HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-24-2016 PC Correspondence - Public Comment (Ferguson)1
Lomeli, Monique
Subject: Attn: Planning Commission, 22 N. Chorro St.
From: Ian Ferguson [
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2016 4:39 PM
To: Advisory Bodies <advisorybodies@slocity.org>
Subject: Attn: Planning Commission, 22 N. Chorro St.
Dear SLO Planning Commission: Hemalata Dandekar, John Fowler, Daniel Knight, John Larsen, Ronald Malak, and Charles
Stevenson,
I am writing you today in support of the 22 N. Chorro St. project coming before you at this evenings meeting. I
have had the opportunity to see the projects various features and believe this would be a welcomed addition to
not only the architecture in the community but yet another step towards relieving our severe housing
cost/income imbalance.
Currently I am in charge of a local manufacturing facility that designs and builds automotive aftermarket
products right here in San Luis Obispo. The majority of our vendors and business partners are local, bringing
money in from around the world where our parts our sold, directly into this community. On an all too regular
basis, I talk to individuals in our company that struggle to find housing in our community, many of whom have
lived here their entire lives.
The project on 22 N. Chorro incorporates many elements near and dear to what I believe this community needs
in order to grow and develop on into the future. It's increased density means that, there are less people seeking
housing in the coveted family neighborhoods around town. Even though I am in the automotive industry I am a
large proponent of alternative transportation and the use of space for bicycle racks that includes a workshop is a
great idea making the transition from car to bicycle commuting much easier and less intimidating.
Although this project may not be targeted towards our employees specifically I encourage you to consider the
overall impact this project and those like it can make on the demand for housing, where every single additional
unit helps relieve the stress on scarce local stock. I see this as a win for community members like my
colleagues, working hard to build a future and establish themselves here.
While there is much talk and rhetoric being spouted about "jobs" and the glory days of manufacturing in the
USA, often times it is the seemingly unrelated elements like housing that get missed in the
equation. Companies and jobs like we have at Synergy should be touted and celebrated, not driven out of town
due to circumstances like these. Please help us keep our roots in this community and together we can build a
more diverse and sustainable San Luis Obispo County.
Sincerely,
Ian Ferguson
Operations Manager
870 Industrial Way
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Meeting : PC 08-24-2016
Public Comment
2