News

Letters to the Editor Nov.13-20

By
• November 12, 2013

In response to Safeway’s plan to grow.

Aptos Safeway Mess Getting Worse

The revised Aptos Safeway expansion plan, unveiled by the Safeway Corporation’s Deborah Karbo at the Rio Del Mar Improvement Association meeting on October 22, does not address the major concerns of Aptos residents: scale of the development, traffic and infrastructure, and support of locally owned businesses.

The Safeway Corporation, with $44.2 billion in sales in 2012 (according to the Safeway Corp. Annual Report), and its real estate development subsidiary, PDC, choose not to recognize Aptos as a unique coastal community, nor its small town character and quality of life. The newest proposed design for Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center looks and feels like any other large strip mall you find along a suburban multi-lane roadway. It is painfully obvious that the Safeway Corporation is determined to force a cookie-cutter development on land that does not conform to their pre-existing design and economic models.

The revised design, like the original plan, calls for a two-story (one under ground, one above ground) Safeway store, nearly doubling the existing size of the current store. The shopping center site will be leveled, topping out at approximately 40 feet above Soquel Avenue on the south side. Due to its new height, the entrance will require an elevated ramp to enter, and an additional parking lot will be built at the south end of the development. The south entrance will require yet another turning lane into the development. Additionally, another traffic signal will be installed, which adds up to 4 traffic signals within a quarter mile along Soquel Avenue—or one traffic light every 1,300 feet. The plan includes the largest gas station in Santa Cruz County.

Furthermore, [although] the Safeway Corporation is not required to, [it] shows no interest in developing an infrastructure to support its massive planned development. Serious issues face the community as a result: an overwhelmed infrastructure, traffic congestion, water resources, emissions pollution, noise pollution, fuel and oil runoff, views and sightlines forever lost. These burdens, both financial and environmental, will be put to the taxpayers to solve. Property owners, residents and businesses will feel the pain.

I believe the citizens of Aptos and the Safeway Corporation have an opportunity to set an example for both economic and community vitality. Zach Friend, our county supervisor, can take a leadership role in advocating for a better development, a “town center” that generates business revenues, respects residents, inspires visitors and protects our fragile environment. There are many successful community models to emulate (Carmel Crossroads Shopping Center is one). Safeway can make a commitment, and a powerful statement: that smart planning, architecture on a human scale and developments that value people over profits are long-term business models for success.

Aptos is a beautiful and unique area of Santa Cruz County. Beaches and redwoods surround and converge to create a small, connected community. Such rare natural resources bring civic responsibility. We are at a critical crossroads. As citizens, we have a collective voice, and we have a right to demand better. Smart planning, support from our elected representatives and pro-active partnerships with both corporate retailers and small business owners are the vision for a sustainable and healthy economy and community. What legacy will we leave for future generations?

Jim Ales
Aptos

  • https://www.santacruz.com/news/2013/11/12/letters_to_the_editor_nov.13_20 Robert Schneider

    A couple of corrections and rebuttals are offered as follows: 

    Scale of the development:  The property boundary is not changing.  In order to avoid construction of a 60,000 sf box to accommodate their current size requirements, they are proposing to construct a 55,000 sf box underground, using a split level design with smaller sized buildings on top of the underground Safeway. The result will be a shopping center with building masses similar to the current shopping center.

    Traffic and infrastruct – they have no obligation to widen State Park of Soquel Drive nor should they as there will be no significantly increase in the the volume of cars to and from the shopping center.  They are relocating one driveway and adding one more driveway for a total of five driveways into the property.   

    Support locally owned businesses:  Its in their interest to retain most local businesses to ensure 100% occupancy which is not a guarantee. 

    If you attack them with false information, they may not want to play nice. I do think there’s an opportunity to asked the nicely to incorporate a small town feel during the design process so as to offer a familiar feel to the place. I prefer a carrot to a stick.

    “The revised design, like the original plan, calls for a two-story (one under ground, one above ground) Safeway store, nearly doubling the existing size of the current store.”  Not true which means your motives are suspect at best.

    “Additionally, another traffic signal will be installed, which adds up to 4 traffic signals within a quarter mile along Soquel Avenue—or one traffic light every 1,300 feet.” Not true once again.

    “Serious issues face the community as a result: an overwhelmed infrastructure, traffic congestion, water resources, emissions pollution, noise pollution, fuel and oil runoff, views and sightlines forever lost.”

    Once a shopping always a shopping center so the preceding rhetoric is typical anti-change hysteria that is very common in CA.

    The town center will be just down the road if Barry Swenson and the property owners could finalize a deal to create it.

    Be nice please.

  • https://www.santacruz.com/news/letters_to_the_editor_nov.13_20.html Robert Schneider

    A couple of corrections and rebuttals are offered as follows: 

    Scale of the development:  The property boundary is not changing.  In order to avoid construction of a 60,000 sf box to accommodate their current size requirements, they are proposing to construct a 55,000 sf box underground, using a split level design with smaller sized buildings on top of the underground Safeway. The result will be a shopping center with building masses similar to the current shopping center.

    Traffic and infrastruct – they have no obligation to widen State Park of Soquel Drive nor should they as there will be no significantly increase in the the volume of cars to and from the shopping center.  They are relocating one driveway and adding one more driveway for a total of five driveways into the property.   

    Support locally owned businesses:  Its in their interest to retain most local businesses to ensure 100% occupancy which is not a guarantee. 

    If you attack them with false information, they may not want to play nice. I do think there’s an opportunity to asked the nicely to incorporate a small town feel during the design process so as to offer a familiar feel to the place. I prefer a carrot to a stick.

    “The revised design, like the original plan, calls for a two-story (one under ground, one above ground) Safeway store, nearly doubling the existing size of the current store.”  Not true which means your motives are suspect at best.

    “Additionally, another traffic signal will be installed, which adds up to 4 traffic signals within a quarter mile along Soquel Avenue—or one traffic light every 1,300 feet.” Not true once again.

    “Serious issues face the community as a result: an overwhelmed infrastructure, traffic congestion, water resources, emissions pollution, noise pollution, fuel and oil runoff, views and sightlines forever lost.”

    Once a shopping always a shopping center so the preceding rhetoric is typical anti-change hysteria that is very common in CA.

    The town center will be just down the road if Barry Swenson and the property owners could finalize a deal to create it.

    Be nice please.