HomeMy WebLinkAboutJHC to ARC & CHCThe Jack House Committee is deeply concerned by several aspects of the San Luis
Square proposal.While we are eager to see downtown development projects that will
draw pedestrians along Marsh Street,they must not come at the expense of the Jack
House and the Jack Gardens two of the City’s most significant historical resources.
We urge the ARC,CHC,and city staff to take the following concerns as seriously as we
do while considering the concept proposal for San Luis Square.
1.As proposed,San Luis Square will significantly impact the lightshed and
viewshed of the Jack Gardens,which are specifically protected in section 4.2.B.2
of San Luis Obispo’s Community Design Gudelines:New buildings shall not
obstruct views from,or sunlight to,publicly-owned gathering places including,but
not limited to,Mission Plaza,the Jack House gardens,and YCLC Cheng Park.In
these locations,new buildings shall respect views of the hills,framing rather than
obscuring them."
We ask that any plans for developing this area include a comprehensive study to
ensure that they will not impact the light-and viewshed of the Jack Gardens.
It has been pointed out that the line of redwoods at the edge of the Jack Gardens
currently obscure some of the light and viewshed.However,the dappled light
filtering through a row of trees is significantly different the solid and inexorable
shadow cast by a 50-or 60-foot building.In addition,the trees can be removed or
die at any time.Once a building is erected on this site,the Jack Garden’s light-
and viewshed will be irrevocably lost.
2.The scale of San Luis Square is entirely out of proportion with the Jack House
and is being unrealistically presented in the current concept drawings.The reality
is that the proposed complex,over 60 feet high in places and requiring variances
from existing zoning,would overpower the Jack House and the Jack Gardens.
According to stated measurements,It is both bigger and closer than the drawings
would lead us to believe.
In addition,the project’s contemporary design contrasts sharply with the painted
wood and Italianate style of the Jack House and does not offer sufficient visual
transition between the Jack House and the new buildings.
3.We are especially concerned about the risk that the two-story underground
garage poses to the Jack property.Vibrations and destabilization of marshy
ground may have significant negative impact on the Jack House and we ask that
aggressive interior and exterior monitoring be put in place at this delicate historic
structure throughout any construction that may take place.
Additionally,the potential impact of the underground garage on the redwood
trees remains troubling.While the plans include preserving the trees,it is hard to
see how the excavation of the adjacent lot would not damage their roots.Even
without the current drought,a root injury could easily prove fatal to one or more
of these trees.If they died,there would be no screen between the Jack Gardens
and San Luis Square.Regrowing them would take decades.
4.Last but not least,the San Luis Square proposal seems to include removing a
century-old Southern California Black Walnut tree,likely planted by Nellie Jack,
from the northeast corner of the property where its canopy which hangs 20 feet
over the property line)would interfere with the Higuera Street building.Under no
circumstances should this tree be removed or damaged in any way.
CEQA guidelines provide that a project that demolishes or alters those physical
characteristics of an historical resource that convey its historical significance i.e.,
its character-defining features)can be considered to materially impair the
resource’s significance."
It is clear from both the grant deed to the city and the Jack House’s application to
the National Register of Historic Places that the many mature trees planted by
Nellie Jack,who was particularly fond of trees and exotic shrubs”are considered
an integral part of this historic property.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
The Jack House Committee
Kathi Settle,Chair