HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-2016 Item 20, Shoresman
To:
Subject:
Gallagher, Carrie
RE: Problems with 22 Chorro
From: "Michelle" <
Date: Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 7:58 PM -0700
Subject: Problems with 22 Chorro
To: "E-mail Council Website" <emailcooncil(a),slocity.or >
Dear Mayor Marx and SLO City Council members,
COUNCIL MEETING:
ITEM NO.: 2 v
RIr=CI~IVED
OCT IS 2016
LO CITY CLERK
I write today to give my opinion on the project at 22 Chorro. While, there are things I like about this project, I do have a few
concerns that keep me from whole-heartedly supporting it.
In general, I support the principle of the project -- that is, mixed use, medium -to -high density housing that will creates an
aesthetically pleasing structure in an area where people can easily access downtown, shopping and Cal Poly without driving much, if
at all. I support the idea of approving housing units throughout our community that include fewer parking places and "push" our
citizens toward more transit -pedestrian, bike -friendly housing options and lifestyles. I think "The Mix" and some of the other new,
similar structures that are planned, and already built, encourage people to get out of their cars, and into the community in a
positive, cosmopolitan way ... where they can interact with each other and build community.
My concerns about the 22 Chorro project stem from the number of and type of "affordable" units being included in the project as
well as the height of the project. After reviewing the plans, I note that there are four studio apartments in the complex and that
those are the units they are referring to as "affordable." While, the developer may be meeting the prerequisites to receive
incentives by having "10% of the units" be "affordable," I am not sure that these units meet the spirit of the requirement, since their
square footage combined is probably far less than 10% of the building. These are not units that will help working families live in
SLO. These studio apartments are too small to be long-term housing solutions for most families and even young professionals that
want to stay in San Luis Obispo long term. More likely, these units will be purchased by parents and lived in by students. I don't
believe that this meets the spirit with which this incentive rule was written.
Because I am not supportive of the way this property meets the "10% rule," I also have questions about granting the height
exception to this project. Perhaps it is time to revisit city ordinances on building height, but I also believe that height limits should
be taken seriously and are part of what makes SLO unique. Keeping SLO buildings relatively low -profile allows residents to see the
beautiful green space around us that your Council has worked so hard to preserve. As an example, one of my favorite cities in the
US (Washington DC) also has height restrictions on their buildings. There, the restrictions preserve the view of the monuments and
historic buildings. Our "monuments" are our open spaces and hills. Lower buildings preserve these views while also preserving SLO's
"small town feel" (which our residents also treasure).
I believe we can adequately increase housing supply through mixed and high density units in SLO while also preserving the small
town feel we love. For those reasons, I would encourage your council to either reject the project as is, or work with the developer of
22 Chorro to include more family -friendly units in the "affordable housing" allocation of this project. I would also ask that the height
exception be reconsidered. Further, if you agree that the height exception is worth the trade off, in this situation, than I propose a
larger policy conversation be considered going forward, about building height limitations. If developers are going to continue to ask
for exceptions, and have them granted, it begs the question.... what's the point of such restrictions?
In closing, I know you will all make the right decision on this project, with the best interests of the City at heart. Please reject this
project as is, or work with the developer to make the project incorporate more of the elements we need to help work toward
housing goals that the City has already adopted.
Respectfully,
Michelle Shoresman
3242 Johnson Avenue, SLO