HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-2013 Item PH1 - Wilvert - Vujovich-La BarreMAY 3 0 76,13
May 30, 2013
Mayor Jan Marx and San Luis Obispo City Council Members
San Luis Obispo City Hall
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Dear Mayor Marx and Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council:
For us, this month marks many years of involvement working together as concerned citizens. Most of
our involvement has been focused on ensuring "smart growth" throughout our beautiful City through
letters, public and private meetings and other political action.
After a recent Land Use Circulation Element (LUCE) meeting on May 13, 2013, we were forwarded
Chair Kim Murry's response to our query in regard to a comprehensive EIR for Prado Road, or a
supplemental EIR for the Northern Alignment. Her response consisted of an outdated letter from Ken
Hampian written in 2004. Although Ken Hampian was a very nice, hard-working City employee, his
words do not constitute an EIR — especially since they are in conflict with a previous letter from then
City Assistant Administrative Officer, Wendy George, that refutes a claim of Ken Hampian. (See
accompanying "Letter to Mayor Marx and the San Luis Obispo City Council" - November 10, 2012:
Attachment B — Page 32)
During these last two weeks, we have had discussions about City planning with other citizens, some
specifically concerned with Prado Road and the Damon -Garcia Sports Fields. Interestingly enough, we
found that we had independently come up with the same solution for that particular problem.
If the development interests are so invested in the Northern Alignment of Prado Road, for
reasons of circulation for trucks or for fear of litigation with the Damon and Garcia families,
maybe it is time to investigate moving the Damon -Garcia Sports Fields. Prado Road, identified in
a recent LUCE meeting as a future 4-lane truck route, could be built properly for trucks, cars,
busses and bikes. There would not be the need for as many round -a -bouts through the
newly planned neighborhoods or for an under -highway tunnel for pedestrians and bike transit
adjacent to the Damon -Garcia Sports Fields.
If Prado Road is indeed the best East-West connection, maybe the time to build it is now. Private
land could be subjected to eminent domain, and the cross-town connection could be built at
taxpayers' expense, rather than wait years for the piecemealed efforts of various developers.
Again, if we are truly planning for the year 2035 with the efforts of the LUCE committee and others,
then make Prado Road the East-West connection that it should be. Do not let it be built in segments. By
designing the road straight into a T-intersection with Broad Street, and not elevated and curved around
the Damon -Garcia Sports Fields, at least we will be able to save the beauty of the South Hills Open
Space, preserve the 5,000-year-old Native American archaeological site, provide Class-1 bike lanes,
and eliminate the construction of a tunnel between the Sports Fields and the planned Margarita
neighborhood. The road should extend all the way to Madonna Road as per the 1960 City Master Plan.
By going forward with properly planned construction now, you will send a clear message to businesses
and individuals who are concerned with constructing a new homeless shelter on or near Prado Road,
expedite and facilitate the Chevron remediation efforts, clarify City perimeters for the new owner(s) of
the Dalidio farmland, provide a sense of relief to residents of both Los Verdes Park and the Arbors
neighborhoods, facilitate the remodeling of the water reclamation site at Prado Road and Highway 101
by 2018, provide alternatives for the congestion at the Los Osos Valley Road interchange and put to
death the proverbial "elephant in the room."
As for the Damon -Garcia Sports Fields, if we start now, 17-acres of open space can be earmarked
somewhere for new sports fields for today's children, and for the next generation, in a safer, more
healthful location.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss this suggestion further.
Sincerely,
I% �JJcnL R�0,r�
Mi Vujovi h-La Barre
650 Skyline Drive
San Luis Obispo, California 93405
milavu@holmaii.com
Rosemary Wilvert
603 Al-Hil
San Luis Obispo, California 93405 rwilvertQsbcg_lcbal.net
Cc. Land Use Circulation Element (LUCE) members
San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG)
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors
Airport Land Use
Regional Water Quality Control Board
Cal -Trans -District 5