Takoma Transit First! -- Reject EYA Townhouse Plan!

 

On Aug. 13, 2007, WMATA released its Staff Report on the Oct. 11, 2006 public hearing on the proposed EYA development at the Takoma metro station. The Report recommends that the WMATA Board approve the sale of 75% of Takoma station public land to EYA, a developer, to accommodate the construction of at least 85 townhouses with mostly two-car garages. Yet an overwhelming majority of those who testified (including 2 DC and 8 MD elected officials) and those who sent in written testimony were against the EYA plan. The Report does not indicate the weight of the DC & MD community's opposition. The Report has errors and misstatements. The EYA plan has been tweaked but not substantially changed. Important problems are not resolved.
We urge neighbors to comment on the report, ask the WMATA Board to reject the EYA plan, and ask Muriel Bowser, Adrian Fenty, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ike Leggett, Chris Van Hollen and other officials to weigh in for us.

 

We Need REAL Transit and Community Oriented Development!

 

The EYA plan is fatally flawed. It fails to enhance transit use and is incompatible with the needs of the greater DC and MD Takoma community. A proper plan should:

Ø      Enhance the Effectiveness of Mass Transit (As required by Federal Transit Admin.)

Ø      Follow Takoma Central District Plan (EYA does not meet many of these standards)

Ø      Ensure Present and Future Bus Needs (EYA's townhouses restrict space for transit)

Ø      Preserve Parking for the Public (not EYA's private two-car garages)

Ø      Retain Safe Traffic Patterns (EYA's traffic circle dangerously mixes cars and buses)

Ø      Provide Safe Handicapped Access (EYA moves the drop-off farther from elevator)

Ø      Ensure Safe Pedestrian Access (unlike EYA's Plan)

Ø      Maintain or Increase 60 Bike Lockers (despite a waiting list, EYA proposes only 50)

Ø      Construct an ADA-Accessible Western Entrance (not included in the EYA plan)

Ø      Retain 50 Foot Buffer with Eastern Ave. Apartments (EYA has 36 foot buffer)

Ø      Preserve and Enhance Green Space (EYA drastically reduces green space)

Ø      Enhance Commercial Corridor (EYA's plan does not reflect Takoma business’s criteria)

Ø     Use Green Design Principles, Create LEED-Certifiable Development (unlike EYA's)

Ø     Generate Significant Income for WMATA (WMATA's profit is minimal)

What you can do:

 

Call or send in a letter -- use our sample letter (with addresses) -- or write your own. Comment must be received by 2 PM on October 5. We are keeping a tally of communications, so please send a copy to mscribner@starpower.net. Urge friends and neighbors to do the same.

 

Web site prepared by DC & MD Neighbors for Takoma Transit, including Sara Green (DC), Faith Wheeler (DC), Rich Holzsager (DC) Sabrina Baron (MD/DC), Megan Scribner (MD), Seth Grimes (MD), Chris Simpson (MD) and many others.