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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/15/2020 Item 10, Brooks Wilbanks, Megan From:Lea Brooks < To:E-mail Council Website Subject:City Council 9.15.2020, Item 10, 660 Tank Farm Road Attachments:City Council 9.15.2020, Item 10, 660 Tank Farm.docx Attached are my comments on the Item 10, 660 Tank Farm Road. Thank you. Lea Brooks San Luis Obispo 1 To: Mayor Harmon and Council Members Christianson, Gomez, Stewart and Pease From: Lea Brooks, San Luis Obispo Resident Re: City Council Sept. 15, 2020, agenda, Item 10: A public hearing to introduce an ordinance reasoning and amending the specific plan designation for the property at 660 Tank Farm Road and amending the Airport Area Specific Plan designation for 3985 Broad St.; consideration of a General Plan Amendment approving development of an assisting living facility Sept. 14, 2020 Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this proposal. I am a member of the Active Transportation Committee, but am commenting as a city resident. I was surprised to learn in the staff report that the applicant has revised th is project and is moving forward only with the Westmont Living facility at this time. However, the recommended General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Amendment and rezoning apply to the entire site and enable a new commercial project or something else to be proposed for the prominent corner of Tank Farm and Broad Street. I recently submitted comments on the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the original project. These comments to the City Council reflect the revised project. I must express concern that it’s challenging for the public to comment on the “big picture” development of this corner when it’s now being done piecemeal. One of my main concerns with this project is connectivity to the Broad Street Corri dor. The emphasis in the Mitigated Negative Declaration on the original project and staff report on the revised project is improved bicycle/pedestrian safety and connectivity in the vicinity of the Tank Farm/Broad Street intersection and north-south connectivity, which is positive. However, what’s missing is a time line and realistic plan for an east-west connection that people on bikes and pedestrians consider safe between Broad and Higuera streets to connect islands of development, including Avila Ranch and San Luis Ranch. Tank Farm Road along the Chevron property has narrow shoulders immediately adjacent to heavy vehicle traffic. Buckley Road will eventually have Class II bike lanes along the Avila Ranch property. But the bike lanes will end abruptly, dum ping people on bicycles onto a narrow road with no shoulders until a short segment of wide shoulders near Hoover Road. Thankfully, Hoover has full Class II bike lanes to Santa Fe. -What is the time line for east-west bicycle/pedestrian connectivity for people of all ages and abilities on Tank Farm, Prado and Buckley roads? -What are the environmental impacts if these improvements don’t occur for 10 -15-plus years because the traffic impact fees and other direct developer contributions don’t cover their costs or expected projects are not built? -How will the City meet its 20 percent trips-by-bike and greenhouse gas reduction goals if people are afraid to walk or bicycle because of the lack of facilities they perceive as safe and drive instead? The distances between Avila Ranch, San Luis Ranch and numerous other destinations on Higuera Street and Los Osos Valley Road and the corner of Tank Farm Road/Higuera Street are reasonable for someone on a bike unless they perceive the route as dangerous. This major gap in the active transportation network presumably will be addressed in the EIR being prepared for the project at 600 Tank Farm Road. It’s unfortunate that east - west connectivity for people on bikes and pedestrians was not addressed for this project and adjacent project at 650 Tank Farm Road. A reminder of the Special Focus Overlay in the Land Use and Circulation Element for this Tank Farm/Higuera corner which states: Pay attention to connectivity, safety and comfort of bicycle and pedestrian circulation. Connectivity for this project should not be limited to north-south-east. What about west? The City Council has set progressive goals for a green future, but what’s lacking are connections perceived as safe to bicycle and walk. In closing, I’m pleased to see features and conditions in this revised proposal that enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity around and adjacent to the project, including an easement to 650 Tank Farm Road for the future construction of a bridge that links pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Bike racks, pathway lighting, pedestrian/bicycle connections to nearby employme nt centers at Mindbody and retail services at the Marigold Shopping Center and protected bicycle intersection features at the northwest corner of the Broad Street/Tank Farm Rod intersection are also most welcome.