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Dear Editor-
- Faizon Corporation presented the West Trans traffic study dated March 25, which purports that there is really less traffic than Caltrans has stated in their studies and reports. This is not credible as they compared the project to their other gas station, which is 3 turns off the freeway.
Any person who is not comatose would see that a corporation’s self-serving report likely holds less truth than an outside objective study such as CalTrans.
- CalTrans holds that should the service station go forward; the center median of Hwy 101 at North State St and Uva Drive will need to be closed and acceleration and deceleration lanes will be required for northbound traffic.
Even if Faizon Corporation agrees to comply and pay the estimated $2 million for this requirement, which they do not want to pay for, then Redwood Valley citizens still do not want this gas station. The project would decrease local quality of life, and the cutoff of east-west traffic would constrain neighbors’ free movement along with slowing firefighting access in times of disaster.
- Mr. Tom Rawles, a neighbor, has a right-of-way that would be infringed upon and he has not been made whole in this regard should the project go forward. The right of the local public who enjoy the current tenant, Thai Tasty restaurant, would lose this gem to an unwanted and unneeded “convenience store.
- This project is detrimental to quality of life, as expressed in the County General Plan, which holds weight. Consider the applicant’s past record of pollution, the noise, increased traffic, and bright lights. The Planning Commission earlier stated this discretionary minor use permit would constitute a nuisance or be detrimental to the health, safety, peace, morals, comfort, or general welfare of persons residing or working in or passing through the neighborhood of the proposed use, and would be detrimental or injurious to property and improvements in the neighborhood.
Dolly Riley, Chair, Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Committee
Redwood Valley does NOT WANT THIS!
I agree with Dolly about most everything about the unwanted gas station, except that tasty Thai is anything but tasty or sanitary. Been there 1x and the food was less than mediocre. Called health dept because was changing a baby on the counter, did not wash their hands or sanitize the counter before or after. Baby was originally sitting on the counter with a dirty diaper. I will never go back.
Thank you for sharing this information! Impact reports should always be done by a neutral party. This County needs to consider those affected by a project above the corporation who will benefit. Most of us choose to live here because of the quiet quality of life. This sounds like a drastic change In quality of life for residents on the RV corridor. Do we really need yet another gas station and junk food store? I think not. And we love Thai Tasty!
Wondering when Redwood Valley residents were polled on this for everyone’s input. Notice the lines for fuel, especially during stressful fire smoke cycles, plus how our Sheriff says a 2nd fuel station option would be good for emergency responders. I kind of like the idea of a 2nd fuel station near the highway, and I am a resident of Redwood Valley, and I have never seen polling of Redwood Valley about this issue. … My Two Cents
We already have one mega station at the “coyote valley compound” the valley never needed that attracts all the travelers anyway. Further congestion would make the west road and state street intersection even more of a left turn nightmare.
Having an onramp right below a hill is a bonehead move. Caltrans knows it, hence the need for massive infrastructure to create new onramps to gain speed for the hill or slow down. Terrible location for a gas station all around even if it didn’t impact quality of life for valley residents.
Redwood Valley does NOT want this
This controversy and comments reek of NIMBY-ism, hypocrisy, and poor faith argument. We can’t have zero growth expect increased tax revenues which fund improvements in our infrastructure and quality of life. Tourism and travel along 101 is THE Economy of Mendocino County. The current location is a dump, it has potential as shown by the gym to the south but needs motivation to improve. I get it, climate change, but limiting gas stations on a former highway-turned-frontage road that parallels the current freeway is not going to have an impact. Closing the gap on 101 makes more sense from a public safety point of view than the argument for fire/emergency access as simple solutions exist, see gap just to north posted for emergency vehicles. People most likely have died there, if not they will in the future and everyone here will clammor on about how Caltrans should have closed it years ago, we will name the new interchange after the local teens who misjudged the semi coming down the grade. Further hypocrisy lies in the reality people care more about their property values than the next generation of people. Your kids will probably never live here unless you give them the family home. Simple houses are over half a million and the median income is 32k individual, 61k household. Ok, I get it this business in this country is a little messy, and maybe there’s some violations that are legitimate to discuss, but if we let him build it and our local government does their job and monitors the location with the help of local concerned citizens; Well if he does break the law, take it from him, legally and give it to someone will run it lawfully. Then guess what? We all win.
It’s not just the gas, the station, the intersection or right of way, it’s the tweekers that will start hanging out there. The weirdos, the druggie, the houseless, the transients etc
That’s what’s scary! Somehow tweekers make it all the way to Tomki from town. This gas station will bring that and Redwood Valley will loose its idyllicy. I drive 20 mins away from town to live for a reason. To get away from sick people screaming at my car with their pants down.
It’s not anti-progress to be afraid of a tweeker settlement in RV
Your are correct. It’s just classic NIMBY-ism, anti-property rights, and an example of shifting the goal posts. I grew up next to a race track. Some days there was traffic and noise. We are talking freeway adjacent. How dare freeway stuff happen near the freeway because when you bought your home it was one way and reflected in the price…but change, how dare you (you’ll have to do the accent).
Tweekers, Druggies, And Weirdos, Oh MY!!!
Breaking news! All of the the aforementioned have been in and around and a part of the RV culture and history for nearly six decades now.
Even the illustrious Charlie fucking Manson and his pack of murderous jackals were said to have briefly hung out at the residence of one of the valleys original and most colorful hippies.
Whom out of respect for any living family members i will not mention by name.He was very well liked and respected by most of us who knew him.
And let us not forget the demonic reverend Jim Jones who sadly murdered one of my classmates and friend who was one of the beautiful daughters of the aforementioned original counter culture hippy.
I would see a small nuclear power plant for vehicle charging here and maybe a bioweapons research facility.