HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/26/2021 Item 2, Marlier (2)
Wilbanks, Megan
From:John F. Marlier <
To:Van Leeuwen, Kyle; Codron, Michael; E-mail Council Website
Subject:Comment on the Westmont Subdivision Initial Study & Environmental Checklist
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From: John and Joyce Marlier (homeowners at 547 Stanford Drive since 1990)
Re: File Number: SBDV-0169-2020 ER # EID-0170-2020
Thank you for the attention to the comments of my neighbors on Stanford Drive concerning the 468-500 Westmont project. We
submitted my comments in writing prior to that 5/26/2021 meeting. Since our neighbors only recently received notice of the
impending project, it was reassuring that the members of the Planning Commission put off a final decision and allotted future meeting
time to address the environmental and traffic safety/flow issues of the Stanford Drive residents. We wish to make the following points
in support of our neighbors:
1. Environmental. Neighborhood comments on the environmental impact study are hampered by the fact that we received such late
notice of the impending project. We are also disadvantaged by the project occurring on private property. For these reasons it is
essential to grant additional time for residents to formulate the additional questions and seek support of people who have expertise in
this area.
2. Parking and Traffic Safety/Flow. We were encouraged to hear that at least one planner visited our affected area. One problem with
traffic safety/flow is the abundance of cars when Cuesta and Cal Poly are in session. As we commented in our earlier email, the model
of the single-family home with 2 cars/house does not apply in the Stanford Drive area because of the preponderance of student rentals
and the resulting 4-5 cars/house. Unfortunately, the time has passed for city planners to directly observe this impact because
graduation has already occurred at Cuesta and many students have left the area. Cuesta has a surprisingly large impact on the rental
market north of Foothill. The enrollment at the San Luis Obispo campus was over 7100 students in 2019-2020 and the campus has no
student housing. It is naïve to use the outdated model of community college students still living at home with their parents. Currently,
Cal Poly is in the last week of classes and soon many of these students will also leave for the summer. Unfortunately, the next real
opportunity to observe the full impact of parking and traffic will not occur until mid-September 2021.
3. These Issues are Interrelated. The environmental and traffic issues are complex and interrelated, requiring more time to gather
pertinent facts. The current development proposal calls for phase 1 construction at lots 1-3 with entry/exit onto Westmont Drive and
eventually onto Jeffery Drive. Buildout of these lots will preclude extending this entry/exit point to any other lots in the development.
Diverting more traffic onto Westmont/Jeffery is a very logical option. Consider the fact that Stanford is curvy and is narrower than
Jeffery. Using a more realistic traffic flow/safety model than was used in the initial study may very well conclude diverting more
traffic onto Westmont/Jeffery to be more desirable. Buildout of phase 1 effectively eliminates this option. We urge you not to build
phase 1 until these issues are satisfactorily resolved.
Thank you for your attention to these issues.
John and Joyce Marlier
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