HomeMy WebLinkAboutAvila Ranch DEIR Public Comment received 1-17-17 (Steiger, Fase)From:
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2017 7:27 PM
To: Corey, Tyler <tcor'ey@slocity.org>
Subject: Avila Ranch Development
San Luis Obispo Planning Commission
Attn: Tyler Corey
1/17/17
RECEIVED
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
JAN 18 2017
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Please add this letter to the record for this project's approval or
denial process
Dear Tyler,
I am writing this letter as a representative for myself and the rest of
my family consisting of 6 adults aged 24-83. We have resided in the 120
home area commonly known as "The Rolling Hills" for the past 26 years. As
you most likely know, we access our neighborhood directly off highway 227
between the stop lights at Buckley road and Los Ranchos road.
Since most people leaving our neighborhood when traveling toward
the Los Osos Valley rd area use Buckley road, the proposed Avila Ranch
Development will not only impact us, it will change all of our lives. Maybe
even end a life. The traffic congestion in our area of highway 227 has been
well documented in SLOCOG'S SR 227 operations report. We feel it
is imperative that the information is this report be included in the
documentation used to determine the true scope of this project. There is no
reason important enough to approve this project until it is clear that the
traffic impacts from this development will be mitigated and in place from
both the highway 227 end and the Higuera St. end of this project. Many of
us in this neighborhood remember well the life lost at highway 227 and
Country Club Dr prior to the installation of the current stoplight. Please, do
not allow something like this to happen again.
I see there is a plan in place to extend Buckley rd and bypass Vachel
Ln. in phase 11 of this development. This plan is not acceptable. Please,
drive west on Buckley Rd. to Vachel Ln (end of Buckley) and the South
Higuera St intersection between the times of 3:00 & 6:oo and to experience
first hand why waiting for phase 11 is not only unacceptable, but downright
dangerous. Then, think about construction traffic added to the nightmare
of this oddly shaped intersection and possibly 6000 added vehicles!
6000 additional vehicles brings me to our neighborhood's
intersection at highway 22'7 and Crestmont Dr. No longer is exiting or
entering our neighborhood difficult only during certain hours. It can be
difficult at any hour, but frightening between the hours of 2:45 -
6:30. There has been many new businesses constructed in the past 5 years
in the area from Tank Farm Rd, to just south of the airport, with what
amounts to thousands of commuting employees with no road
improvements. Why has this happened?
Why, when these business were built, weren't stipulations for mitigating
traffic issues in place, enforced and completed? I've been told, it's because
the city or county collects the money from developers to mitigate the traffic
issues the new business creates, but because highway 227 is
a state highway the money can't be used there. If this is truly the issue,
what is in place for change? Nothing else should be built in this area
until changes for traffic flow is in place. SLOCOG had identified
roundabouts and a secondary access to Buckley Rd as solutions, but these
solutions seem to be at least 5 - io years away. Even just a simple right
turn from Crestmont Dr. to highway 227 south, can take a very long
time. Traffic barrels down the highway with mere feet between
cars. Merging between cars to turn right is not possible, turning left and
using the merge lane, is even more impossible. We are totally at the mercy
of drivers to slow down and "let" us out. I'm sure you can imagine how
well that works. Knowing that my parents who are 8o & 83 and driving
their hybrid car, are trying to navigate this nightmare scares me to death
every time they leave.
72o homes will most likely generate many school aged
children. Where in this project is upgrading, or building new schools to
handle the influx of children addressed? This should be in place and
completed before the homes are occupied.
Our neighborhood has changed so much in the past 26 years.
Neighborhoods change, I get that. But we the people living here, are facing
dangerous challenges every day due to issues beyond our control that our
elected officials and city/county staff have created. Yes, created. We
depend on people like you, to make sure that our lives are not
negatively impacted for some else's gain. My husband and I own two real
estate offices, and I work at Los Ranchos school. I understand clearly that
we need housing, we are depending on people like you to help the city
achieve the housing it needs without putting our lives in danger. Please, do
not allow this project to begin development until:
*1- The Buckley Rd extension is complete.
#2- The 3 roundabouts proposed for highway 227 are complete
#3 -The building or upgrading of schools enough encompass the added
children this project will bring, is complete.
Thank you for considering our thoughts.
Sincerely,
Rachelle Steiger Hansen Steiger
Randy Steiger Shereen Fase
Eric Steiger Carl Fase