HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-2016 PC Agenda Correspondence Item 2 (Grady)Meeting: RC 1.27.20110
Item: Z
January 26, 2016,
Re: 1101 Monterey Street Project Proposal
Dear SLO City Planning Commission:
_ F
4"e I Y
r.
9
I am writing to share my concerns regarding the proposed development at 1101 Monterey
St. in SLO for which you will hold a conceptual review at your Jan. 27, 2016 meeting. I
read Allan Cooper's letter to you regarding this topic and wholeheartedly support his
views on this issue vital to the future of our downtown. I hope you will all concur with
his very factual and logical comments and the myriad of reasons why this project is
completely inappropriate for our town in its present design.
I am most gravely concerned about the applicant's request for an exception to the height
limits as prescribed by our city's current regulations. As you know, the subject property
is in a C -R zone which limits building heights to no more than 45 feet. This is to be the
maximum, not minimum height allowed.
The applicant is asking for an exception to allow a height of 75 feet! This is a height
equal to 166% of what our city's regulations allow! Don't we have height (and other)
regulations for a reason? Your charge as our Planning Commissioners is to enforce our
regulations, not grant exceptions - especially of such a gross magnitude. This would be
an enormous exception and if granted would benefit the developer and his investors - not
the residents of San Luis Obispo.
Our downtown as we know it (and as most residents and visitors wish to maintain it) is
under attack by one after another developer seeking to maximize building heights for one
reason only - to maximize their profits. They don't care about the blight and loss of
sunshine and views that they will cause. They don't live here and won't have to suffer
the results of their project - the loss of views and ambiance and other negative
consequences that would be the result of such tall structures.
You need to enforce current zoning regulations and stop this project in its current tracks!
If you allow this project at this height (or any height above the 45 feet maximum allowed
by ordinance), you will be handing a blank check to the next developer in line to use as a
comparable project or precedent to get their excessively tall project similarly approved.
The applicant appears to be seeking a variance to the current height limitations by
proposing a Planned Development overlay zone, promising 'affordable and workforce
housing' and `a pedestrian amenity of a private /public mid -block plaza' along Santa Rosa
Street. Really? Seriously? This is why an exception should be granted to build 166%
taller than allowed by city regulations - for workforce housing and a pedestrian plaza?
I don't know about you, but I am quite tired of hearing of `affordable and workforce
housing' being promised by one after another downtown developer seeking to maximize
height and scale and mass - and profits. I have yet to see `affordable' or `workforce'
housing developed downtown. Where have you seen this become a reality? Sure, these
developers could easily afford $750,000 - $1,000,000 (or more) for a downtown
residence, but most of our residents (especially those considered `workforce' residents)
cannot even dream of affording any unit being proposed as downtown development.
And somehow the inclusion of a `pedestrian amenity of a private /public mid -block plaza'
is somehow going to make the height of 75 feet more appealing or palatable or somehow
justified? What does the inclusion of a plaza have to do with height anyway? Can't a
45 feet tall building include a pedestrian friendly plaza just as well? Whatsoever does
the height have to do with the inclusion of the plaza?
If the developer wished to provide an aesthetically pleasing structure and at the same time
give back to the community from which he is profiting, wouldn't (shouldn't) this be part
of the design anyway? Given the noise level and traffic along Santa Rosa Street, I
question how much use this plaza would even get, but regardless of its ultimate use it
serves as no justification for your granting the height variance requested.
It appears from the staff report that the County Government Center (which I've heard was
not required to abide by city height regulations) is a bit over 50 feet in height. Most
every resident I've ever spoken with feels this building's height is excessive for our
downtown. For Stone Park Capital and NKT Commercial to propose a development in
excess of the County Government Center (up to 50 % taller), and at such an excess height
as compared to their neighboring buildings heights of 1.5 to 2 stories, to me seems greedy
and in total disregard for the character of our downtown. Even a 45 feet tall building on
this large footprint will dwarf the surrounding structures.
This project is simply too massive and too tall for our downtown and for its surrounding
neighbors. It would further erode the character of our downtown which is a big part of
what makes our town a unique place to live as well as destination for tourists. It is
completely non - compliant with the 45 feet maximum height allowed, and would forever
destroy the views and ambiance of the surrounding area. If you allow this to be built, it
cannot be undone, and it will set the precedent for another and then another developer to
come along and do the same (or bigger).
Please don't buy the argument I hear over and over by developers ... "It doesn't pencil
out if it's not this tall" My response is "then don't build it - no one is requiring you to
develop this." And please, don't be seduced by the promise of `affordable workforce
housing'. We have yet to see this materialize anywhere that I know of downtown; and
even if such housing were to be provided, our height rules and restrictions which help
preserve and protect our downtown should not be held hostage to such a promise.
Please consider the good of our downtown, both now and in the future, as well as the will
of most of our city's residents. Enforce the 45 feet height limitation as well as all the
other requirements of development in this C -R zone.
Very truly yours,
John Grady
San Luis Obispo, CA