HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 07_LeFevre 2021-03-031
March 3, 2021
To: Paul Connor and Marla Keene from Karen LeFevre • 598 Golf Course Road, South Burlington, VT
Re: This Public Comment concerns BlackRock Construction's Final Plat Application, to build a residential
development at 550 Park Rd (# SD 21‐06) , aka the Wheeler Parcel, Public Hearing 3.3.2021
A coalition of residents in the Vermont National Golf Course neighborhoods have been challenging this
proposal, which we believe is highly dense and visible, usurps natural fields, creates traffic safety
hazards on Park Rd and Dorset Street, and inserts 2 new risky road cuts into Park that intersect the
existing City Rec/bike path.
During previous application stages, and going back about at least a decade to the controversial "land
swap, " residents have communicated concerns in writing and conversation. (My own first letter raising
such issues was sent to the City Council well before the land swap, in 2011!) But this final application is a
far cry from addressing them.
Here I focus on traffic safety and construction process concerns.
Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Issues ; Problems with BlackRock’s commissioned Traffic Study
It's surprising to me that a development referred to as "550 Park Road" almost completely omits the
important safety concerns all along Park Rd. itself and the popular city Rec/Bike running closely
alongside it, near Wheeler Park. This section of Park between Dorset and Golf Course Roads is narrow,
without a center line, no lighting, frequent winds, curves, and slopes. (BlackRock's submitted,
commissioned traffic study erroneously states a slope measurement of Park Rd as "Zero" which is
puzzling, considering its steep gradations which must figure into the safety analysis.
In late fall and winter seasons, Park Rd is known to have icy conditions with blowing snow and mounds
of plowed snow. (The study BlackRock submitted occurred in the fall of 2020, rather than in winter.)
Also, we find no qualitative evidence submitted of any observations or interviews with people who have
actually been daily users of Park, some for at least 20 years.
Neighbors can testify (and have, in numerous Public Comments) that in wintry and windy conditions,
cars can and do skid at times off into the fields on both sides. (Once a city snow plow even skidded off
Park Rd.) Road speeds are posted but are often exceeded , sometimes surpassing recommended braking
distances. Additional residents arising from a new development such as 550 Park , whether driving,
walking, biking, skateboarding, etc. will go not only west towards Dorset but also east toward the golf
course using the existing Rec/bike path that run closely parallel to Park. So safety is a major concern for
pedestrians as well, existing users as well as possible added residents. Will Park in its current
configuration be able to handle all these safely?
We previously sent such concerns to, and discussed them with, a BlackRock official, as well as the DRB.
Yet still we see no mention of topics in their applications, such as needed signage, warning lights,
perhaps streetlights for this dark section of Park? Assessment of its lack of shoulders? If these or other
infrastructure needs are found, who would pay—e.g. the City (our taxes) or the developer?
2
BlackRock proposes building a new, semi‐circular road ("Zoey Circle") to enter and exit from two points
on Park Rd . It would intersect twice with Park areas that are especially risky in winter weather because
of slopes, wind, curves, and snow piles. Also, Zoey Circle would cross the existing So. Burl Rec/Bike path
where it parallels Park Road, going from Dorset street to Golf Course Rd. However, the final plat
application does not address the dangers of twice interrupting the Rec/bike path nor any feasible
mitigations. The BlackRock Applications and its own traffic study, as well as the DRB staff and board,
focus almost completely in the new proposed road as if it is an island, rather than as part of an existing
neighborhood, sidewalks, rec paths, and the risks that would be very much impacted by the
development. in We feel that the DRB should table consideration of this final plat and require a new,
independent travel study/technical consultation paid for by the applicant. And we strongly feel that
instead a single access to the development should be from Dorset Street, not from Park Rd. We feel that
previous thoughts of an entrance from Dorset have been dismissed quickly, without really re‐examining
the possibility. Indeed, BlackRock’s proposal has not even introduced that concept nor studied it anew.
Many more homes and developments have been allowed to be accessed directly from Dorset. The City
Council could be requested to make modifications.
As for the construction process itself, some questions. The applicant has asserted that construction will
last for five years, from 2021‐2026. Is this still the case; if not, what are the dates? Have they submitted
a schedule and explanation for an extended duration? Will the schedule be independently monitored? A
long or stop ‐and ‐start duration would disrupt Park Rd and the neighboring streets that flow into it, with
noisy construction vehicles and likely delays and detours.
Many SEQ residents recall and protested the extreme noise of last summer's month‐long drilling and
jack‐hammering all day when BlackRock removed ledge from their nearby "Long Drive" development.
This was during the COVID‐19 lockdown, with many home from work and school, forced to listen. The
builder repeatedly stated and then altered its own goals for completion. Now at 550 Park, a map saying
"KNOWN LEDGE OUTCROPPINGS ON PROPERTY" appears, spread over an indistinct area. Where? How
much? When might such work be scheduled? Any mitigation? Any monitoring? Has the
existence/removal of ledge been considered at all as a serious reason why the parcel should perhaps not
be developed at all? Was it raised at all, even back to the “landswap” situation? It is time to seriously
reconsider this now, we believe. The wellbeing of longtime residents (city tax‐payers) should be given
strong consideration in this process.
I appreciate having the DRB staff and board, and maybe the City level decision makers take these
important matters into consideration.
Karen LeFevre
598 Golf Course Road, South Burlington, VT
802‐318‐8313 KBLeFevre@gmail.com