WE, THE RESIDENTS OF VAN DUZER ST.STRONGLY OPPOSE THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO LARGE HOUSES ON BLOCK 615, LOTS 205 AND 210, A PROPERTY ON GRYMES HILL JUST 200 FEET BEHIND OUR HOUSES AND 130 FEET ABOVE THEM. SUCH A DEVELOPMENT WOULD THREATEN OUR HOMES AND ENDANGER DRIVERS ON VAN DUZER ST., A MAJOR STATEN ISLAND THROUGHFARE. There already are serious problems with runoff from the hillside: • most runoff from Howard Ave. comes down the hill through a large gully next to the proposed development; this gully exits on to Van Duzer St. adjacent to our homes; after a heavy rainfall there is a fan of mud and rocks across Van Duzer St.; • many of our homes are built in front of a twenty foot retaining wall built into the hillside; we currently have problems with runoff and basement flooding after every heavy rainfall ; it is difficult for emergency responders to reach our homes. This development would increase our current problems and be a hazard to traffic. • this proposed development would dramatically increase runoff through the gully fronting on _Van Duzer St.; it would make it dangerous if not impossible to drive during rainstorms; it would completely cover the street with mud and rubble • the proposed development is part of the Hillside Zoning District, developed to protect steeply sloped hillside from exploitive development; to build on this property the developer would have to violate eight sections of Hillside Zoning District regulations • the proposed development currently is covered with trees and dense undergrowth; this provides a “sponge” to absorb runoff after heavy rainfall; the developer would strip over 6000 square feet of all trees and undergrowth, increasing runoff onto our properties tremendously • the developer plans to cut huge notches into the hillside and dig out over 100 dump truckloads of dirt and rock; this would result in an increase in the amount and velocity of water flow down the hillside; it would raise the risk not only of flooding but also mudslides • as noted the proposed development is 200 feet from and 130 feet above our homes. This results in an extremely steep slope (65 degrees); this slope would increase the sped of runoff tremendously For these reasons we the undersigned residents of Van Duzer St. oppose this project specifically and the development of the hillside above our homes in general .