Town & Country Drive is identified as an evacuation route by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in its West Side Danville Fire Evacuation Plan. For residents in this area, that designation carries real significance. In California, wildfire risk is not theoretical. Recent events in Southern California demonstrated how quickly communities can be overwhelmed. Responsible planning requires that evacuation performance be thoughtfully considered wherever substantial residential density is proposed along a primary egress route. The Transportation Impact Study evaluates weekday peak-hour traffic operations and fire vehicle maneuvering. I appreciate that analysis. However, I do not see in the record a clear evaluation of evacuation capacity for Town & Country Drive under emergency conditions — specifically, how simultaneous outbound resident traffic and inbound emergency vehicles would operate. State housing law limits review of subjective design standards and density reductions. It does not remove local responsibility for public health and safety. If Housing Element sites ultimately utilize state density bonuses, the Town remains responsible for ensuring that infrastructure can safely accommodate that intensity. Once the project is entitled, the approved density and access configuration are effectively fixed. Building permit review ensures compliance with technical code requirements but does not revisit broader evacuation load or corridor capacity. In addition, the project relies on a proposed access easement across neighboring property that has not yet been recorded. While Town staff have informed me that acquisition of this easement may be required prior to issuance of building permits, approving full density before confirming permanent access rights are secured means the full 200-unit project is approved before permanent access and emergency circulation are secured. I respectfully request that the Commission ensure that evacuation performance and permanent access rights are clearly and objectively addressed before approving this project. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Ted Lifset