HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/8/2024 Item 5b, Goldlist
Colunga-Lopez, Andrea
From:Ashley Goldlist <ashley.goldlist@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 7, 2024 11:20 PM
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Re: Welcome Home Village SLO
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Good Evening Commissioners,
My name is Ashley and I am a resident and also a planner professionally. I have several years of experience reviewing
CEQA projects and am currently working on implementing low income equitable transportation projects on the state
level.
I wholeheartedly endorse this project. The persistent housing shortage in SLO County poses a significant threat to our
community's well-being. Businesses struggle to hire, residents struggle to afford living here, and our economy faces
challenges in sustaining our quality of life. Decades of inaction from previous SLO City and County Planning
Commissions, as well as the Board of Supervisors, have exacerbated the housing shortage and hindered our ability to
progress and prosper. As we assess our region's project pipeline, it's crucial that we resist the inclination to postpone or
reject the much-needed housing initiatives.
I cannot say for certain if the SLO Air Pollution Control District has provided input on this matter, but I want to offer my
perspective as an Air Quality Specialist at the state level, utilizing SLO County's regional CEQA guidance. Please note
that my comments do not represent any official stance of either the state agency or regional agency.
The APCD encourages balance of residential... infill within the existing urban reserve lines (URLs), as this is
consistent with the land use goals and policies of the APCD’s Clean Air Plan. Increasing density can reduce
emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by minimizing the number of trips and travel distances and
encouraging active transportation. The APCD supports the use of infill development, as it is consistent with
SLOCOG’s Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy. This is consistent with the
proposed location of the village.
The future location of the Welcome Home Village will be on the Health Agency Campus in San Luis Obispo, providing
the program’s participants with walking-distance access to vital services including premier medical centers, behavioral
health outpatient services, and the crisis stabilization unit. Vehicle travel and overall transportation accounts for the
majority of greenhouse gas and pollution in this county and this project negates the need for personal vehicles. In fact,
most of the residents moving to Welcome Home Village will not have a vehicle since people referred to this
program have been living unsheltered and do not have access to a vehicle. The location is perfect because it is located
near grocery stores, two bus stops, the SLO Railroad Safety Trail, and other important amenities.
Residents will be encouraged to use alternative forms of transportation. It is very important to note that the California Air
Resource Board's free electric bicycle program is opening for low income residents in the state in May which
residents' will qualify for. This will provide quality longer distance transportation to access better jobs and
opportunities. The APCD encourages mixed-use development. When people can walk or bike to nearby businesses
or parks, traffic is reduced, and we create healthy communities. This is consistent with several of the APCD's land
use goals and policies in the Clean Air Plan and helps meet the SB 32 and SB 375 emission reduction targets set by
California legislation and the California Air Resources Board.
As a planning commissioner on this board, being a planning professional isn't a prerequisite for election. I, for instance,
am a renter in this county, and I've experienced financial insecurity firsthand in my lifetime. Finding stable housing
allowed me to develop a routine and pursue higher education and job opportunities. On several regional transportation and
planning committees here, I've often found myself as the sole woman and youngest member by 20-25 years. My peers on
those committees are generally closer to retirement age, homeowners, earning over $100,000 annually, and predominantly
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white. We had differing ideas on how the intersection of clean transportation, mobility, and affordable housing can impact
society and assist low-income communities in this county. While I may not know each of you personally, if this
description resonates with you, I urge you to acknowledge your privilege and contribute to solutions benefiting our
unhoused populations. Your participation in this committee signifies a commitment to the broader community, including
those you may not regularly interact with. It's a step toward rectifying historical disinvestment in certain communities
(such as redlining) and advancing equity in decision-making processes. This isn't about politics; it's about humanity.
Those who've shown indifference toward affordable housing projects aren't the kind of neighbors I'd wish for.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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