HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/5/2025 Item 7a, Byde
Patrick Byde <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Public Comment For Meeting 5.5.25 Concering Laurel Lane - SLO City Church
To the Construction Board of Appeals:
his 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.
Please consider the appeal of the notice to vacate SLO City Church as well as the other businesses
located at 1150 Laurel while building corrections are being made. I have worked for over 30 years as a
professional firefighter and while I do not contest that the building currently has code violations, I do
strongly object to the declaration of the building as “unsafe” or “unfit for human occupancy”. I would
never allow my family or friends to congregate in such a facility. Please consider the impacts to the
current tenants while this issue is corrected between the building owner and the City.
We are your city. We share the same prioritization of public safety and would not wish to occupy a space
that truly endangered our congregation. We share many of the same frustrations as construction has
taken longer to complete than desired. Relocating such an occupancy with so little notice is neither
realistic nor feasible given the current availability of real estate within San Luis Obispo.
We wish to work with the City in the shared interest of public safety. Our occupancy is simple to manage
considering the time and manner in which we occupy the space. It is not a residential occupancy and
our members are awake and vigilant during the few hours per week in which the majority of the space is
used. I will suggest a few possible mitigations while work is corrected but we would be more than willing
to work with the City on any other mitigation requirements.
Suggested temporary mitigations.
1. Produce and demonstrate an acceptable evacuation plan.
2. Post dedicated “Fire Guards” during periods of high occupancy with the ability to initiate any needed
evacuations.
3. Require additional fire extinguishers throughout the building and train staff to use effectively.
We desire to work with the City towards a solution and would ask that this board would do the same.
Sincerely,
Patrick Byde
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