HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/22/2023 Item 4a, Brennan
From:Jocelyn Brennan <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:PC Item 4.a
Attachments:SLOCAOR Downtown Density Letter.pdf
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Please see attached. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn Brennan
cell/text (805) 748-7630
Jocelyn@thehrmcorp.com
1
February 22, 2023
To the Planning Commissioners of San Luis Obispo,
We represent the San Luis Obispo Coastal Association of REALTORS®. Our organization serves
over 700 REALTORs® and affiliates. We seek to promote housing production and
homeownership, preserve property rights, and support opportunities for residents of all
incomes to achieve the American dream.
We are writing to express our views on the proposed Downtown Density program for the city of
San Luis Obispo. As the staff report indicates, housing production is not only a top priority for
the state of California but is also a key component of many other goals specific to the Central
Coast: economic diversification and development, preserving and improving our quality of life,
addressing homelessness, and preserving our scenic landscapes. We support the overall
Downtown Density concept for its potential to produce safe and efficient homes and its role in
reaching these other important targets.
We respectfully request the following amendments to the ordinance:
1. Remove the 500-permitted-unit cap. The 500-unit cap does not apply to constructed
units that residents can inhabit, only permitted or entitled units. This does not allow
flexibility for development projects that are planned but never receive Certificates of
Occupancy. The current environment for new construction is volatile and some projects
may be feasible at the beginning of the permitting process but may become infeasible by
groundbreaking. A project that is permitted to build units which never get built removes
the ability for other developers to meet that need with units that do get built.
2. Remove the deadline of January 1, 2029. There are currently deep constraints on new
construction, including but not limited to high land and materials costs, higher interest
rates, and supply chain delays; these issues have been ongoing since March of 2020, and
it is unclear whether (or if) they will resolve in time to make the most of this program
before its expiration date. Additionally, this program applies to only two zones within the
Downtown Core, and many of those lots are new construction, historic, or consistently
occupied by commercial tenants. We believe it will take time for the parcels that may use
this program to turn over r to new owners who are willing to redevelop them.
3. Remove the parking requirements for units 600sf and less. Land downtown comes at a
premium due to its prime location and low-selling inventory. Requiring vehicle space for
units that are designed for a single-person household, who is likely to live and work in the
neighborhood and can live with no car use, means that fewer of these units will be built
and their prices will be less attainable to our local workforce. Moreover, on-site parking
is itself an amenity and draws higher market prices. The City already has a program that
can accommodate locals who need to park in the neighborhood. If developers wish to
provide parking, they should be allowed to do so, but it should not be mandated for units
of this size.
Thank you for your time and consideration and your service to our community. We look
forward to seeing continued progress on this important goal.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn Brennan
Government Affairs Director
Jocelyn@thehrmcorp.com
San Luis Obispo Coastal Association of REALTORS®
https://slocaor.org/