HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/4/2021 Item 4b, Baker
Wilbanks, Megan
From:susan baker <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Re: Glacier Ice Company application for review
Attachments:Architectural Review 2.pdf
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Good morning:
Attached please find our comments regarding the above application to the public hearing before the Architectural
Review Commission, scheduled for October 4, 2021. Please distribute to all members.
Thank you for your assistance and time.
Susan Baker
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1
To: advisorybodies@slocity.org
October 1, 2021
Re: Architectural Review Commission Hearing re Glacier Ice Company, October 4, 2021
Dear Commissioners:
First, Glacier Ice is located across High Street from a residential section of San Luis Obispo. This has
been a light industrial area of the city for many years, but it is progressively being transformed into a
residential one. There is now a popular coffee shop directly across the Glacier Ice loading driveway. The
cleared Chevron property along Walker Street is headed for eventual residential use. The burnt out SUB
building shows no signs of ever being rebuilt. The future is evident. Light industry should be encouraged
to move to the city outskirts, and housing should be built here for persons who need it. Retaining and
encouraging more industry inside the city while building housing on its outskirts it is not the best use of our
resources.
Second, while the area has been changing, Glacier Ice has injected more and more 18-wheel truck traffic
into the neighborhood. These trucks park idling on High Street, creating traffic logjams at the already
dangerous Beebee-High-Walker street conjunction. They block High Street altogether, while slowly
inching themselves backwards into Glacier’s loading area. Other huge trucks of various companies are
now using the same route as a cut-off from South Street into downtown, or Beebee Street to South Street
and the freeway. Several times, the water system broke down due to the weight of the trucks, and caused
flooding and damage necessitating repairs that caused residents to go for hours at a time with no water
service. Whether the new water line and unpaved street will hold up under this continual heavy traffic is
unknown. Requests to deny this use by heavy vehicles, accompanied by documentation and photographs,
have been met with silence by the city, though its employees tell us that the local streets are not rated for
them. We must assume that a larger Glacier plant will bring even more such traffic.
Third, the ammonia diffusion tank is a threat to the residents, should there be an accident. At the very
least, there should be a CEQA environmental review regarding the ammonia tank but, for some reason, it is
indicated on the notice that there is an exemption, with no explanation of why. Due to the short notice of
one week prior to the hearing, it is difficult for residents to have the time to read staff reports on line and
respond succinctly prior to the hearing. Laypersons are not experts on CEQA or its exemptions, and we
need time to consult those who are. Contact with the federal EPA regarding dangers may also be
appropriate. We ask that this hearing be continued and rescheduled for residents who wish to research and
understand the size and construction and potential negative effects on our neighborhood.
We ask that these remarks be made part of the hearing record. Thank you for reading this and for its
consideration.
Sincerely,
Daniel Mrotek Susan Baker
sebslo@hotmail.com