We would like to state our strong objection to the Rio Vista Apartments located at the NW

corner of Rio Vista & River Drive, identified as 4603 Rio Vista.

Design is Out of Character with the Area:

The area for the proposed complex has been a residential home and equestrian facility. The

complex will block the line of sight to the surrounding neighborhood, which has been established for several decades. The complex will cause excessive noise, increased foot traffic, and criminal activity.

High-Fire Risk:

The proposed multi-family apartment complex will be located in a high-fire hazard zone.

Over the last years, there have been several fires at the river bottom along the project

location. Although the project includes a 26-foot multipurpose trail that will serve as emergency fire access, this access road will be utilized by first-responders and it does not account for the safe evacuation routes for the residents of the 133-unit multi-family complex. The City of Brawley will be responsible for knowingly permitting this apartment complex to be built in a high-fire and unsafe location.

Unsafe Road Conditions and Flooding:

The primary access points to the apartment complex will be on River Drive and Rio Vista

Avenue. This area and the surrounding neighborhood significantly flood when it rains.Rio Vista runs NB/SB along the project site, between River Drive and Jones Street. The

roadway has an unsafe width and is a major safety concern between Jones Street and Trail

Street because the road narrows from 2 lanes into nearly 1 lane. There is a sidewalk located on the east side of N. Rio Vista, between River Drive and Jones street; however, there is no room for a sidewalk along the west side of N. Rio Vista or the installation of bike

lanes. The project description includes the dedication and half-width improvement along

Rio Vista. This would only expand the roadway of N. Rio Vista between River Drive and Trail

Street and this does not address the safety concern of the roadway between Trail Street and Jones Street. The increased number of people because of the apartment complex will cause congestion, vehicle and pedestrian accidents because of the unsafe road conditions.

There are several multi-family complexes in the City of Brawley. The surrounding areas of

these complexes have safe roadway widths/conditions and sidewalks to allow for the

increased vehicle traffic, foot traffic and bicycle traffic, unlike N. Rio Vista Avenue.

Increased Population to the Area:

Per the City of Brawley website, the persons per household is 3.51. By developing the 133-unit multi-family complex, this will add approximately 466 people into an already developed area. Per the Brawley Elementary Report, Phil D. Swing Elementary School has

the highest enrollment. By allowing the complex in this area, this will increase the overcrowding of this elementary school.

The Local Mobility Analysis (LMA) and Miles Traveled Assessment report states the Rio Vista project is calculated to generate 931 daily trips. Although the report states the area is currently “Good” and will remain “Good,” with the project, this will significantly increase the number of vehicles traveling on the roadway in the area. The increased vehicle traffic is a safety concern for the neighborhood, especially the Little Sprouts Care Center – Preschool, located at 655 N. Rio Vista Avenue.

In closing, there are several vacant lots and areas better suited for this type of development within the City of Brawley. This is not a by-right development and instead requires rezoning.

We request that the committee take into account our concerns and deny the rezoning and

building of the 133 multi-family apartment complex at 4603 Rio Vista.