HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/2020 Item 3, Hodgson
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Karla Hodgson <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:PC Communication - RE: 830 Orcutt Road ARCH-0764-2019 & AFF-0210-2020, &
USE-0822-2019
Attachments:Planning Commission plea.pdf
Thank you for your time.
Hodgsons
1
Planning Commission
RE: 830 Orcutt Road
ARCH-0764-2019 &
AFF-0210-2020, & USE-0822-2019
The Planning Commission’s (PC) purview is to review the project for consistency with the
General Plan, Zoning Regulations, and applicable City development standards and guidelines.
As residents of this immediate area and an observer of the previously approved projects at 950
Orcutt and —- Orcutt, I humbly ask you to stop the madness.
Every request for this neighborhood coming before the committee has asked for “exceptions”
and every request has been approved.
- Twin Creeks asked for exceptions to be made for building residential units on the
street.
- 950 Orcutt requested exceptions for increased bicycle parking in exchange for
almost no surface parking, but an experimental mechanical garage, into which an average
pickup truck will not fit.
Now this project is asking for two important exceptions: to the density, a bonus of 20%,
including alternative incentive to relax the creek set back and a 10% parking reduction to be
offset by a large bicycle parking increase. The other requests to exceptions are not as
important as these two.
Firstly, the General Plan has set out specifications to protect the riparian areas that crisscross
the city. These are generally seasonal creeks that, contrary to the report presented are the
home to many wild animals still trying to hold on in the midst of the city’s growth. Owls and
hawks, raccoons and even the infrequent coyote. Although the trees are not “native”, they are
abundant and cooling. Making a grossly over-reaching exception tho the creek set back for
this project not only threatens these animals, but would completely change the dynamic, as the
creek crosses Orcutt and runs along the west side of our development, Avivo, where the
builders maintained the creek set back. We have already experienced problems from the 950
Orcutt project dumping its waste water directly into the creek on the east side of our part of the
development during their construction phase. Twin Creeks project has embraced both creeks
that frame it, one to the west and the creek in question here, without asking for exceptions.
Granting this near elimination (90% reduction!) of the creek setback is NOT consistent with
character of the neighborhood. It appears to be a land grab, to squeeze two more living units
and a little commercial space out of a lot for profit. They are couching their requests in
providing affordable housing and more bicycle use, but how affordable and for how long? And
who is going to be using all those bike rack spaces, since most people who own a bicycle also
own a car?
Secondly, The density issue is tied to the parking issue. We would request that the
Commission at least wait and see how the experiment with the mechanical parking structure at
950 Orcutt works. Little background:
- Orcutt Road is one of three access points to cross the railroad tracks, along with
Johnson and Tank Farm. And, Orcutt Road is a speedway. We don’t know how frequently any
of you visit the area, but, starting at Broad Street or at Laurel, cars speed up going downhill,
often at speeds exceeding the limit of 40 MPH. Most days and into the night, it sounds like a
race track. There are only stop signs at Sacramento/Duncan and McMillan to access Orcutt
and there is a center island along most of the road. There are no pedestrian crossings for
anywhere along the stretch, so those of us who walk to take advantage of the trails and nearby
eateries and shopping, take our lives in our hands every time we cross unless we walk the
additional 1/2 mile in either direction to the signals.
This project would add additional traffic and it offers no new solutions to the problem. Access
to the project from west bound Orcutt can turn right into the parking, but eastbound traffic
seeking to access it must proceed to the left turn lane at Duncan/Sacramento and make a u-
turn. Likewise, when exiting the project, a right turn, westbound is the only way to go, leaving
people who wish to go eastbound to proceed to McMillan and make an unregulated u-turn
against the speeding traffic coming off of Broad.
These are both dangerous situations. A new signal is in the works at Sacramento/Duncan and
Orcutt, which we hope will slow the traffic down and provide easier access for walkers and
bicyclists. However, it will not change the fact that access to this project will require u-turns
across a very busy road.
As to the parking reduction, we would like to tell you about our own experiences here at Avivo
“West.” There are 32 units with two-car garages. There are also 16 open parking spaces for
owners and guests. These “open” spaces are always full - NEVER available overnight. That
is because, 1) there are more than two cars per unit and 2) there are about 30% pickup trucks
that do not fit in a two car garage. Now, as a community, we have tried to address this by
“requiring” residents to park two cars in the garage before they use the outdoor spots. We
have put up signs to prohibit people from Tumbling Waters across the street from parking in
these spots. But still the problem exists.
Since there is no parking on Orcutt Road or Sacramento (bike lane, hurrah!), and very limited
parking on Duncan adjacent to the 950 development, where is the overflow going to park?
And, we know there will be more cars than spaces, based on our own experience.
We ask you to remember your commitment to stick to the plans the City so carefully drew up
and deny the creek set back exception and to have the developer rethink their plans to take
into consideration what is already happening along Orcutt hone they plan for the future.
We know you are feeling pressure from the state to increase housing, but is that just an excuse
for dumping more untenable projects along Orcutt Road? Think about the longterm
consequences and ask for more modest proposals.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and consider our reservations about this project.
Herv and Karla Hodgson
3222 Fennel Lane
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401