HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/05/1989, C-6 - COUNTY GENERAL-PLAN AMENDMENT FOR THE FROOM RANCH PROPERTY (MADONNA) ON LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD NEAR H I,Iry���ol�lnlln�l I„„II MEETING DATE:
II II II �A�I Ci".7 of San l(,(IS QBISpO September 5 1989
SHIGs COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT/ ITEVt1M
FROM: Randy Rossi, Interim Community Development Director
BY: Glen Matteson, Associate Planner
SUBJECT: County general-plan amendment for the Froom Ranch property (Madonna) on
Los Osos Valley Road near Highway 101
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the mayor to send the attached letter to the county, reaffirming the city's
position on this proposal.
DISCUSSION
Alex Madonna has asked the county to amend its general plan for part of the Froom Ranch
property, west of Los Osos Valley Road, just north of Highway 101. Eighty acres would be
changed from agriculture to commercial, and the city's urban reserve line would be
extended to include the area. The EIR's project description includes 31 lots extending
from Los Osos Valley Road into the lower slopes of the Irish Hills, to be developed with
auto dealerships, motels and restaurants, and offices and service businesses. Private
water-supply and sewage disposal is proposed to be provided.
The council has reviewed this proposal before. In February 1986, the council authorized
the Mayor to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors, noting conflicts with the city's
general plan, asking that the Board not initiate the request, and saying that an EIR
should be prepared if the amendment was initiated. The board did authorize processing of
the application, and an EIR was written. In January 1989, we brought the draft EIR to
the council as an information item, along with staff's comments on the several serious
deficiencies in the draft EIR. In June, after confirming the appropriateness of doing so
with individual council members, the City Administrative Officer sent a letter like the
attached one. The matter was not put on the council agenda at that time because staff
thought county consideration was imminent.
Consideration is now tentatively scheduled for late September or early October (Planning
Commission) and December (Board of Supervisors). Staff believes a letter from the
council would have more effect than one from staff.
This site is identified as an issue area in the city's Land Use Element update, now
before the city Planning Commission.
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
Developing the proposed project could substantially impact city water service,
job-housing balance, traffic and air quality, and open space with value as scenery,
wildlife habitat, and flood and wildland fire buffering.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT TAKING ACTION
The county has jurisdiction over this area, and can act independently of the city. The
city's position has been communicated. The recommended letter would simply reinforce it.
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Attachment: Draft letter (�
C' [draft]
[date], 1989
County Planning Commission [address separately]
Board of Supervisors
c/o Paul Crawford, Director of Planning and Building
County Government Center
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
SUBJECT: Madonna (Froom Ranch) general plan amendment - Highway 101 at Los Osos
Valley Road (G851030; ED86-67)
Honorable Commissioners and Supervisors:
Thankyou for the opportunity to review and comment on this proposal.
The City of San Luis Obispo opposes this amendment for two reasons. First, consideration
of any changes for the designation of this area should occur as part of the general plan
updates that the city and the county are working on.
Secondly, development allowed under the proposed amendment would result in a number of
serious, unnecessary impacts. The proposal would likely:
1. Further imbalance jobs and housing within the San Luis Obispo area, adding to
housing cost pressures and commuting traffic;
2. Impair our ability to attain and maintain air quality standards;
3. Harm wildlife habitat and scenic areas, including a creek and hillsides, which the
city is considering for its open space greenbelt (to be achieved through such means
as land-use regulation, inclusion with development plans, and acquisition by the
city);
4. Divert development from more suitably located areas already designated for office
and commercial uses;
5. Require the use of private water supply and waste disposal systems which could
adversely affect nearby development.
The city's current general plan shows residential use for part of this property, and open
space for the area covered by the applicant's amendment. In the general plan update,
the city is considering changes; including expansion of the residential area and possibly
introduction of auto sales area to this side of Los Osos Valley Road.
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G851030
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The existing general plan and the contemplated general plan changes provide reasonable
uses for this property, meeting community needs, while better protecting open space and
agricultural land than the subject amendment.
We look forward to your cooperation in planning for development and open-space protection
at the edges of the city.
Sincerely,
Ron Dunin
Mayor
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