HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-2014 ph3 marxCOUNCIL MEETING: cL 0_ d
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COMMENTS ON DRAFT LUCE (draft) Jan Marx, Mayor October 6, 2014
Recommended policies: LUE
Renew the Urban Forest: The City shall renew the urban forest, planning plantings in light of global
warming and drought cycles. The City shall plan a long term tree planting program to beautify the city,
mitigate increased residential density, counter die off and to combat air pollution and global warming.
Urban Forest: The City shall update the Urban Forest master tree plan and develop recommendations
to renew and maintain a healthy urban forest and plant more trees
Homelessness: Implement comprehensive strategies to address homelessness in our City in partnership
with other entities. Encourage existing, improved, and expanded services (including advocating to the
County and other organizations for delivery of case management, drug, alcohol, and detoxification
services, and mental health services), support the establishment of a new homeless services center, and
pursue good neighbor, safety, and quality of life programs (including restrooms), using technology as
appropriate.
Neighborhood Wellness: Continue and enhance neighborhood wellness initiatives, continue to support
proactive code enforcement, pursue a residential rental inspection program; improve street cleanliness;
increase public safety enforcement, and support neighborhood led initiatives.
Long -Term Fiscal Health: Preservation of Essential Services Develop a comprehensive strategy for
preserving essential services, adequately maintaining existing facilities and infrastructure, and
protecting the City's fiscal health
Open Space Committee: Term: 4 years, 5 members, one of which is a Parks and Recreation
Commissioner Staff support: Natural Resources Director. Policy: The City shall establish an Open Space
Advisory Committee. NOTE: This is recommended in the Open Space and Conservation Element.
Appendix C: Management of Open Space Lands from the existing Conservation and Open Space Element
includes (item 15): "The City may form an Open Space Committee to advise staff on open space
acquisition and management."
NOTE: (At present, the Parks and Recreation Commission reviews open space, agricultural and
natural area issues, but commissioners are not chosen for expertise in environ ------ mental or
open space issues. Open space is one of the few areas on which residents are willing to spend
more money, as per the latest community survey. Consider all the people on the trails, and you
begin to see the value and potential of the program. )
Open Space Overuse: Master Plans shall be updated to take into account actual recreational use of
open space areas and take measures to reduce impacts of over use on the natural habitat and nearby
neighborhoods, which could include educational programs, rotating closure of trailheads, establishment
of new staging areas, evening ranger patrols, increased fines for illegal use or and /or reduction of
publicity regarding open space areas which are over used.
Pedestrian Master Plan: Establish and implement a Pedestrian Master Plan. Add policies promoting the
installation of sidewalks and /or pedestrian trails in areas of the city without sidewalks, but with high
pedestrian use.
Rainwater harvesting: new development shall use methods to facilitate rainwater
percolation for roof areas and outdoor hardscaped areas, and require project designs to
minimize drainage concentrations and impervious coverage.
New residential construction: new homes and neighborhoods should be designed to minimize
impacts and energy use, and include layout for maximum solar gain, passive ventilation, roofs
oriented for solar and /or thermal installations, pervious paving, onsite heat recovery /water
recycling systems, with the goal of becoming a "net zero" city for energy and water
consumption.
Drinking fountains: restore broken drinking fountains and install new ones in parks and in the
Downtown, especially near alcohol outlets.
Define Infill" to refer to new housing, and not to over crowd established neighborhoods, which
should be empowered to decide the amount of density residents in those neighborhoods
prefer.
LAND USE ELEMENT
Page 6 3d paragraph: the county has changed its planning area, so we should change the first
sentence.
Page 10 -11 Contrary to PC recommendation, restore "Background to 1994 Land Use Element"
Page 23: Definition of High Density Residential (HDR) "This type of development is appropriate in some
locations outside of established R -1 and R -2 Tones near Cal Poly, in the Downtown ... (rest is OK)
CHAPTER 1 GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICIES
1.12.1 Delete word "potable" in first line. (The city has a prohibition on "wheeling" water, i.e.
providing water outside of the url, since this encourages sprawl)(See accompanying memo and
supporting documents) No provision of any water beyond the URL. If this sprawl inducing policy is
enacted, provision of water outside the URL should be restricted to landscaping or agricultural use in
declared drought conditions only and shall not result in utility rate increases for city residents.
If "potable" is not deleted, the PC amendments at least narrow the scope.
1.12.7 Open Space
Restore language on p 38 "1.12.7 E. Dalidio Area properties (generally bounded by Highway 101,
Madonna Road, and Los Osos Valley Road) not yet annexed into the City shall dedicate land or
easements for the approximately one -half of each ownership that is to be preserved as open space."
