Keep Silas Road open

Pertaining to the Silas Road closure, it seems as though everyone is concerned about fairness to the developer ("Delaying the developer should have consequences," May 3 Thousand Oaks Acorn).

No one seems to be concerned about fairness to the residents.

Years ago, city staff members decided that the entrance to Silas Road should be closed. This decision was made without any discussion with the residents and without considering the safety of the Sequoia Middle School children. When the child pedestrian safety issues that face Sequoia's students were presented to the council, I believe that some of the council members were concerned, as the residents are, that the closure of Silas will significantly decrease the safety of the children that cross Borchard at Theresa.

The developer knows the rules. There must be a public hearing with the City Council before a road is closed. When things don't turn out as the developer wants, he calls the rules unfair. Mayor Fox is right; it's the cost of doing business to have a public hearing. Unless there's a possibility that the pubic hearing will not go the developer's way, then there's no point in having it.

The council is trying to be as fair as they can with the developer. They have asked that alternate concept drawings be done by the developer; they will consider the possibilities of waivers, and they said that they will use their influence to have the city streamline the processing of the alternate plans to help the developer.

I would like to commend Mayor Fox and Councilmember Bill-de la Peña for considering this safety issue thoroughly and indicating that they will vote to keep Silas Road open.

All the council members that were present at the last council meeting have indicated that they will do what they can to treat the developer fairly; I hope that the entire council will give the residents' concerns equally fair consideration when this issue will be decided.
Stewart Miller
Newbury Park

Editor's note: The council decided to close part of Silas Avenue at last week's meeting.