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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-2014 th white(3)Kremke, Kate From: Mejia, Anthony Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 11:26 PM To: Kremke, Kate; Goodwin, Heather Subject: Fwd: 323 Grand Ave ARC meeting Attachments: 2013 09 City Council Monterey Hts. Begin forwarded message: neighborhood.doc; ATT00001.htm AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE Date_ - 5" i item L _ From: Linda White <lindaleewhite15k = ail.com> Date: May 14, 2014 at 3:11:08 PM PDT To: "Smith, Kathy" <ksmithgslocity.or >, "Mejia, Anthony" <amejia(kslocity.org >, "Christianson, Carlyn" <cchristi2cslocity.org >, "Carpenter, Dan" <dearpent(a slocity.or >, "Marx, Jan" <jmarx(,slocA��org >, "Ashbaugh, John" <iashbaug_na,slocity.org >, "Johnson, Derek" <diohnson a,slocity.org>, "Carloni, Marcus" <mcarloni(kslocity.org> Subject: 323 Grand Ave ARC meeting Dear Mayor Marx and City Council Members, I am afraid it is I once again, but please don't delete this message. This is a different subject. As a matter of fact, this is the issue that originally catapulted me into my recent life of Civic Activism. Back in October 2013, I wrote a letter to the City Council regarding a project at 323 Grand Ave which was before the planning commission. Despite the fact that our Family Trust owns a house at 250 Grand Ave, we received no notice. I went to City Planning on the day after this project was approved to register my concern and was told it was too late. My original letter is attached below. Two days ago, while meeting with fellow activists regarding the proposed CP dorms, one of the neighbors jokingly asked me about the Grand Ave mini -dorm project. When she saw my confusion, she asked if I had gotten the ARC notice which I hadn't. First I would like to address the issue of NOTICE. I know that you all realize the noticing procedure presently in place is inadequate and you expressed this during the Mission School Expansion issue. Something must be done and done sooner rather than later. My house at 250 Grand Ave., according to the present system should have been noticed regarding 323 Grand Ave. 250 is the most northerly house to be noticed. I received no notice despite the fact that: 1. I should have been noticed even with the limited foot noticing. 2. The address for the notice to be sent is correct and yet failed on at least two occasions to find me. This is not a mistake, coincidence, or minor error in the system. This is failure. The 323 Grand Ave development has an impact on a greater area than the 300 feet or whatever it is that you presently use. This dense infill project affects me not only at 250 Grand Ave but in my other two homes in Monterey Heights and it affects me in my two Alta Vista homes. The system for noticing must be increased not by feet but rather by major roads. This 323 Grand Ave high- density project noticing should have included both the Monterey Heights and Alta Vista neighborhoods. We are all affected by the erosion of our neighborhood. Next, I would like to address INFILL. I thought that I was in favor of infill until I realized that my concept of infill is much different from the City and City policies. I am all for allowing vacant, undeveloped, neglected lots be developed. However, I feel that they must be developed in a manner compatible with the neighborhood. Just because city planning made a mistake on the Aurignac project does not mean that they have to continue to make the same mistake over and over as development progresses up the street. I do not believe that it is the responsibility of the City to insure and aid negligent owners and developers in developing projects for maximum profit. It is your responsibility to see that our neighborhoods are not further studentified. There is nothing wrong with allowing Patrick Aurignac and now this developer to build houses on these lots but keep the lot sizes the same or similar to the neighboring lots. These houses should be kept to the size and style of the neighbors (and not the mistakes). I challenge you to find other 5- bedroom houses of 2800 to 3000 square feet in these two neighborhoods. I know of only two: 1. Dr. George French who raised five children in his house at 125 Longview Lane situated on two city lots. 2. Dr. Lou Tedone who raised 9 children at his Albert Drive home situated on a 12,000 sq.ft.lot. The 323 Grand Ave proposed structures are not single family homes. These are MINI - DORMS, you know it, I know it, the developer and architect know it. The City and neighbors should not have to endure and pay for the negative impacts that come with this high density development. Again, you are asking the neighbors to accept a lower quality of life so that a developer, new and transient to the neighborhood can achieve maximum profits. This project should have never passed the planning stage and if I had been noticed, I would have fought it. If I had been noticed for the Aurignac project, I would have entered my objections then. Problems can be avoided if neighbors are given the opportunity for input. You have stated in the controversy over the CP dorms, that you have no authority over the State. I understand this. You do have the authority, however to control what goes on in the City. I stated in my 10 -16 -2013 letter, attached below, that if your intent is to cede this neighborhood to Cal Poly for student housing, then please have the courage to admit it. It appears that the City Council, City Staff, and City Manager are either working at cross purposes or not communicating. The City Council purports to defend Neighborhood Wellness. You have code enforcement, city police, land use, etc. all working on ordinances to improve City Wellness. At the same time, the planning commission approves projects that only add to the problems that you are attempting to alleviate. San Luis Obispo is suffering from a multiple personality disorder. Please seek treatment. Where do the 20 legal and 20 illegal students inhabiting these "single- family homes" park? Is there enough room for police vehicles to respond to the unruly gatherings that these "families" will hold? Where are the trash dumpsters to be located? Do you actually expect the students to take individual containers to the street on trash day and then pick them up? Has the architect provided safe, flat roof areas for roof sitting parties? Will code enforcement officers be inspecting these homes to maintain city codes? Is there adequate Grand Ave beer pong space? These are all questions that should be answered before this project is approved. You are well aware of how difficult it is to solve these problems after the fact. Linda White