Re “Why do planners want to make city a charmless clone of L.A.?” (Sept. 14): In 1970, the Clairemont Mesa neighborhood had a population of 82,634. Today, Clairemont Mesa has a population of 82,600. The neighborhood has been largely frozen in amber for over 50 years, despite a growing housing shortage and billion dollar investments in nearby, efficient public transportation. Additionally, claimed “busy streets” are not actually that busy. Most of the locations identified for protected bike lanes in the community plan have average daily travel of fewer than 10,000 vehicles, which makes them great candidates for road diets according to the Federal Highway Administration’s Road Diet Information Guide. These roadway alterations have been proven to be safer and make communities more livable. Perception is not always reality, and we need to plan for the future with facts in mind, not fears or misconceptions.
— Ian Hembree, Hillcrest