HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2022 Item 4a, Attala
From:Molly Attala <
To:Bell, Kyle
Subject:1422 & 1488 Monterey Street comments
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
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Kyle – We own the properties at 1502 Higuera and 1510 Higuera. We have reviewed the plans for the proposed mixed
use development on California and Monterey and have some concerns:
1) Parking
We have operated our law business at 1502 Higuera for over 10 years and are constantly challenged
with parking for our clients. We have 3 spots behind our building reserved for clients and we have
ongoing problems as no other parking is available on the street once these are filled. Furthermore, the
proposed plans remove existing street parking from Monterey. When a new 106 room development is
added to the neighborhood this will become an impossible challenge for business parking. The senior
housing has .5 parking in the plans, and in the latest revision has taken this down by another 5 parking
spots (95 total). This is less than 1 parking spot for each unit. In addition, the latest plan now shows
fewer bicycle parking spots? We read bicycle parking was the support for the reduced parking
allowance?
Is the City going to create a Permit parking on Higuera/Monterey/Mill for the existing property owners
so we can have parking available for clients and guests. The tenants in this new building and their
guests will consume the parking on the streets. The proposed 95 spots for housing and the proposed
commercial business is not realistic.
2) Building Height
The building height clearly does not meet the norms/standards of the neighborhood or the entire
downtown corridor. There are not any 4 or 5 story buildings in this corridor and a building of this size
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will dwarf the surrounding buildings/homes. Furthermore, the utility rooms are on top of the 5 floor
which means the total height of the building is even greater. This building should not be granted a
waiver for height. Economics is not a reason to waive the height – we will have developers all over SLO
putting in a portion of their builds as affordable housing to skirt the height requirement.
Given the FMV rental pricing in SLO, this project is more than viable with 4 stories. I am a CPA ad would
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like to see the support and assumptions on the submission which states a 5 Floor is required and must
be included for the project to be economically viable. This has not been presented for review. This
should be a key requirement for the planning commission to approve this waiver. Is the applicant’s 20
year business model for this project uploaded somewhere?
3) Traffic
SLO High School is down the street and there are hundreds of kids that pass our building several times
each day. We are concerned about the additional vehicles that will impact the traffic plan on California
and Monterey. There are limited proposed traffic modifications in the plan to accommodate the
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additional 106 tenant vehicles, their guests and the business traffic. Are there any additional safety
measures being included for the SLOHS students?
4) Noise
This is building is for Senior Housing and Affordable Housing. Do students qualify for Affordable
Housing? What is the breakdown between Seniors/Affordable Housing/Students? This is needed to
evaluate the impact of noise on the neighborhood. The addition of 106 tenants and the related noise
will impact the neighbors and businesses. The development has balconies and outside areas and if
students are housed in this development the noise will be much greater then just seniors/families.
Kind regards,
Molly Attala
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