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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-15-2016 Item 12, Bolster-WhiteCOUNCIL MEETING: (1- _15'- 1 C.� ITEM NO.: 1.1 Gardner, Erica From: Jill Bolster -White [ RFCE'V Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2016 2:51 PM 00V 10 2016 To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.org> Cc: Claire Clark < ; Scott Smith < .1 n rT_ry t_L�R1�� Subject: Bishop Street Studios Appeal of ARC -1019-16 Approval -R� Dear Mayor Marx and Council Members, In regards to the appeal of the Architecture Review Commission's approval of the Bishop Street Studios project, Transitions -Mental Health Association (TMHA) has several concerns. The project proposes 33 units of low income housing for clients of Transitions -Mental Health Association plus a resident manager's apartment. It incorporates the renovation and preservation of the exterior of the badly vandalized Sunny Acres Orphanage/Juvenile Hall into 13 units plus another 21 units in newly constructed buildings. The Architectural Review Commission (ARC) reviewed the project with the Cultural Heritage Committee (CHC) on September 19, 2016, accepted spoken testimony from 27 residents (all in favor) plus correspondence from 17 individuals (all but one in favor), and unanimously approved the project. The appellant has requested that the "approval for the use of the Sunny Acres building and surrounding property" be rejected by Council. Under San Luis Obispo Zoning Code, there is no basis for providing the requested relief since the proposed use, Residential Care Facility, is allowed "by right" and is not part of the discretionary approvals needed for this project. Furthermore, for the proposed use of the property there are no laws under the City's Municipal Code, General Plan or otherwise that require the justifications and qualifications that are requested in the appeal. Moreover, federal and state fair housing laws have been put in place to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination in the land use process such as that which is suggested in the appeal. Council is prohibited from considering the disability of potential residents under such laws. The federal Fair Housing Act, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, California Government Code Section 11135, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act all protect against disability -based discrimination in similar ways. These laws were designed to protect people with disabilities from discrimination "based on prejudice, stereotypes, or unfounded fear." In order to educate the neighbors and City residents, TMHA has engaged in a very open process as it developed the proposal for this project. Via extensive outreach, we addressed all of the concerns posed in the appeal including the operation of the housing, the rules for occupancy, circulation on and off the site, and the role that TMHA will continue to play in the successful recovery of its residents. We had the opportunity to explain all of these processes again at the ARC hearing. Since Spring 2014, TMHA has maintained and periodically updated a website, www.bishoostreetstudios.org. We have referred residents to this resource in every neighborhood letter and used it extensively in media outreach and to further the conversation with all. In addition, TMHA reached out to neighbors in all of the following ways: ✓ Five letters to neighbors within a 500 foot radius of the County property, all citing the website for more information and inviting anyone to contact me with questions and concerns; ✓ Three public forums to invite ideas and to share proposed project plans open to anyone, with notice to all neighbors within the 500 foot radius; ✓ Countless private meetings with anyone who asked for one, including tours of existing TMHA permanent supportive housing, meetings in neighbor's homes, and meetings in TMHA offices; ✓ Three person-to-person meetings with the appellant's representative to hear his ideas about alternative sites / alternative use. Also, there were many interactions via email and personal outreach to ensure that this individual was aware of all of our forums, the hearing before the CHC/ARC, and any website updates. ✓ Emails to the appellant offering to meet, give a tour of existing supportive housing, and to talk about the issues that were of concern to him. The most recent email was sent by me after the ARC hearing, once again to offer to discuss ways to mitigate his concerns. The appellant never responded to these offers. We believe that the assertions in the appeal are false or misinformed and are brought to Council for the purpose and effect of deterring the develuprnenl of supportive housing un this site. The asserliuns present a derogatory lilartiy dbuul our clients, based on the prevailing stigma surrounding mental illness, and lacking in an informed approach to the subject. It is rare for a project to capture the imagination of both City and County governments, garner strong support from those agencies in addition to being welcomed by the business community, non-profit community, many neighbors, and individuals from all walks of life. This support is based on the common belief that the Sunny Acres location provides the best option for this housing, and provides an excellent community use for the long neglected site. There are no other sites that so effectively meet the location criteria for such housing or offer such striking beauty. No other projects have been able to overcome the multitude of requirements that have long stymied the renovation and repurposing of the former orphanage/juvenile facility. As mentioned above, Fair Housing laws help to protect certain classes of people, including those challenged by mental illness. More important, decent human behavior helps to shape our community and speaks to the type of people we are or want to be. This project gives us the opportunity to choose to be a healthy, balanced and inclusive community pushing back against those who perpetrate the stigma of mental illness as exemplified in this appeal. We respectfully ask you to join TMHA in our efforts to "SLO the Stigma" and uphold City land use ordinances and Fair Housing laws by rejecting this appeal. Sincerely, Jill Bolster -White Executive Director Transitions -Mental Health Association Inspiring hope, growth, recovery and wellness in our communities. San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 SLO Hotline number: Transitions -Mental Health Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community and family support services. P.S. Donating to TMHA has never been easier. Go to to find out how. Thank you for your support.