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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/25/2021 Item 4a, Tower Wilbanks, Megan From:Justice Tower < To:Advisory Bodies Subject:279 BRIDGE ST. (ARCH-0597-2020) REVIEW OF A MIXED-USE PROJECT WITH A 24% DENSITY BONUS, Attachments:eSCRIBE Agenda Package p166.pdf This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. To: SLO City Planning Commission From: Bill & Justice Tower, homeowners/residents of 247 Bridge St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 We are supporters of the state and local initiatives of affordable housing for low-income community members and we welcome sensible and well thought-out developments. Upon reviewing the meeting documents associated to the proposed project for the 8/25/2021 Planning Commision review, we'd like to formally register the following concerns: 1) Page 166 (see attached), Original MND Transportation/Traffic item (a) listed the impact to be "Less than significant" but the study was based on the original design, primarily for commercial usage. How will the additional 94 residential units impact the circulation and congestion of a dead-end street which is heavily used by cyclists to access from South Highera to downtown and Broad street through Meadow Park. 2) Safety during emergency evacuation The only access to the entire 279 Bridge St development is through a two lane bridge which can become a choke point to exit during emergency evacuation. Furthermore has any study been performed on how that will impact the residents and business on Bridge street? 3) At the 7/19/21 ARC review meeting, to grant the concession request for balconies on the 2nd and 3rd floor facing neighborhoring low density communities was to provide additional screening. Commissioner M Smith suggested a solid half wall design instead of cable or iron railing. We'd like to see this suggested design be adopted for the units facing the southern, western and eastern neighbors to protect privacy and unsightliness, instead of the mesh type of screen shown on the most recent architecture rendering. 4) 5-7 years of construction This is a long time to live with the pollution from construction noise, dust, and construction vehicles, especially for someone at age 76. We sincerely thank the Planning Commission for considering our concerns. 1 Bill & Justice Tower 2 Issues, Discussion and Supporting Information Sources ER # 0286-2014 Sources Potentially Significant Issues Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact 28 16. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC. Would the project: a) Conflict with an applicable plan, ordinance or policy establishing measures of effectiveness for the performance of the circulation system, taking into account all modes of transportation including mass transit and non-motorized travel and relevant components of the circulation system, including but not limited to intersections, streets, highways and freeways, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and mass transit? 1, 16, 17, 20, 28 --X-- b) Conflict with an applicable congestion management program, including, but not limited to level of service standards and travel demand measures, or other standards established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? --X-- c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns, including either an increase in traffic levels or a change in location that results in substantial safety risks? --X-- d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g. farm equipment)? --X-- e) Result in inadequate emergency access? --X-- f) Conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs regarding public transit, bicycle, or pedestrian facilities, or otherwise decrease the performance or safety of such facilities? --X-- Evaluation a, b. Regional access to the project site is provided by Highway 101, located east of the project site. Local access to the project site is provided by Bridge Street and South Higuera; with pedestrian and bicycle access also available via a bike path connection at the western end of Bridge Street to Exposition Drive and the Meadow Park bicycle path network. All roadways in the immediate project vicinity have curbs, gut ters, sidewalks, and on-street parking. The project does not conflict with any applicable circulation system plans and does not significantly add to demand on the circulation system or conflict with any congestion management programs or any other agency’s plans for congestion management. As currently proposed, the project will generate approximately 21 AM peak trips and 23 peak PM trips, which are well within the available capacity of the existing street network. ITE Code AM Rate AM Trips PM Rate PM Trips 23,300 sf light manufacturing 110 0.92 21 0.97 23 These vehicular trips will be added to local and area streets. While existing streets have sufficient capacity to accommodate the added vehicular traffic without reducing existing levels of service , the project location and anticipated business mix make it a prime candidate for use of non -motorized forms of transportation, particularly walking and biking. The proposed project would not result in a significant impact with regard to increased vehicular trips and does not conflict with performance standards provided in City adopted plans or policies. The project will also contribute to overall impact mitigation for transportation infrastructure by participating in the Citywide Transportation Impact Fee program. c. The project is not located in the vicinity of any public or private airports and will not result in any changes to air traffic patterns, nor does it conflict with any safety plans of the Airport Land Use Plan. ATTACHMENT 1 Page 166 of 186