HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-2014 PC FarwellGoodwin, Heather
From: Mejia, Anthony
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 11:15 PM
To: Kremke, Kate; Goodwin, Heather
Subject: Fwd: Change in San Luis Obispo
Agenda Correspondence Public Comment 5/6/14.
Begin forwarded message:
MAY 0'6 2014
AGENDA
CORRESPONDENCE
Date : f x,1114 Item#
From: Debra Farwell <dif53(a�earthlink.net>
Date: May 5, 2014 at 10:50:37 PM PDT
To: "Marx, Jan" <jmarxkslocity.org >, "Smith, Kathy" <ksmithkslocity.or g >, "Carpenter, Dan"
<dcarpentkslocity.org >, "Christianson, Carlyn" <cchristikslocity.org >, "Ashbaugh, John"
<jashbaug9slocity.org >, "Mejia, Anthony" <ameiiakslocity.org>
Subject: Change in San Luis Obispo
Reply -To: Debra Farwell <dif5 3 kearthlink. net>
May 5, 2014
Mayor Marks and Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council,
In 2007, I began a photo documentation project on change in the City of San Luis Obispo. It
became clear during the most recent economic recession, that downtown S.L.O. was being
impacted by change. My project is long -term, which I hope will span the remainder of my life. I
take photos of businesses that close and archive any information I find about the closures.
Change is constant, but sometimes there are trends that can be documented. My aim is to
understand and document, how and where change occurs within the community.
Being a 5th generation resident of San Luis Obispo, family stories from the past inform my
understanding of change. A background of Anthropology and Forensic Photography, serve as a
guide to this project. I view my community with a historical perspective and active knowledge of
being a 60+ year resident. This allows for a wider perspective on the impacts of change.
In Dec. of 2013, I began to regularly attend City Council meetings to understand the recent
LUCE Update. There were significant language changes that translate into new city policies. In
January and February 2014, I attended the 2nd SLO County Citizen Planning Academy
presented by the American Planning Association and sponsored by the local chapter. There were
8 classroom presentations lasting 3 hours each. An additional downtown tour at the completion
of the instruction, focused on different planning and strategy methods to direct the future of San
Luis Obispo. Current language and planning methods were explained to illustrate the how and
why we the City, State and Nation are where we are today. The greatest learning experience
however, is in monitoring City Council Meetings: the deals that take place and results that have
negative residential outcomes.
I am appalled by the commodification of San Luis Obispo and surrounding natural landscape.
Our city and environment have become assets promoted for profit. Residents are left with the
negative effects of traffic, over - crowding, pollution and lack of affordable housing. The
community has been re- branded and marketed to increasing numbers of outside consumers who
directly affect our quality of life. We have something good here in S.L.O., but our wealth as
residents is exploited for the benefit of others.
According to the 2008 -2009 SLO Chamber of Commerce publication: "Our Vision of San Luis
Obispo's Economic Future" (pg. 3), S.L.O. was, "previously... thought of as a slow, backward
little town ". On the contrary, slow, controlled growth with community minded ethics and
forethought, maintained a quality of life enjoyed by many, for decades. Making this a place
we've been proud to call "Home ".
The same Chamber publication, (pg.3) describes the city's current attributes as: "clean air;
beautiful vistas; small town character and a charming downtown... rare in other places and highly
valued ". Unfortunately, these attributes are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Numerous 4
story multi -use downtown hotels and entertainment venues have been approved for construction.
None of them has adequate on -site parking. All of them will obscure the beautiful vistas and
sunlight, which are currently enjoyed. The small town character and charm has been replaced
with excessive bars, vomit on the sidewalks, increased density, crime, traffic, noise and smells.
Our unique small -town characteristics are being exploited and sold as a commodity. Those
valued attributes described in the Chamber's Economic Vision, will be unrecognizable in the
near future.
During spring vacation, Thursday night Farmer's Market, Palm Street traffic was solid from
Santa Rosa through to Broad Street. All intersections were blocked. They were dangerous to
navigate on bike, foot and by auto. Our little piece of heaven has been sold out from underneath
our feet and we are slow to realize that it is already gone! I don't see it getting better ... only
worse. Please save what is left of value in San Luis Obispo: clean air, sunlight, beautiful
mountain views, community neighborhoods and open space with room to move without bumping
into others. These are attributes that have made S.L.O. something special for generations. I'd
prefer to be able to photograph San Luis Obispo as a community, not a commodity.
Sincerely,
Debra Farwell
San Luis Obispo Resident