HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-11-2017 PC Correspondence - Item 1 (Peterson)Meeting: 'PC, 1 , �� , I T
Planning Commission, City of San Luis Obispo Item:
January 11, 2017
Subject: Avila Ranch Development
RECEIVED
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
JAN 1 1 2017
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
I have read portions of the EIR document and request that the project designers be required to modify
the project to address the following issues:
The project will cause a significant increase in traffic on Buckley Road. The project has only three
access points, one to Suburban Road, one to Vachel and one to Buckley. With over 700 residential
units it has the potential of adding 7000 trips to the adjacent streets plus those trips generated by the
commercial parts of the project. A significant number of these trips will be directed to Broad Street via
Buckley Road. Buckley Road is already impacted by development that has and is continuing to
increase around the airport. Construction traffic will destroy the surfaces of the streets.
The project must include mitigation for this increase in traffic. I have lived south of Buckley Road off
Davenport Creek road for almost 40 years. The traffic increase the past two years has been high. Our
access to Buckley at Davenport Creek Road is becoming more and more difficult. The ques of cars on
Buckley during peak times leave little breaks for us to access the road. Site distance from the
intersection in the westerly direction is limited and vehicles approaching are barely visible when we
must make a decision to or not to enter the intersection. Existing utility poles, boxes and the growing
weeds along the road limit our view The traffic speed limit is 55, not 40 as mentioned in your
document.
I ride a bike on Buckley several times a week. The road is narrow and the edges not maintained.. Many
other people bike on the road also. At one time Buckley Road was a favorite ride for the bikers in the
community. Now many avoid it as they also avoid Tank Farm Road.
The intersection of Vachel and Buckley floods frequently.
For this project to proceed it needs to include in the initial phase projects that will address these issues
so that as the project grows the problems will be minimal.
1. Channel work downstream of the intersection of Vachel and Buckley needs to happen or the roads
need to be raised with adequate capacity structures built to convey the waters. The detention proposed
is not likely to mitigate the flooding that now occurs. It will mitigate the increase in runoff caused by
the development.
2. Bike lanes must be a part of Buckley Road from Broad to Vachel. The proposal to direct bikes off
Buckley to ride through a park is ridiculous. Bike riders are transporting themselves from one place to
another. They need a safe place to do that and on the street is the safest. Bikes generally ride at speeds
of 10 — 20 mph. If directed through a park there will be conflicts between the bike riders and the
walkers and others that are using that area.
3. A safe way for driving from Buckley to South Higuera needs to part of the first phase. I have heard
that access to LOVR may not be allowed via Vachel. Until Buckley Road is extended to Higuera
Street, traffic from Buckey must be allowed to turn left onto Higuera Street. There are large trucks that
regularly use this intersection and it would be most inappropriate to direct them throught the new
development to Suburban Road. Large volumes of vehicles will also not be welcome to new residents.
4. All of the intersections on Buckley Road should be improved to allow safe access. Buckley Road is
the only access for the properties south of Buckley. Alternative improvements may be all way stops or
round abouts ( properly built) . The intersections that have the most traffic are Hoover, Davenport and
Thread Lane. These improvements should be a part of the initial phase. The construction traffic alone
will severly impact this area.
5. Buckley and Vachel are not well built roads. The project should be required to make improvements
to the road surfaces before the project is completed. The construction traffic will destroy the surface.
I ask the city to tell the applicant to address these concerns.
Wayne Peterson, 695 Evans Road, San Luis Obispo