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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/1984City Council Minutes Monday, September 17, 1984 - 12:10 p.m. Page 2 now occupied by Furniture Guild, Osos Street Subs, Beauty Supply store, and Sully's Tavern. Council review and approval would be required for the project because it involves private construction and encroachment into the public right -of -way. The arcades were not allowed by the Uniform Building Code, which the Council may amend if they supported the arcade concept. Councilman Dunin requested that there be some mechanism whereby the Council would be able to see the project prior to final approval being given. Councilwoman Dovey questioned the bulb -out footage in relationship to other street furniture and how some of this might be combined in order to save space. Upon question, Dave Romero, Public Works Director, stated that it would not be the recommendation of the Public Works Department-to provide for any type of bulb -out on Osos.Street, due to possible public liability that could be incurred. Any type of bulb -out would further restrict the flow of traffic on Osos Street, which he did not feel could adequately handle the traffic flow now, and that this would become increasingly worse in the future, due to public liability exposure that could occur with vehicles that were over 15 feet, i.e. recreational vehicles, UPS or other delivery trucks. Rob Rossi, with Rossi /King Organization, made a presentation in support of their request for bulb -outs and arcades on all three streets. He stated that they had gotten the canopy idea in Santa Barbara, where it had worked very well. Although he could agree with Mr. Romero with regard to some of the problems that could be involved with bulb -outs, he did not feel that an 8 -foot sidewalk must be a requirement in all areas. He did not feel that there were any magical standards that would require that type of footage. His primary concern was that he not construct canopies in the public right -of -way and have the City latei decide to have the street widened and require their removal, especially as the costs are prohibitive, in the neighborhood of $65,000 - $70,000. John King, with Rossi /King Organization, also urged the Council to relax the standards in order that this kind of decor could be made economically feasible in the area. He felt that it was something that could be used not only on this project but in several areas of the downtown, citing the Network in particular. Steve Puglisi, with Richmond Rossi and Montgomery, added that smaller sidewalks would tend to make it.a more pleasurable experience to walk on the sidewalks, keeping or maintaining the folksy, familiar pedestrian rapport. With regard to whether or not bulb -outs should be proved or allowed upon Osos Street, Councilman Dunin felt that this was more of .a policy issue as to whether or not the City desired to encourage vehicular traffic or pedestrian traffic in its downtown. He felt that the atmosphere of the downtown was most important, and for years the City has talked about a semi -mall appearance which would encourage the pedestrian traffic there. He felt that a joint venture between the developer and the City is a key factor in order to accomplish this and would be supportive of relaxing-the building standards in some areas to provide for it. In this particular case, if it is not financially feasible, the project would not go forward. He felt that with regard to the clearance factor, this could be dealt with through posting of warning signs and other mechanisms. He would like to discuss the floor space footage of the stores at some point as well. He would be supportive of the concept. Councilman Griffin stated that he supported both parts of staff's recommenda- tion, to approve the concept of the sidewalk bulb -outs and arcades and directing staff to return with a draft amendment to Chapter 5 of the Uniform Building Code to accommodate arcades in the public right -of -way. He agreed that the 8 -foot minimum for sidewalks may be too broad. He would like staff to review current city standards with a possibility of relaxing them so to reinforce and promote the atmosphere of an intimate downtown. C 1 City Council Minutes Monday, September 17, 1984 - 12:10 p.m. Page 3 Councilwoman Dovey stated she liked the appearance of the bulb -outs and the arcades, but she was not ready to approve this concept or the requested Building Code change. She would like to.review requests for amendment on a case -by -case basis. She would not support the arcade on Osos Street. Toby Ross, Community Development Director, stated that if the Council wished.to review individual proposals on a case -by -case basis, this could be written into a code change. The code change would be required in either case. Mayor Billig stated she could support the Planning staff's recommendation. She would not want the facade to detract from any future restoration possibilities for the Fremont Theatre. She would hope that consolidation and itegration could be made with regard to bike racks, litter containers, planters, columns, benches, etc. She would also hope that the bike racks would be in scale