A couple of weeks ago I posted information about a proposed new development on Mount Sutro called San Francisco Overlook. We heard from some members of the Crestmont-Mt.Sutro-Forest Knolls Neighborhood Preservation Coalition about their opposition to the project. In the interest of giving a voice to a community group that has researched this issue, we invited Samuel Sobol, MD, a Crestmont Drive homeowner, to write a guest post to outline the neighborhood’s reasons for opposing the construction:
The San Francisco Overlook Development (formerly Crestmont Hills Development) proposed at the end of Crestmont Drive is now coming to the end of the EIR process. This large 34 condo development poses major adverse consequences to Forest Knolls and our neighborhood is mounting a major campaign to defeat the project as proposed and new posters — STOP SF OVERLOOK DEVELOPMENT — are posted throughout the neighborhood.
The initial 34 condo project seemed to have died when the developers fell out and remained embattled for several years in lawsuits and arbitration. However, the project, with some modifications, is now back, with a different name (San Francisco Overlook, LLC,) some cosmetic changes, but still far too large and hazardous as it will bring considerably increased traffic to Crestmont Drive, a winding, steep and narrow hillside street which is one of San Francisco’s longest cul-de-sacs.
With regard to our opposition to the project, virtually all of the previous objections which we specified when the initial project was proposed are still applicable:
- Excessive number of units to be added to the end of a long cul-de-sac, out of character with most of the neighborhood.
- Safety hazard in case of emergencies: emergency vehicles totally block narrow Crestmont Drive and residents beyond are trapped on hillside with no escape route.
- Increased traffic on steep, winding, narrow hillside road with blind curves which does not allow passage for two cars at once. This will increase safety risks for all residents, drivers and pedestrians who often use the street due to narrow, unsafe sidewalks.
- Crestmont Drive serves as play area for children since homes have no yards, further increasing safety concerns
- SFFD’s larger fire trucks cannot access the new development road due to space limitations at cul-de-sac turnaround. Smaller trucks have not tested access with turnaround encumbered by parked cars.
- Extremely poor access to any public transportation — almost ½ mile walk up and down steep hills or 300+ step stairway to nearest bus stop (Muni #36 runs only every 45 minutes during the day and has reduced evening runs).
- Inadequate parking provisions for remote hillside location with no accessible public transportation and very limited parking on Crestmont Drive where parking is already difficult. Parking will be impossible for both current and new residents if the project is not redesigned with fewer units or more parking spaces or both.
- Removal of existing natural green space with no provisions for recreational open space.
- Concerns regarding hillside stability in region with previous landslides
If this complex were to be built as currently proposed, any prospective owners and tenants would have to be warned about these risks and deficiencies.
The Crestmont-Mt.Sutro-Forest Knolls Neighborhood Preservation Coalition was formed to challenge this project in its present form and fight for a more limited development in keeping with the character and limitations of the site and the neighborhood. For information and updates regarding the proposed development, please visit www.CrestmontPreservation.org.
Samuel M. Sobol, M.D.
Crestmont Drive Homeowner
Thanks for inviting Dr Sobol to guest-post. We’re also going to be tracking the issue on our neighborhood website/ blog at forestknolls.info
Here’s our most recent post:
http://forestknolls.info/2011/04/24/crestmont-development-new-name-fast-track/
I oppose San Francisco Overlook Development’s proposal to build 34 condos in Crestmont-Mt. Sutro-Forest Knoll neighborhood. I live in this area. Dr. Samual Sobol has summed up my reasons for the opposition to this proposal.
I live in the area and have been tracking the situation as well.
Has anyone looked at the parking on Christopher near Clarendon and Forest Knolls on the weekdays? Christopher becomes a one lane road due to UC parking. It’s a bad situation that will be made worse by the development.
The Overlook development will add more traffic to Christopher since it’s the main and most convenient access to Crestmont from Twin Peaks and the 17th St areas.
I whole-heartedly agree with the points made in the article.
I am opposed to this development. I cannot imagine 34 additional residences at the end of the road and the ensuing traffic flow into and out of the area. It is difficult already, pulling over into an empty curbside spot to let an oncoming car go by. This compounds the problem of easy access for emergency vehicles as well. Construction will mean even greater hazards as heavy equipment is moved into an out of the site. As a twenty year resident on Crestmont Drive, I am strongly opposed to this inappropriate development.
I oppose this development as unsafe. The development will increase parking on a street (Crestmont) that presently allows only one-way traffic at the many points where parking has occurred on both sides of the street. This will increase with the building of 34 units at the street’s end. In the event of a fire or another disaster in the development, escaping cars will be met by incoming emergency vehicles, resulting in paralysis of traffic and great danger to life and property. Similar but less dramatic concerns arise from the building of the units, construction that will greatly increase traffic. A solution would be to widen Crestmont, but this is neither economically or structurally feasible.
A further concern is the potential for construction imposing instability of the hillside above the development, a hillside that already has seen some slippage. Such instability would endanger the houses above the development.
I strongly object to the building of this out-sized development against the wishes of those who live in this neighborhood.
All of the stated issues are still quite relevant. Adding that many homes will destroy the character of a quiet neighborhood, where we all know a one another.
In no uncertain terms, San Francisco development is a BAD neighbor!!!
What on earth are the developers thinking! Are they planning on doing all the work with manpower and wheelbarrows? Our narrow streets and shared parking with UCSF preclude easy access for heavy machinery. I have heard no “how” explanations at all. Also, has there been any thought to the impact of heavy machinery running back and forth on our streets?
Showing me pretty pictures and watercolor landscaping doesn’t impress me. Are the developers sure that the existing properties above their proposed development won’t fall down on them? A theoretical estimate can be easily slanted to make us all feel comfortable.
Finally, parking on Crestmont between Devonshire and the dead end is already heavily impacted.
Leave us in peace!
We now have a guest post from the developer responding to the neighborhood’s concerns. That post can be found here: http://www.jacksonfuller.com/2011/05/26/guest-post-from-san-francisco-overlook/.