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5/2/2023 <br /> Re: Proposed Datta Yoga Center on Bethany Rd.,Tracy Ca. <br /> This part of San Joaquin County is making a rapid and painful transition from agriculture to commuter <br /> housing and the ancillary needs of those residents. I am not opposed to the project though I think it is a <br /> poor location. That said, my specific concerns about the project are two. <br /> 1.Traffic. <br /> We need a reduced speed limit and double yellow lines to protect us from the traffic that flies down <br /> these roads. Modern farm equipment, balers, swathers, discs, and spray equipment even when folded <br /> up, are a minimum of 18 FEET WIDE.These huge machines travel from field to field and orchard to <br /> orchard down Naglee, Lammers and Bethany roads. The roads are two lanes with NO shoulders. Most <br /> of them are bordered with large fast running irrigation ditches and deep drainage ditches. We take our <br /> lives in our hands whenever we move equipment. <br /> Livestock is also moved down these roads. Large flocks of sheep are still driven down the roads. I <br /> and some of my neighbors move our cattle across the roads from pasture to pasture. I REPEAT: the <br /> speed limit is too high and we need double yellow lines to protect our children, livestock and working <br /> farmers from the speeders. <br /> For the same reasons there needs to be NO Parking along these roads. There are NO shoulders <br /> and there are deep ditches immediately adjacent to the roads. It is incredibly dangerous. <br /> 2.Equality and fairness. <br /> Southwinds Church on Lammers and Middle Road is less than a mile away. Southwinds was one of the <br /> first intrusions of a church into ground zoned for agriculture in this part of the county. The church was <br /> required by San Joaquin County Planning and Development to sign a specific acknowledgement and <br /> acceptance of dust, insects, smells,fertilizer and pesticide application in order for the church to be <br /> approved. I feel that it is only just and fair that the same be required here. <br /> This additional protection is right and fair and necessary because the San Joaquin County Right To Farm <br /> ordinance ends when schools are involved. The Datta Yoga Center is proposing classes. Which is fine. <br /> That is part of a church's job. But an actual school would deny me and my neighbors the right to our <br /> livelihood. This issue should not be pushed into the future with some vague promise of"If they ever <br /> apply we will deal with it then.". I believe that the issue of no school needs to be confronted directly and <br /> fairly now...before a shovel ever hits the dirt. <br /> And therefore, I believe that an agreement similar to the agreement with the Southwinds Church needs <br /> to be a condition of development.And I most strongly believe that the agreement needs to be amended <br /> to include an agreement that there will not be a school located on that parcel of ground. <br /> Jerry Walker <br />