Vance Jackson Neighborhood, Inc (VJNI)

Vance Jackson Neighborhood, Inc(VJNI) Presentation to San Antonio Planning Commission VJNI Disapproves Special Project 1402 Ted Trakas, President

Mockingbird Wide Flared Mid-Block - Looking West

Mockingbird Sugar Hill Apts Mid-Block - Looking East

VJNI Voluntary HOA. 3000+ residences. High voter turn-out Includes members in the Greatview and Foothills areas Neighbors have requested our assistance

VJNI Involvement (Since Aug 08) http://www.vjni.org/Zoning-Cases/index.htm#200808_Land-Grab

Issues Summary • Bad land use • Alleged reason (safety) not credible • Deficient Application • Neighborhood is opposed!

Greatview End Highpoint West I-10 End Grandview McCombs’ Rear Alley

McCombs’ Rear Alley – West I-10 End

McCombs’ Rear Alley – Greatview End Trash, Dumpsters, Utility Poles and Freight Docks, Oh My.

Issues Summary • Deficient Application • Alleged reason (safety) not credible • Bad land use • Neighborhood is opposed!

Neighborhood Consensus • Greatview/Mockingbird is lightly travelled • The only real safety concern is speeding by McCombs employees at quitting time • The claim that McCombs employees are at risk is a sham, but if they were then • Use fencing to control crossing point • Install speed humps • Install crossing walk signage • Training • Closing Mockingbird puts apartment/office tenants and school children at risk • Would have to detour to Callaghan to get to I-10 • Emergency vehicles to Medical Center will be delayed • Replacing Mockingbird, a public street, with a Rear alley obviously not as safe

Close, Vacate and Abandon Public Right of Way Section 4. Any person or persons (“Petitioner”), other than a City of San Antonio Department, requesting the closure, vacation, and abandonment of Public Right of Way, must submit to the City, through the proper City Department, a petition, which may appear in letter form, signed by all abutting property owners to said Public Right of Way, stating the purpose of said closure, vacation, and abandonment, and clearly identifying the Public Right of Way which is the subject of the closure, vacation, and abandonment. (Bold added)

Does Sugar Hills Apt Abut Mockingbird? Case 1?

Hemphill McCombs Northside Ford (1978 ) Sugar Hill Subdivision (1981 ) O’Neill Subdivision (1982 ) Hemphill McCombs Northside Ford – Replat (1995 )

The Mockingbird/Greatview Intersection • As usual, it’s a mixed bag. • The 025 plat shows that Mockingbird "T"s into Greatview. That would mean that If Mockingbird was to be closed they could do it without the apartments joining the petition. • On the other hand, the other plats, such as the 621 plat make it look like neither one is primary, in other words they meet and neither one runs into the other. • It’s not exceptionally clear

COSA Asst City Attorney -----Original Message----- From: Theodore C Trakas Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:35 PM To: Helen Valkavich Cc: Michael Shackelford; Deborah Hosey Subject: Special Project 1402 - McCombs' petition is defective Helen, From the maps and drawings I've seen, Sugar Hill apartments abuts Mockingbird, but did not cosign McCombs' petition to close this street. Pls answer my request for documents to the contrary that explain how McCombs' petition can go forward. Thanx, Ted Trakas VJNI From: "Helen Valkavich" <Helen.Valkavich@sanantonio.gov> To: "Theodore C Trakas" Cc: "ORR File" <ORRFile@sanantonio.gov> Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:26:54 -0600 Subject: 09-0067 George Trakas Mr. Trakas, I forwarded your request for additional records to CIMS, but was advised that there are no other records responsive to your request. Inquiries regarding the petition or the process should be directed to staff at CIMS, as I am unable to assist you with these inquiries. Sincerely, Helen Valkavich Assistant City Attorney City of San Antonio Question Answer

VJNI Position The city should side on a requirement of greater participation rather than greater exclusion.

Mid-1990s • This same petition was tried when Bill Thronton was mayor • Residents and our association opposed the petition • City Council denied the petition

Jan 29, 2009 • This was 2+ hour meeting for Kaufman and Peveto to present the McCombs proposal • 20 Greatview and Foothills residents and tenants attended • At end of meeting, only 1 person was in favor!

Conclusion

VJNI Findings • Residents of Sugar Hills Apartment and tenants of Greatview Office building use Mockingbird for • Access to I-10 West • Secondary exit for Greatview, in the case of an accident or congestion on Callaghan • Arguments for closing Mockingbird for safety reasons are not credible, to the point of being ludicrous and insulting • No safety study shows that the alternate access (via 2 parking lots and an alley) is as safe as or safer than continued use of a public street • Replacing Mockingbird, a public street, with a rear alley is not comparable or acceptable in terms of quality of life

VJNI Position • Replacing a public street with a rear alley is bad for public safety and quality of life • Abandonment of Mockingbird, which is public property, for personal enrichment of McCombs is not in the public interest • City Council rejected this proposal when Thornton was mayor. It should be rejected again • VJNI and the public are opposed to Special Project 1402

Backup Slides

Vance Jackson Neighborhood, Inc (VJNI)