HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/5/2025 Item 7a, Bramer
Brent Bramer <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Public Comment For Meeting 5.5.25 Concering Laurel Lane - SLO City Church
To the Construction Board of Appeals,
This email is in regards to the Construction Board of Appeals meeting scheduled for Monday, May 5,
2025, 1:00 p.m – concerning the Laurel Lane property.
I serve as the Lead Pastor of SLO City Church. Our church offices and worship services are held at 1150
Laurel Lane STE 120. I'm writing to ask for the board to reconsider the CBO's order to "(vacate) units;
securing them against entry because the building is unsafe, unlawful, unfit for human occupancy
and declared dangerous."
SLO City Church was given a TCO in April of 2023. What the city signed off on then has been maintained
and improved upon over the past 2 years. The recent order that the building is "unsafe", "unfit for human
occupancy" and "dangerous" is unreasonable and contrary to what the city agreed upon in 2023. We've
had local architects and contractors review and affirm that firewalls are in place, each area we occupy is
sprinklered, exiting is clearly marked and traffic flows freely. We have several local police officers,
firefighters, architects and city officials who worship each week at 1150 Laurel Lane – each do so
knowing the environment that their families are worshipping is safe. Additionally, city officials and the
mayor enjoyed an event at Bang The Drum event this past Thursday (May 1st), safely enjoying time with
constituents.
I understand the complexities of the building and the desire for the state of the building to improve. I also
understand that the building owner has had prior complications funding work – but recently there has
been great effort to remedy the issues raised by city officials. Still, it seems (through rumor and hearsay, I
might add) that the CBO is not willing to work with the building – thus putting tenants at risk of
displacement. I am writing to plead for a common sense approach to the issues at hand – allowing
tenants to remain and do business / ministry as they have the past 25 months. We utilize office space
and use the event center at Laurel Lane for a few hours each Sunday and would like to continue to do so,
as we continue our search for a long-term / forever location for our congregation.
Upon receiving the notice from the CBO our team has diligently searched for additional facilities that
could house our church, worship services and programs. As you are aware, space is extremely difficult to
find in the city – moving is excruciating on a small business / church – and the challenges that face our
congregation and pastoral staff if this order remains will be great. We do have a contingent agreement to
rent the SLO Vets Hall for mid-June - but there will be many Sundays that they are booked through the
end of 2025. We can't leave 1150 Laurel Lane until mid-June. In closing, I am asking that the board allow
the building owner the opportunity to correct issues - while allowing tenants to remain for as long as
possible.
Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to share.
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Brent Bramer
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Brent Bramer
slocity.church
502.777.3330
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