HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-2015 PH2 SmithLomeli, Monique
Subject:
FW: PH2 - 323 -353 Grand Avenue Appeal
From: Carolyn [mailto:ke6hnQ(d)att.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2015 9:29 PM
To: E -mail Council Website
Subject: PH2 - 323 -353 Grand Avenue Appeal
Mayor Marx and Council Members:
COUNCILMEET[NG.
ITEM NO.:
JUN 0 1 2015
I attended the ARC meeting for this project and was amazed by the claim that this
project is considered "comparable" to the surrounding homes, particularly since this
project flies in the face of our design guidelines. It baffles me why we even have
guidelines for R -1 neighborhoods when they are so easily and often circumvented. These
are very large homes on substandard sized lots that will be massive and monolithic in
comparison to the single -story homes next door.
Besides the compatibility problem with adjacent single -story R -1 residences, this project
will create likely problems in this neighborhood that will negatively impact the
surrounding neighbors, such as:
1. The project will allow for a significant increase of density on these two lots with at
least 5 young adult students living in each of the four homes. In reality, however, since
the homes are so large, 6 or 7 young adults could easily live in each home, despite our
High Occupancy Ordinance. Certainly, when families purchased their homes in this
neighborhood, they never expected they would be living next -door or near such a large,
high density mini - dorm -like project such as this, which basically eliminates the R -1
zoning protections they were assured.
2. Parking in this project is grossly inadequate for the large number of tenants who will
occupy these homes and their guests. Many will not use their garages for parking
vehicles because it creates an inconvenient shell game of moving vehicles and /or they
are used as game rooms or for other social activities. Therefore, a higher than normal
density in these homes will most assuredly result in occupants and guests parking in the
nearby already over - burdened streets. You only need to drive by the other nearby
projects, being compared to this one, to see the parking nightmare densely populated
single family housing can create in an R -1 neighborhood.
3. Noise will become a huge issue in this project, as a large number of students in a
courtyard -type development will invite partying. This development has been compared
to the nearby homes on Leroy Street, which the developer had claimed would be
"affordable" housing for workforce families. These homes are now primarily high rent
student homes. There have been approximately 50 noise complaints generated on this
street during the past few years. Residents in this area certainly don't need any more
1
party noise problems and to purposely create another development that will most likely
disturb its neighbors is irresponsible.
Consequently, approving this project will only add to the already disturbing parking and
noise problems that have been steadily increasing in this neighborhood due to
stud entification of their homes. Council members have frequently been outspoken about
wanting to establish a neighborhood stabilization program to help return families to our
suffering residential neighborhoods. Approval of this project will be contrary to this
purpose and will further destroy the historically peaceful and safe dynamics of our
established neighborhoods. This will cause more families to move out of our City which
we sorely can't afford.
Council has persistently and vehemently declared that we need "affordable, workforce"
housing for families in our city. Don't be fooled by this developer or anyone else. The
homes in this project will NOT be affordable to purchase or rent for workforce families.
They will be purchased by investors who will pay top dollar for these homes and
maximize their profits by charging exorbitant rent to a high number of young adult
students. Families cannot compete and will be priced out of the market. How will this
help our affordability problem? It will only set a precedence for more of these high
density, condensed student projects to be built in our older established R -1
neighborhoods, because they assure maximum profit. Please protect our established
residential neighborhoods from this type of ruthless profiteering, so that families can live
in peace and safety.
Finally, how can we ever expect Cal Poly to step up and build on- campus housing for
their students when we are building it in our city for them — ruining our established
neighborhoods in the process.
Carolyn Smith
San Luis Obispo
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