1.13 Costs of Growth
first sentence —keep
Second sentence: The City shall consider a range of options for financing measures, so that new
development pays it fair share of costs of new services and facilities, which are required to serve the
project and which are reasonably related to the new growth attributable to the development.
1.15.4 The City will continue to participate with monitor the County in reviewing and providing input on
County projects or general plan amendments that have the potential to impact the City, the Greenbelt,
or be inconsistent with City policies. Significant issues will be referred to the City Council.
NOTE: Only the San Luis Obispo area of the County Land Use Element does not have an Advisory
Council. Instead, issues in this area are referred to city staff, as per our MOU with the county. This
means that the public does not have an opportunity to be heard at a public hearing regarding county
land use decisions on our borders.
CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS
2.1.1 The City shall assist residents to identify, designate and map neighborhoods. The City shall work
with residents to address neighborhood specific issues, including enhancing a sense of place, diversi
and stability within neighborhoods. The City shall encourage the neighborhoods to form Neighborhood
Councils.
2.1.6 Neighborhood Amenities Characteristics
The City shall promote livability, quiet enjoyment, and safety for all residents.
2.1.1 Neighborhood F-R"a-Rc -ement Density, Infill or Redevelopment
The City shall promote increased density or infill development in new neighborhoods and on vacant
sites which are essentially surrounded by urban development and also in existing neighborhoods, if
residents of that neighborhood support such infill, redevelopment, rehabilitation or adaptive reuse.
NOTE: keep the present General Plan glossary definition of "infill"
2.2.1 The City shall promote, where compatible with established neighborhoods, a mix...." (rest is ok)
2.2.9 Compatible Development (page 43)
Restore word "scale" in the first sentence.
H. A mix of housing types, and a range of density within new neighborhoods is generally desirable.
2.5 Student and Campus Housing
2.5.1 Cal Poly
The City shall encourage Cal Poly to build housing on campus for all of its students. On campus housing
should be expanded at least as fast as enrollment increases.
2.5.4 Location
The City shall encourage the development of housing likely to attract faculty and staff close to Cal Poly.
The City shall encourage Cal Poly to plan and im lement incentive programs for faculty and staff to
make it attractive for them to occupy residential neighborhoods near the Un1Mgrfttjhe City shall
work with Cal Poly to facilitate faculty and staff owning or renting housing in adjacent neighborhoods.
2.5.5 Fraternities and Sororities
The City shall work with Cal Poly to develop a proposal to locate fraternities and sororities on campus
for consideration by the CSU Board, and facilitate its implementation. If locations on campus cannot
be provided, fraternities and sororities should be limited to high density residential areas near
campus, but not in established neighborhoods. Conversion of existing off campus student dorm -type
living complexes to fraternities or sororities should be considered.
NOTE: The City could upzone the land at the end of Foothill next to Cal Poly (Crandall, Newman Center
area) to facilitate fraternity and sorority group housing, which is not presently allowed on CSU
campuses.
2.12.1 Residential Densities
The City will evaluate alternatives to the current maximum number of dwelling units per acre (based on
bedroom count) and height, parking and setback standards, to regulate residential building intensity,
and bulk and mass, outside of established neighborhoods
New program
3.5.7.12 The City shall regularly review the implementation of the Er- ne.,,,.,,:.. Devel ,.,.,, ent StFateg* . Pla_
and other appropriate strategies for business retention and expansion, with a focus on evaluating those
strategies to determine if they are actually providing head of household jobs.
NOTE: There is no reason to incorporate the EDSP, to the exculsion of all other city plans, into the LUCE.
It is a living document, and it is unknown how programs included in it will actually be successful. If
programs do not work out, or do not produce head of household jobs as hoped, we do not want to have
them embedded in the LUCE.
4.0 Downtown Residential
Downtown is a neighborhood. (rest is OK)
4.0.1.1
Add a last sentence: The City shall encourage conversion of structures originally built as housing, but
subsequently used as offices, back to residential uses.
NOTE: These buildings are zoned "O" but many of them have a lot of character. We do not want to
become like Paso or Santa Maria, where blocks and blocks of former homes are permanently converted
to office use. Also, now that we are encouraging people living in the Downtown, we need to revise this
old policy.
New Program: The City shall encourage the formation of a Downtown neighborhood association.
New Program: The City shall repair defunct drinking fountains and install new ones throughout the
Downtown and especially near drinking establishments.
New Program: The City shall encourage volunteer groups, such as the Urban Foresters and America in
Bloom, to enhance and maintain the urban forest and landscaping features in the Downtown.
5.2.6 Performing Arts Center
The City, Cal Poly and the Foundation for the Performing Arts...
CHAPTER 7
OK as amended 9 -30 -14
CHAPTER 8 (add Bishop Knoll ?)
8.3.2.1
of site: This defines the percent of each site dedicated to open space (using the gross project site,
unless General Plan policies or Council decisions provide using the net project site instead.
