HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/6/2024 Item 4a, Castillo
Rafael Castillo <
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:Cohen, Rachel; Cassidy Bewley; Tway, Timothea (Timmi)
Subject:Item 4.a - ARCH-0529-2023 Comments
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Honorable Board Members and City Staff:
I would like to submit the following comments for your consideration at tonight's ARB meeting. I cannot attend in
person as I have a meeting to chair this evening. Overall, I am supportive of additional housing options within the city,
and continue to strive in meeting the City's RHNA housing targets during this housing cycle, a view that many of my
neighbors do not share. As a fellow practicing planner, I understand how hard it is to meet the requirements from the
State, yet balancing the needs of existing future residents. Overall I am in support of housing on this site, and the
replacement of the existing pre-school as an underutilized use.
1. The proposed project includes apartments fronting on Orcutt, however, these units have their front doors facing the
parking lot. As the project is located at the corner of Fernwood and Orcutt, many of the single unit homes, including
mine, have their front doors facing the street, establishing a neighborhood character. Similarly, the older housing stock
to the east of the project has its doors facing Orcutt. As I walk this intersection daily, there is an opportunity to maintain
an "eyes on the street" presence, as the grade elevates from the back of sidewalk along Orcutt Road, create a better
street presence as well as potential reduction in potential unsavory activities that are occurring along Orcutt in this
dimly lit section. I encourage the ARB to consider flipping the units or redesign the units to encourage the ARB to
consider directing the applicant and city staff to require the use of stoops as a transition to the existing single family
homes up on fernwood.
2. I am in opposition of an exception allowing an ADU greater than 1,000 sf. While ADUs have become easier to
construct, the reality is there will already be insufficient parking regardless of meeting the park requirements of the City
due to the likely rents of these units approaching $2,500 if not more (likely similar rental rates to compete with vintage,
across the street), as multiple people, with vehicles, will being parking along the streets, including Orcutt and Fernwood.
The neighboring MFR project (1148 Fernwood) already has multiple vehicles parking on the street, sometimes blocking
neighbors driveways, and creating considerable noise from a predominately family neighborhood. If an exception is
granted, city staff and the ARB should at least require parking for the unit of 1 to 2 parking spaces versus no parking
required for the ADU, or reduce the size of the unit so that no exception is required.
3. It is my understanding the Public Works reviewed the project and will maintain red curbing along Orcutt. Again, due to
the number of residents 1148 Fernwood 5 Unit apartments, these vehicles park along the street (and yes, legally
registered vehicles can), however, due to the lack of red curbs, these vehicles sometimes block the site triangle of vision
for marking a right turn onto Orcutt. Consideration should be made to extend red curbing at least 20 feet along
Fernwood to alleviate site distance issues.
4. Additional landscaping or fencing for the PG&E transformer. The neighboring project did not provide any screening for
the transformer, and while all the dogs in the neighborhood love it, and so does mine, and let's face it, its ugly as sin. At
least some screening consideration should be provided, unless we want to create another square pit stop for the dogs.
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Again, thank you for your time and consideration. I know your jobs are not easy as Committee Members, and I hope you
do take the time to consider these items.
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A. Rafael Castillo, AICP
Urban Design + Planning
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