2005/12/05 Council Agenda Packet

a- Again, the Donovan homes that would be demolished are rife with asbestos, and no mention of that fact is listed in the DEIS. The demolition of those homes would necessitate prior removal of the toxic asbestos at a significant cost to PEMC, yet they do not indicate it would be a factor. b- Noise would, in fact, increase should this project gain approval. Traffic trips would increase significantly to and from the hospital, both to the Cancer Center as well as to the larger bed tower outlined in PEMC's master plan. The increase in emergency room services would also include an increase in air traffic of Life Flights over the neighborhood. In addition, the fact that the hospital plans on building in phases means that the neighbors would be subjected to construction noise and traffic for the next 20 years. This is unacceptable to the people living nearest the facility. The DEIS fails to discuss the impacts of ground borne vibration on neighboring residences. Historic structures are particularly vulnerable to vibrations from adjacent demolition and construction. Specifically, Donovan homes have concrete foundations without rebar, and have walls made of plaster and lathe. Located just a few feet from the proposed hospital expansion, the Donovan homes' arrangement of tall chimneys and arched doorways is particularly vulnerable to vibration damage.; The DEIS should analyze potential adverse impacts caused by increased ground borne vibration and prescribe precautionary measures for fragile historic structures located near construction activities.' 8. Land Use a- The current use of the property is as residential single family (1.3); a designation that indicates a valuable resource and commodity in rapidly developing Everett. c- The hospital proposes demolishing 22 or 79 historic Donovan homes. d- The houses that would be demolished are not only an important element of the city's own growth plan that encourages maintaining existing housing stock, they also have historical significance and are listed on the City's historic registry. e- The homes are currently zoned 1.3 residential... not only would their demolition constitute a loss of those homes, it would forever alter the character of the surrounding neighborhood to make it less residential and therefore less desirable to current and future residents. f- The current comprehensive plan calls for intensification of current footprint for hospitals rather than sprawling into neighborhoods. (1.5.2) j- While the DEIS indicates that their plan includes demolition of 22 houses on Block 248, they make no mention of what will happen to the 21 displaced renters and the single ' "The two most significant factors that lead to the destruction of historic properties are the proximity of the road/construction work and the extent of the road/construction work. Construction work that is longer and at higher amplitude will be more destructive to strictures in the surrounding area. Adjacent construction work and traffic can expose neighboring buildings to concentrations of dust, vibration and fire hazards that would normally be experienced only over the course of many years. "Vibrations in Historic Buildings," National Trust Information Sheet #52. ` The National Park Service Preservation Tech Note #3, "Protecting a Historic Structure During Adjacent Construction," suggests several preliminary measures to protect historic features: historic glass windows should be boarded up and layered with cushioning material; safety nets should be erected to protect surfaces; decorative features such as balustrades should be covered with plywood; and fragile pieces such as chandeliers should be removed temporarily.