HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-2015 PH2 GilmoreLomeli, Monique
Subject: FW: 323/353 Grand Avenue -._
JUN 0 1 2015
From: William Gilmore [mailto:wblakegilmoremd@gmaii.co
Sunday, May 31, 2015 6:31 PM
To: Marx, ]an; Ashbaugh, John; Rivoire, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Mejia, Anthony
Subject: 323/353 Grand Avenue
COUNCIL MEETING: 2-115—
ITEM NO.:
Dear San Luis Obispo City Council Members,
My parents live in the Alta Vista neighborhood near the proposed development at 323/353 Grand Avenue and I
often travel past the Grand Avenue site.
The proposed development has several design problems. The driveway of one residence (on lot 1 of the
developer's plan) requires the occupants to back their cars out of their driveway onto Grand Avenue. I urge you
to please drive to the location of this project, pull into the lot and attempt to back out onto Grand Avenue
yourself. It is dangerous. The project's design should require the cars to share a common inlet that allows them
to turn around and exit onto Grand Avenue in a forward motion.
While you're there, please drive around the Alta Vista neighborhood where this project is located - up
Fredericks to Albert, along Albert to McCollum, and down McCollum to Grand. (The Leroy Court development
at McCollum and Grand is a PUD and was specifically excluded as a comparison for this development.) Please
take note of the bungalow style homes that are mostly low - profile. This is this "existing" neighborhood which
was built in the 1950's. There are no Craftsman style homes in the neighborhood. The style of the existing
neighborhood must be preserved according to the Community Development Guidelines 5.3 "infill
development."
Please also note the bungalows that line Grand Avenue and then drive across Grand Avenue, opposite the
project, into to the Monterey Heights neighborhood. Notice the existing long term bungalow residences there, as
well. Look at newly developer -built 5+ bedroom house with a 3 -car garage on the corner of McCollum and
Henderson. This new house is an aberration. You will notice that the students who live there don't use the 3 -car
garage (as in most student rentals) and usually stack 6 cars into the driveway across the sidewalk with overflow
parking on the street. This is typical of "student" housing,even on a standard sized lot. It does not represent the
"existing" neighborhood but represents the problems the long -term residents face when projects like the one
proposed on Grand Avenue are built. Notably, the proposed homes on Grand Avenue are on "substandard"
small lots which only compounds the problem.
Please consider the density and architecture of the existing long term residences and experience the
neighborhood from an objective point, free from the business developer's spin on the project. The project is not
consistent with the Community Design Guidelines and needs to be revised to conform to the existing
neighborhood, as well as address the safety concerns associated with Grand Avenue.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
W. Blake Gilmore