Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-2015 Item 18 RowleyFrom: Sandra Rowley [mailto:macsar990yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 9:14 PM To: Marx, Jan; Ashbaugh, John; Carpenter, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Rivoire, Dan Cc: Mejia, Anthony Subject: Public Engagement Manual and Noticing Attached please find RQN input to this topic. AUG 1 82015 SLO CITY CLERK COUNCIL MEETING: ITEM NO.: ,d�_ Y ryi 1 , •I p ti Residents for Quality Neighborhoods P.O. Box 12604 • San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 August 18, 2015 Subject: Public Engagement Manual and Noticing Resolution Dear Mayor Marx and Members of the Council, Residents for Quality Neighborhoods appreciates the opportunity to comment on this very important item for residents of our city. It is a first step toward early and meaningful notification. In early 2013 Citygate Associates, LLC conducted an assessment of the Community Development Department and identified ten "Most important and strategic recommendations." Of those ten, the # 1 recommendation was to "Develop an award-winning residents (emphasis added) outreach program strategic recommendation." The manual being presented is a first step in developing such a program; however, in our opinion, resident input to the manual is needed in order to create a effective resident outreach plan. We ask that you receive and file the Manual and not endorse it at this time. As part of this resident outreach effort the council is being asked to approve a resolution codifying the types and amounts of notice that must be provided for various actions. The resolution states in part that "the Council desires to revise the notification requirement to further expand public noticing for projects requiring development review." However, comparison of the notification requirements in the 1990 and 2008 resolutions with the proposed notification standards shows there has been very little change over the years - some new actions added (Homestays, off-site parking) and, apparently, some previous actions removed (Historical Resources, Historical Resource Sites). Back then noticing requirements were 5 days for "minor" actions and 10 days for "major" actions; this is still true today. We recommend no less than 10 days for "minor" actions and 14 days for "major" actions. Also, we strongly recommend that column 3, Postcards to Adjacent Owners and Occupants (including those across the street), be changed to read Postcards to Owners and Occupants within 100' of the Property Line. The current heading requires only three properties to be notified, one on each side and one across the street. Our recommended heading would require notice be given to two properties on either side, three properties across the street and three properties behind the site where the action is being proposed. Several months ago when attending an administrative hearing regarding a proposed High Occupancy Permit, RQN members in attendance were surprised to learn that a High Occupancy Permit had been approved for a property behind a couple's home and they had not been notified. The hearing officer stated such noticing was not required, only the house on either side and the one across the street had to be noticed. The fact that noise, parking, and other potentially adverse conditions might affect properties to the rear of the subject property was never considered. The Community Development Department has determined that the approval for "minor actions" such as various Administrative Use Permits, construction of Guest Quarters/Secondary Dwelling Units and fence height exceptions should take no more than 30 days. Of these 30 days, 25 are required for processing - leaving only 5 days for members of the public to be notified of the pending decision and, if they desire, take some type of action. Five days is not enough. We recommend a minimum of ten days to allow residents in close proximity to receive/see the notice, learn exactly what is involved, talk with other neighbors and decide whether or not to support the requested action and whether or not to attend or participate in the hearing. a. Home Occupation Permits and Homestay Permits are administrative uses that run with the land — potentially forever. These actions, also, are noticed for only 5 days. High Occupancy Permits are another use that runs with the land, and it is not even included in this listing of notification requirements. Why would only five days notice be provided for such long-term uses? b. Once Guest Quarters, Secondary Dwelling Units and fence height exceptions are approved, the opportunity to provide additional information for consideration or to advocate for one or more conditions to be added is cone. The same is true for Home Occunations. Homestays and High Occupancy Permits. In summary, we commend staff for adding various actions to the notification list and for providing additional methods of notification for several other actions, and we look forward to actively participating in making the Public Engagement and Noticing Manual a very effective tool — once residents have the opportunity to provide input. However, in order to truly expand public noticing, we recommend the following changes and additions to the 2015 resolution adopting Revised Development Review notification Requirements. a. Revise the column heading for the third column to read "Postcards to Owners and Occupants within 100' of the Property Line." b. Change the noticing period for minor actions to 10 days. Adding 5 days to a 30 -day process does not seem outlandish, especially when dealing with actions/projects that could negatively impact neighborhood quality of life. c. Change the noticing period for major actions to 14 days. Adding 4 days to a long-term process seems minor and would, hopefully, provide the additional time needed for residents to contact staff and better understand how a project could affect them. d. Add to the list: Demolition on Historic Resources Sites; Changing Master List: Resources; Accessory Structures. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Sandra Rowley Chairperson, RQN 2