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| Written by Bill Smallman, Felton | |
| Thursday, 04 September 2008 | |
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I thought I would put my two cents in on the negative side of the proposed Target store.
EDITOR, In order to compete, many cities are building condos and apartments near downtown, as it means business from those who walk. Scotts Valley is going to shoot itself — and the Town Center — in the foot by allowing a Target. City planners need to be just as talented as famous architects. Frank Lloyd Wright said something to the effect that all architecture needs to compliment the land, not work against it. The south side has beautiful neighborhood of homes on a forested ridgeline, and Hilton hotel fits in with the backdrop of magnificent trees. Picture a concrete tilt-up Target next to this. If you got this picture, you would agree most people would throw it in the trash. Scotts Valley is blessed, a destination for the entire world, because of its climate and vistas of trees and mountains. I believe that the Scotts Valley planners are going to be making some very important decisions in the near future, and this is one of them. I took my daughter to Skypark on July 4 sat on the lawn a gazed around and felt lucky to be a nearby resident. People love downtown areas, and everybody has been looking forward to Scott Valley’s for a long time. Locally owned businesses, with variety and character, are what the city needs. Perhaps the city should support downtown even more by considering condos, maybe a small version of Santana Row.
Cities with just ugly building-box stores usually have crime written all over them. I can already see the gang spray-paint marks on the wall.
Bill Smallman, Felton Comments (9)
  written by Scotts Valley Resident, September 06, 2008
What an astute way to describe the choices... Planning excellence or a highly visible embarrassment...I like it. Yes indeed this is a no brainer and that's what makes it so scary. Target was invited to apply. It sure makes you wonder!!!
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 written by synergy, September 06, 2008
Many of the residents of Scotts Valley that I have spoken with about the Target have a vague idea that they like Target as a store, but when they even start to contemplate WHERE it will be and HOW LARGE it will be and how much TRAFFIC it will generate and how it will HARM our smaller, more personable stores in S.V., they suddenly are not very enthusiastic about it anymore.
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 written by Hope City Council is watching, September 08, 2008
I hope that the pro-Target Council members Bustichi, Mayor Johnson and Reed are watching the reaction by the public in these forums. It seems that in the last several weeks the sentiment has certainly turned against supporting Target and toward finding a way to preserve the community feel of Scotts Valley and the place we all call home. Lets get our support behind the Town Center and put Target behind us.
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 written by Forums unrepresentative, September 10, 2008
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as someone who has watched and participated in the forums over the past several weeks, I can tell you that fatigue and frustration has set in for most who are waiting for the various reports to come out and for the actual public process to begin. So don't get all excited just because only Target-bashers are now actively participating. I'm sure my comment will be "low-rated" with lots of negatives. That doesn't mean the "community" disagrees with me, but just those who want to actively participate in this blogging exercise. If it makes y'all feel good, go for it. But you're not convincing anyone of anything at this point.
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written by Scotts Valley Resident, September 11, 2008
Forums unrepresentative, The fact that you needed to write your above comments rather makes me think that the anti-Target movement has you convinced that there is strong opposition to a Target in Scotts Valley. Agreeably, it's hard to tell from the blogs what the consensus really is, but the Hilton meeting and the April scoping meeting had very few Target supporters attend. Also, in speaking with others I have found that there is great concern about the proposed location. People are surprised to hear that Target was 'solicited' for that parcel. Almost unanimously the response has been one of concern. Anyway, things are sure to get more interesting. As the writer wrote above, we need some planning excellence not a highly visible embarrassment.
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 written by W.R. White, September 11, 2008
Forums unrepresentative: Your community access is rather narrow. So what is your position with the city?
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written by Who knows who knows what?, September 12, 2008
Mr. White -- why do you think you know so much? Making declarations about stuff you have no way to know about doesn't move a discussion forward and doesn't convince anyone of anything. At least Scotts Valley Resident is willing to acknowledge that blog participation is not a representative sampling of the community. And his/her use of the term "concern" is both widely accepted and non-antagonistic. He/she is probably someone I could have a reasoned disagreement with on one subject, and then fully agree with on another. That's a healthy, albeit anonymous, relationship. Would you be willing to acknowledge, in your writings, that you don't have any special privileges when we're all working in a world of uncertainty? That would certainly make the exchange of views and information a bit more palatable.
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 written by 20000 more cars, September 16, 2008
Mt. Hermon Rd is already the third busiest road in Santa Cruz County and with the addition of a Target store it is expect to become even busier. The Town Center Traffic report estimates that Target will generate 9,075 additional car trips on Mt. Hermon Road per weekday and 11,533 additional car trips per weekend day. Take 3 minutes to watch this youtube video interview on the traffic impact that Target caused when they opened the Berkeley Target store. Send the youtube link to others in the Scotts Valley community. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fCjnvhMFQo
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This gorgeous meadow will eventually be developed. If it must be, then it should have a landmark destination that fits in with the environment and the existing neighborhood development. It should be a low intensity land use with a beautiful design, not a high intensity lit-up freeway visible parking lot with a tilt-up building and looming traffic problems.
This is a no-brainer. Does Scotts Valley want planning excellence, or a highly visible embarrassment? I think planning excellence is the only smart option.