with the area. The proposal supports the Circulation Element for a more pedestrian atmosphere, rather than speed. She would, therefore, support Councilmen Griffin and Dunin's comments with regard to reviewing the width of sidewalk code regulations. After brief discussion it was moved by Councilman Griffin, seconded by Mayor Billig, to support the conceptual approval of sidewalk bulb -outs and arcades in the downtown with the suggested revisions as discussed today B. Council considered a request for an.option by Rossi /King Organization to purchase city -owned property bounded by Monterey, Osos, and Higuera Streets. Toby Ross, Community Development Director, briefly reviewed the Council agenda report, stating that the developer, RKO, was requesting conceptual review by the Council of a mixed -use commercial project on city -owned land bounded by Monterey, Osos and Higuera Streets. The project would contain a medium -sized hotel, 15,000 sq. ft. of mixed retail uses on the ground ' level, and parking provided by a two -level garage. The developer has prepared preliminary designs and participated in a feasibility study of motel development in San Luis Obispo. Before adding money, the developer wished the Council to respond to two questions: 1. Would the project proposed meet the goals and objectives of the City for this property? 2. Under what terms and conditions would the City make the land available for this project? If this type of project was one the City could support,.the developers would like an exclusive 90 -day option to negotiate an appropriate agreement with the City. Staff was recommending that the request be denied, but that staff be directed to begin a process of securing a developer for a commercial project on the site. Councilwoman Dovey stated she would be supportive of the current process and would not support the request for the option agreement. Mayor Billig-stated that as discussed in her Work Program this year, she too would prefer to solicit proposals from a variety of developers, although she did think that this project looked very viable and would encourage the developers to work with the City and itself in the RFP process. Councilman Dunin was concerned that the staff and Council had discussed the proposal previously on many occasions, felt that they had encouraged RKO to bring this forward for conceptual review and that now in mid - stream, staff was suggesting to change by recommending that a process be developed for development of this property, which he did not feel was fair to the developers. Councilman Griffin also felt that the project had a great deal of merit. He felt the mixed -use concept for an anchor store made the proposal nonviable the last time it was before Council and since then there were many reasons why the staff should prepare a process for reviewing and evaluating potential developments for this.site. He did feel this project was an outstanding one, and would like to see it stay alive. City Council Minutes Monday, September 17, 1984 - 12:10 p.m. Page 4 Mayor Billig agreed. She felt it was a terrific design. After brief discussion it was moved by Mayor Billig, seconded by Councilman Griffin, to deny the request from RKO for a 90 -day option agreement-on city -owned property bounded by Monterey, Osos and Higuera Streets; staff recommendation supported to develop criteria for the process and staff directed to move forward to develop a process or procedure for concept project submittals. Further, that these criteria be available for review by the first of November. Motion carried, Councilman Dunin voting no, Vice -Mayor Settle absent. 2:00 p.m. there being no further business to co a before the City Council, Mayor Billig adjourned the meeting. l�/�'Yl V - Pam la Voges, City CAerk APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 10/16/84 M I N U T E S REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1984 - 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL; 990 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present: GlennaDeane Dovey, Ron Dunin, Robert Griffin and Mayor Melanie C. Billig Absent: Vice -Mayor Allen K. Settle City Staff Present: Paul Lanspery, Administrative Officer; Roger Picquet, City Attorney; Pamela Voges, City Clerk; Toby Ross, Community Development Director; Dave Romero, Public Works Director; Terry Sanville, Principal Planner 1 1 C O N S E N T A G E N D A On motion of Councilwoman Dovey, seconded by Councilman Dunin, the consent agenda unanimously approved as recommended by the City Administrative Officer. The following actions taken as indicated: C -1 COUNCIL MINUTES Minutes of Tuesday, July 17, 1984 - 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday, August 7, 1984 - 5:30 p.m.; Monday, August 13, 1984 - 12:10 p.m.; Tuesday, August 14, 1984 - 7:00 p.m. approved as amended (4 -0 -1). , C -2 CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY - E . LEITNER Claim against the City by Eugene L. Leitner in the amount of $3,800 in conjunction with sidewalk construction being done by the City on Buchon Street was denied (4 -0 -1). C -3 TRAFFIC SIGNAL MODIFICATION PROJECT (File #1144) Resolution No. 5470 (1984 Series) approving Supplement No. 8 to Local