HomeMy WebLinkAboutAvila Ranch DEIR Public Comment received 1-17-17 (Gordon)RECEIVED
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
JAN 17 2017
17 January 2017
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
To: The Planning Commission, City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Re: 175 Venture Drive - The Proposed Avila Ranch Development
Dear Commissioners Bisheff, Knight, Malak, Larson, Dandekar, Fowler, and Chair Stevenson,
My wife, Jeanie, and I have been grateful residents of San Luis Obispo for 26 years. We own
and reside in the development informally known as "The Meadows", the entrance of which (Las
Praderas Drive) is across from Trader Joes and Food 4 Less. Thus, we are among the hundreds
who will be adversely affected by the Avila Ranch Project. We urge you to vote AGAINST or at
the very best, DELAY) the proposed Avila Ranch Development for numerous reasons.
1) The 7,000 additional auto trips each day generated by this project will only exacerbate
the already dangerous and gridlocked streets of and near South Higuera & Los Osos Valley
Road. As it is now, I oftentimes hold my breath when exiting our housing tract, hoping I won't
get hit by a speeding car while crossing the double southbound lanes in order to travel north on
S. Higuera. I can't even imagine what it might be like in a few years with more cars in a hurry.
Add to the daily increase of 7,000 cars - the traffic generated by new developments along
Margarita Dr., Orcutt Road, The Arbors, the Chevron property on Tank Farm Rd. and the
outdoor mall (Tank Farm & S. Higuera) where the Tractor Supply Co. is currently. Are we really
looking at 10,000 or 15,000 or 20,000 additional auto trips every day?? There is no way the S.
Higuera area can sustain such a drastic increase in the volume of traffic.
2) 1 support the need for more affordable housing. However, this project will only create a
need for MORE housing and not help resolve the issue. The 720 additional homes means
1500-2000 more residents all needing groceries, gas, fire/police protection, garbage collection,
shopping, schools, etc. Which means the city will have to allow for these new services... which
means a need for a larger workforce... which means the need for yet more housing. It is a
growth spiral without end. Just look at Santa Maria. Is that our model for the future of SLO?
3) Surely, the talented and dedicated city planners can come up with a more creative
solution to the housing need without destroying beautiful, prime agricultural land. The
recent EIR had innumerable reasons to question the wisdom of this project. My wife and I have
travelled throughout Europe where most communities restrict growth to existing city borders
preserving the pristine and valuable rural landscape. Let's follow their example and continue
to fill in new city growth remodeling already existing buildings. That way, new residents
within the city can walk or bike to needed services rather than drive, reducing congestion and
pollution. With infilling, older buildings can be updated for safety, functionality and
attractiveness.
Consider these alternative and far less impactful solutions to the housing/workforce needs:
a) Encourage Cal Poly to build more student/faculty housing on/near campus. Many, if not
most, of the thousands of commuters each day into SLO are students and staff;
b) Provide incentives for local businesses to seek out Cal Poly/Cuesta students for their
workforce needs;
c) Offer free public transportation for students who enter the local workforce;
d) Instead of building high price condos downtown for only a handful of wealthy people, build
a higher number of smaller units on the same site to serve as affordable housing for a greater
number of people.
Finally, if the Planning Commission is still in favor of the Avila Ranch development, then
PLEASE, for the sake of we residents along S. Higuera and LOVR, do not let this project begin
without first completing the long -promised Prado Road extension to Broad St./227 and the
freeway overpass connecting the Madonna mall with Prado Road. Doing this will help to relieve
the expected increase in traffic.
Thank you for your time and for your critical service in preserving the beauty and specialness
of San Luis Obispo.
`Sincerely,
r
Russ Gordon
19 Chuparrosa Drive
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401