HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/12/2020 Item 2, Smith
Wilbanks, Megan
From:carolyn smith <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Planning Commission - August 12, 2020 - Item #2 - Froom Ranch
Dear Commissioners,
I have lived in the Laguna Lake area for nearly 40 years. There are numerous reasons why I think
this project is too large for this area and has too many significant unavoidable impacts that can't be
sufficiently mitigated. However, my primary concern with this project is the significant additional traffic
congestion it will generate. I've experienced many changes in this area with all of the commercial and
residential development on LOVR over the past 10 years. The traffic has continually increased with
congestion over much of the day becoming the norm. The additional traffic from the already
approved and under construction San Luis Ranch has not yet even been realized. There is no
realistic way of knowing (not just using modeling) how the additional traffic from that project will
negatively affect the circulation on the Madonna/LOVR arterials. That impact needs to be determined
BEFORE additional large projects such as Froom Ranch along these arterials are approved.
However, now the Froom Ranch Project is being considered with 400+ senior living units, 174 multi-
family units, along with commercial development and even a hotel. The project requires an additional
signal light to be added on Auto Park Way which will cause traffic to be backed up to Froom Ranch
Way and Madonna Road in one direction and to Calle Joaquin and the freeway interchange in the
other direction. The EIR recommended mitigation for this significant unavoidable impact is woefully
inadequate and will be of minimal help, if at all. While the senior living phase may generate minimal
traffic, since many of the residents living in that type of project often don't have vehicles, there will be
employee, visitor, and delivery traffic. Additionally, the traffic generated by the 174 muti-family units
as well as the commercial development and the hotel will be will be substantial.
The traffic congestion from this project in this area will only worsen our already compromised air
quality (another significant unavoidable impact) and since one of the goals of this city has been to
reduce carbon emissions, approval of this project, in its current form, flies in the face of that
goal. Therefore, this project should be reduced to minimize the traffic and air quality impacts on
LOVR, the surrounding arterials, and the city as a whole.
At the very least, this project should not proceed without the Prado Road Interchange being
completed. There must be some traffic relief on LOVR to avoid gridlock.
In the Land Use and Circulation Update survey, 91% of the respondents rated air quality and open
space as very and most important. 74% rated traffic safety and congestion management as very and
most important. It's impossible to think that the traffic congestion generated by this project, and the
loss of open space is not going to erode those important quality of life benefits that have made SLO
special. This project can be reduced to preserve those qualities most important to residents and you
have the ability to require that modification.
Thank you for your attention.
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Carolyn Smith
SLO City Resident
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