HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-06-2011 PH1 Rowley- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Sandra Rowley
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 09:44 AM Pacific Standard Time
To: Jan Marx; Carter, Andrew; Ashbaugh, John; Smith, Kathy; Carpenter, Dan
Cc: Lichtig, Katie
Subject: Reference Item PH -1 Review of Amendments to MC Title 17
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council,
Attached is an addendum to the RQN letter of November 15, 2011, specifically addressing
proposed changes to the manner in which density is to be applied to R -2 properties (Section
17.16.010).
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
Chair, RQN
naru Copy:
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RED FILE
MEETING AGENDA
D/ V1. !e-V-1#1 ITEM #-&l
Residents for Quality Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 12604 • San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
December 6, 2011
Re: Item PH1, Review of Amendments to Municipal Code Title 17, Zoning, Section 17.16.010
and Addendum to our letter of November 15, 2011
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council,
Residents for Quality Neighborhoods continues to be concerned about the proposal to change
the manner in which density will be calculated in R -2 neighborhoods. The housing in R -2
(defined as twelve dwelling units per net acre) is a very eclectic mix of structures and lot sizes.
A hundred years ago it was common for small houses on relatively small lots to be in close
proximity to the mansions of the day so that domestic help could easily walk to work. Additional
cottages were built for railroad and other workers. There were no lot coverage regulations, so
many different structures and combinations of structures were built on various sized lots.
Despite some large lots, R -2 neighborhoods are currently quite dense as shown by the examples
below. We are confident other R -2 neighborhoods, when scrutinized, will reveal similar results.
1. In the area from Garden to Chorro between Islay and Upham the lot sizes range from 2,670
square feet to 12,000 square feet. Over one -half of the 60 properties are nonconforming lots, i.e.,
less than 5,000 square feet, with many containing more than one dwelling unit. One property on
Chorro (about 4,000 square feet) includes a two -story house with a studio (external entrance), a
separate one - bedroom unit and a separate two- bedroom unit.
2. In the area from Henry to the termination of George between Iris and Ella there are 63
properties; lot sizes range from 2,400 to over 14,000 square feet. Of the nine lots over 10,000
square feet several definitely contain more than one dwelling. Almost one -half of the remaining
54 properties are nonconforming lots of 3,855 square feet or less — created by splitting the
original 7,500 square foot lots.
In the last few years there have been two changes to the R -2 zone that affect density: The lot
size was reduced from 6,000 to 5,000 square feet and, when calculating the allowable number of
bedrooms, the resulting number is rounded up. Both changes were Council- approved.
Page PH1 -58, Section 2, Finding #1 states, "The proposed amendments will not significantly
alter the character of the City ... since the amendments are consistent with the General Plan and
directly implement City goals and policies." RQN does not agree with this statement. We
believe that applying R -3/4 density standards to R -2 will, over time, significantly alter the
character of the R -2 neighborhoods and, thus, the character of the City.
Thank you for your time and your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
Chair, RQN