Dear editor, I was deeply saddened to read the harsh and unprofessional remarks made by some of the Napa City planning commissioners and neighbors, as reported in the July 12 article about the Fairview Heights affordable housing project ("City ices Coombsville housing site").

With all the new service jobs coming to Napa this quality housing with lower rents is desperately needed. The site is ideal, being at the very edge of a residential neighborhood on a major road and bordered by a park, a commercial property and the cemetery. All of Napa Valley Community Housing's developments are designed to be attractive and compatible with the neighborhood. Apparently the immediate neighbors are not opposed.

Putting together such an apartment development is a difficult process of cobbling together various sources of funding in order to allow for lower-than-market rents. NVCH has to compete for some of these funds. Only the most efficient projects will be awarded the funds. That is why the third floor cannot be "lopped off," as was suggested. Not to mention that the community needs the additional units.

History in the city of Napa and around the valley has shown that previous affordable developments have been opposed by neighbors with all the same concerns as expressed here. And after they are built, they are attractive, well-maintained and function very well with no disruption to the neighborhood. Most Napans want this to be a respectful, compassionate community that makes room for its work force as well as its more upscale residents. I hope a way can be found to get the Fairview project approved and built.

Grania Lindberg  / Napa