8.3.2.4 Sp -2 Dalidio Specific Plan Area (page 104)
Restore original language:
e. "Preserve at least one -half of this signature working agricultural landscape at the southern gateway to
San Luis Obispo as it existed in 1994." (quoting 8.8 in 1994 LUE) Maintain agricultural and open space
resources on site.
No off site mitigation, no cloverleaf. Eliminate footnote. Keep both minimum 50% and 65.5 acres.
Performance Standards: Delete Footnote and asterisk. (counter to the PC recommendation)
Housing at San Luis Ranch should be more dense, therefore reducing the residential footprint.
8.3.2.6 Avila Ranch. Eliminate the second sentence of the footnote.
Open space and affordable housing are equally important land uses, but they are not interchangeable.
Open space should not be reduced in order to increase affordable housing. Reducing open space is not
appropriate for a "density bonus." There is no nexus justifying this kind of trade off. In fact, it works the
other way —the more affordable housing (dense, often multifamily), the more open space and park land
needed for healthy, safe communities. There are already other kinds of density bonuses which can be
utilized to encourage affordable housing.
8.3.3.1 Foothill & Santa Rosa
Chorro and Foothill: Do not straighten out north Chorro —leave it as it is today. Include a
bicycle /pedestrian bridge over Santa Rosa from Boyson to Mustang Village.
8.3.3.2 Upper Monterey
f. second sentence "These types of facilities would not be located on the east side of
Monterey north of California Street, unless adequate buffers and noise mitigation measures are
required to protect the creek and the established neighborhood east of the creek. A conference
center in conjunction with a hotel is appropriate for this area, but not a stand alone conference
center. "
8.3.3.8 Sunset Drive In /Prado Road. Any use drawing substantial regional traffic also depends on
providing needed infrastructure at Prado Road, extending Prado Road to connect with Madonna Road
and realignment of Elk's Lane.
CHAPTER 9 SUSTAINABILITY
9.3.3 and allow for CEQA streamlining NOTE: this is part of the legislative platform. Also, CEQA
streamlining proposals are varied and controversial. Individual proposals need to be carefully analyzed
by the city attorney and League of California Cities.
9.3.7 D. Collection and use site run off and rainwater harvesting in landscape irrigation shall be
encouraged.
NOTE: council has previously approved rainwater harvesting.
CIRCULATION
(where ?) The City shall implement closures to off and on ramps as recommended by Cal Trans, where
appropriate.
CHAPTER 1: - -OK with PC amendments
1.7 1. Year should be 2035, not 2000
CHAPTER 2 TRAFFIC REDUCTION OK with PC amendments
CHAPTER 3 TRANSIT SERVICE - -OK with PC amendments
CHAPTER 4 BICYCLE
NEW PROGRAM
4.1.2 Bike Share: Explore a bike share program within the city. Work with Cal Poly to
participate in this program or create their own bike share program. (does this belong in
Circulation)
CHAPTER 5 WALKING – OK with PC amendments
CHAPTER 6 MULTI -MODAL CIRCULATION -- OK with PC amendments
CHAPTER 7 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT -- OK with PC amendments
CHAPTER 8 NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
8.1.3 When requested by neighborhoods, the City shall analyze residential streets for their livability
with regards to safety, multi -modal traffic noise, volumes and speed, as well as the amount of
pedestrian and bicycle traffic and potential excess of right of way pavement. (rest is OK)
Page 34 figure 3. Add Neighborhoods near Cal Poly as Traffic Management Areas.
CHAPTER 9 STREET NETWORK CHANGES —OK, with PC amendments
Circulation 9.1.2
NOTE: Overpassing without ramps should be the preferred alternative for the next 20 years.
See Cal Trans letter dated January 10, 2014, FEIR 3 -43. See also Cal Trans letter dated June 16, 2014 to
Tim Bochum to Aileen Loe.
No one knows how modes of transportation, traffic patterns or automobiles will change in the next 20
years. The LUCE should not assume that an interchange is necessary, based on outmoded assumptions.
Page 2 -60 of the DEIR states that an overpass is "not prudent from a programmatic level at this time."
This judgment call belongs to COUNCIL with resident input, not to the consultant or staff.
CHAPTER 10: Truck Transporation -- Ok, as amended by the PC
CHAPTER 11: OK as per 9 -30 -14 council meeting
CHAPTER 12: Ok, as amended by the PC
CHAPTER 13 PARKING MANAGEMENT
13.1.1 Parking Management Plan
The City shall maintain and regularly update its Access and Parking Management Plan, including parking
demand reduction strategies (every 5 years) and consider emerging best practices ... [rest is OK]
CHAPTER 14 OK as amended by the PC
CHAPTER 15 OK, as amended by the PC