Hon.Mayor and councilmembers, et al::

It is unfortunate that negotiations on the Derry Project are taking
place behind closed doors.

Consideration should be given to the railroad plans for that area. It
is an incontrovertible fact that here there is serious air and noise
pollution from the heavy rail and freight which will be exacerbated by
construction of Caltrain additions.

Between now and July of 07 the High Speed Rail Auhority will be
announcing the approved route for high speed rail (bullet train) and it
is anticipted that the final decision will retain the presently
published route along the Caltrain Corridor from the Trans Bay Terminal
in San Francisco to Los Angeles, through the Pacheco Pass area, with
stops along the Peninsula.

The finalized Regional Rail Plan due July, 07, will include the High
Speed Rail, in a comprehensive plan for all rail around the Bay Area.

Caltrain is already promised 15 feet through the Derry Project and, with
HSR requiring grade separations. consideration must be given to the
additional air and noise pollution of construction and present operation
of the heavy diesel rail and freight which thunders along these tracks.

It would be irresponsible to place housing adjacent to the present rail
system which is about to undergo years of upgrades with possible
requirement for extra space and the removal of all trees ten feet each
side of the tracks.

Therefore, retaining commercial zoning only and resolving to place a
moratorium on housing within 660 feet from the tracks (which is the
distance designated as receiving a severe impact from the train horns
alone in the Environmental Impact Report of the Federal Railroad
Administration at www.fra.dot.gov) would be prudent in the interests of
justice, health and safety and environmental stewardship

The Public Utilities Commission staff has opined that it is poor
planning to place housing around heavy rail and freight.
Transit villages/housing as close as the Derry Project are intended for
light rail and the EIR states that the train related pollution cannot be
mitigated, a well known fact by the existing railside residents who have
pleaded and petitioned for relief for decades, while the trains and
pollution increased.
The recommendations in the Noise Element of the General Plan re trains
should be reviewed. It has been ignored.

In the mentime the City officials have turned down millions of dollars
available for changes at the crossings which included Measure A sales
tax money for which we voted with false promises.

That this Derry project went through, beginning with the Housing
Commission and then the Planning Commission, is a testament to lack of
knowledge, education and neglect of the people picked randomly to seal
our fate.

Under the circumstances, it is the opinion of many that the council
should have given a resounding NO! to changing the zoning from the more
compatible commercial to housing at the Derry site.
Is it too late? My initial comments are attached to the draft EIR.

Margaret Petitjean, Waverley St.,Menlo Park 650 322 7154
Received on Tue Jan 9 18:50:09 2007