HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-19-2015 PH2 ParsonsCOUNCIL MEETING: OS
ITEM NO,:
Barbara Parsons
4650 Portola Rd.
Atascadero, CA. 93422 j
Telephone: (805) 466 -9457
MAY 14 2015 1
May 14, 2015
City of San Luis Obispo
Att: Jan Howell Marx, Mayor
and City Council Members
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401
Re: Agenda Item #PH2 — Orcutt Area Specific Plan -Request to Amend General Plan,
Tentative Tract Map Approval and others - - Ambient Communities
Righetti Ranch Property Owners: (Barbara Parsons, Jeanne Helphenstine & Gary Esajian)
Dear Mayor Marx:
On May 19, 2015, Agenda Item #PH2 is scheduled for hearing before your Council. This hearing
involves our property, ( Righetti Ranch), which consists of 144 acres in the Orcutt Area Specific Plan.
As one of the original four participating property owners I feel that it is very important, at this
time, to bring you up to date on the history of the process of the Specific Plan from its inception to
finalization and continuing. The planning process of the Specific Plan started in 1998 which included our
planner, many city staff members, and the four participating property owners as well as the involvement
of the remaining nine property owners. The specific plan area consists of 230 acres, and 13 property
owners involving 21 parcels of land. During this period of time, until approval of the plan by the City
Council on March 2, 2010, much effort and time was spent developing a plan which would be acceptable
to all property owners. All City departments involved had opportunities for their input and agreement
in this process before finalization.
In 2005, Michael Codron was the assigned Planner designated to work on the Specific Plan to its
completion. During that period, much work was accomplished and many meetings were held with all
property owners to negotiate terms of the Specific Plan, especially the Financial and Implementation
Chapters of the plan (Chapters 8 and 9). A financial consultant was employed to bring together all the
data that was submitted by the city for the purpose of finalizing the fee program. The property owners
negotiated, in good faith, and were agreeable with the conclusion of these matters as presented by staff
and which were the basis of the finalization of the Public Facilities Financing Plan, (PFFP). If these terms
had not been mutually agreed upon by all involved, the Specific Plan would have never been successful.
Prior to the approval of the Specific Plan, 10 hearings, were held before the Planning Commission, the
final being, 12/10/09.
San Luis Obispo City Council May 14, 2015
Page - 2
City Planning Staff and Ambient Communities, along with their planners, have been working on
processing the Tentative Map for the project for quite some time, but it appears that city staff wishes to
deviate from some of the specifics of the plan as set out; more specifically the additional burden of
infrastructure and land dedication for Parks and Open Space that our property agreed to shoulder for
the benefit of the overall Specific Plan. Phasing was to be over a period of time as outlined in Chapters
(8) Public Facilities Financing, and Chapter (9) Implementation. Chapter (8) specifically states - -
"Chapter 8 analyzes the public facilities burden that must be carried by the land uses proposed in the
OASP, and presents a "pay -as- you -go" financing strategy to fund the burden." The phasing of the
public improvements has been designed to insure that funds will be available to cover the cost of
facilities when they are required. The eventual success of the whole plan, and the negotiated terms
agreed upon by the property owners with staff, was based on the "Pay as you go" intent. The success
of any project is based on the fact that it must be doable and not over burdened with costs.
Our property has provided the majority of acreage designated in the Specific Plan for public use;
specifically 72 acres of Open Space, now placed in an Open Space Conservation Easement for the benefit
of the City of San Luis Obispo and its residents and 14 acres of Parkland Open Space. An Open Space
and Agricultural Easement, with specific restrictions, was placed over the 15.3 acres of acreage which
we will be retaining in private ownership. With only 32% of the allocated units in the plan, our property
is contributing over 90% of the Open Space; 70% of the Parkland and regional detention; 70% of shared
water and sewer facilities, and 60% of the major collector roads for the benefit of the entire Specific
Plan. As you may conclude, we provided a great deal in order to reach the inception of this plan.
It should be remembered that the whole purpose of this specific Plan was to provide housing for
the City of San Luis Obispo, and the people that wish to live here. Presently, the housing inventory of
the City is at an all time low, therefore making it too expensive for people to reside here.
We have been involved in this Specific Plan process for approximately 17 years, we are hopeful
that it may now come to a successful conclusion. Ambient Communities is ready to build out this
project and provide the much needed homes for those who wish to live here. It should be a project
that we are all proud of.
Your consideration of this matter is greatly appreciated. I hope that I have provided you some
information relative to the details of the process we have been through and that it will familiarize you
with our specific project. This has been a very difficult task. I am confident that you will understand
the requests and proposals made by Ambient in order to make this project workable.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
/s/ Barbara Parsons
Barbara Parsons, Property Owner
Bp
cc All City Council Members (John Ashbaugh, Dan Carpenter, Carlyn Christianson & Dan Rivoire)