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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-2014 PH2 LopesGoodwin, Heather From: Sent: To: Subject: PH2 10/21/14 Anthony J. Mejia, MMC I City Clerk 990 P alni StreeL. Saga Luis, Obispo, CA 93401 tel 1805 781. 7:02 Mejia, Anthony RECEIVED Tuesday, October 21, 2014 1:15 PM Goodwin, Heather OCT 21 2014 FW: Council Meeting October 21, PH 2, Final Action LUCE 4 �� #..0 CITY C#..1��.Pr COUNCIL MEETING: ITEM NO.: IJ II f From: James Lopes [mailto:jameslopes @charter.net] Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 1:10 PM To: Eugene H. Jud; Ashbaugh, John; Carpenter, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Codron, Michael; Dietrick, Christine; Lichtig, Katie; Marx, ]an; Smith, Kathy; Mejia, Anthony Subject: Re: Council Meeting October 21, PH 2, Final Action LUCE Dear Mayor and Council Members: I would like you to consider beginning a Phase 2 of the LUCE update. I'm asking that you merely approve the work under the grant to date (to realize the City's commitment there), with direction to begin a second phase of analysis using the NEW Housing Element jobs /housing balance figures and the scope of work which Eugene Jud outlined below. The jobs /housing figures need to be vetted and used in a comprehensive review of optional land use map changes and phasing policies for commercial development. I requested these figures months ago when they were needed by the LUCE Task Force and Planning Commission. Now that we have a study, the work should be rolled into an analysis of minimizing traffic increases on Highway 101, regional roads and city streets. The LUCE has been a concerted effort with very mixed results and unanswered questions. Rather than rush to finalize it, I'm asking you to expand the scope to deal with airport area safety, noise and transportation issues, and the proper mix of designations for housing and employment in a second phase funded by the City. Maybe take a breather for a few months to budget for this phase. Regards, Jamie Lopes James Lopes 1336 Sweet Bay Lane San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Ph. 805 - 781 -8960 On 10/20/2014 7:04 PM, Eugene H. Jud wrote: Dear Mayor and Council members, In addition to the three attached plans please receive our comments as follows: 1. Re point 1 of Planning Commission We suggest you should not overrule, as Mr. Bert Forbes wrote in his letter of October 20. I was a consultant to Zurich International Airport (Switzerland) for 20 years, and I know what buildings too close to the airport mean: less safety, complaints, less planning flexibility (Plan 1). 2. Re point 2 Re point 2a). Based on the very helpful "Compendium of Changes" we look forward to the special study for Caltrans along Hwy 101 from and including LOVR and Madonna Interchanges and wider surrounding area including Prado Road East, as well as Tank Farm and Buckley Road (Plan 2). We need a multidisciplinary analysis (open space, hydrology, safety esp. for children etc.),and smart urban building proposal, which may well last some years. It is beyond our understanding how we can take a "final action" for LUCE (esp. road concept), when the most important element ( Prado Road /Hwy 101 area) is undefined and highly questioned by Caltrans and others. This is not easy to comprehend for the average citizen and may even be illegal. I brought this up earlier in an email to Mayor Marx, but never got an answer. It is like certifying an EIR before the project is finished: Such actions reduce the dignity of Government. Re point 2b). LUCE (especially CE road building) has no "internal consistency" at all with the Open Space Element, as anybody can see, who can read a map. This part of 2b cannot be approved on October 21, 2014. 3. Conclusion In order to have a real circulation element, we must invest more time to work on - Senate Bill 743 (in effect since January 2014) - the Long Range Transit Plan, which is needed to plan attractive connections to intense land uses (bus rapid transit). I seems, that these elementary connections were not made when the land use plan was discussed, therefore we may produce more an more car oriented people. Let us lean back and finish it right! We thank all council and commission members as well as staff for their hard work and late night hours. Sincerely for SLO 2035/2050: Eugene Jud, Fellow Institute of Transportation Engineers ITE assisted by Blayne Morgan, M.S Civil and Environmental Engineering Eugene Jud, Fellow Institute of Transportation Engineers ITE Faculty Civil and Environmental Engineering California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 -0353 Phone: (805) 756 -1729; E -mail: ejud(q)calpoly.edu http: / /ceenve3.calpoly.edu jud Blayne Morgan (805) 540 -0313; gracewetmoreggmail.com