HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-03-2017 ARC Correspondence - Item 2 (Brodie) Meeting: RV -U 0� 03.1 -+-
From: Scott, Shawna
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2017 12:08 PM
To: Allan Cooper; Davidson, Doug; Advisory Bodies
Subject: RE: 1185 Monterey Street
Thank you, Allan, we will forward David's correspondence.
Item: Z
RECEIVED
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
MAR 31 2017
From: Allan Cooper [ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2017 11:58 AM
To: Scott, Shawna <sscott@slocity.org>; Davidson, Doug <ddavidson@slocity.org>; Advisory Bodies
<advisorybodies@slocity.org>
Subject: 1185 Monterey Street
Dear Shawna and Doug -
Would you kindly forward the attached letter below from
David Brodie to the Architectural Review Commission before
their April 3rd meeting? I'm forwarding this to you on David's
behalf because he does not have access to the internet or a
computer. Thanks!
- Allan
1.
To: SLO Architectural Review Commissioners
Re: 1185 Monterey Street
From: David Brodie
Date: April 3, 2017
Honorable Chair and Commissioners -
Regarding 1185 Monterey St. I would like to make the following
recommendations based on adherence to the SLO Community
Design Guidelines and based on the climate and health benefits
of preserving mature trees:
1. The roof configuration with its marquee -like, flamboyant shape
and bright lighting will compete with and detract from the
historical Fremont Theater, a landmark building located only
a block away.
2. In order to provide a logical transition between adjacent
buildings and decrease the vertical appearance of the
building, the architect should remove the non-functional
upward sweeping cantilevered roof facing Monterey Street.
This exaggerated eve projection is non-functional as it neither
provides shading (it's facing north) nor does it provide rain
protection to the balconies below. The only plausible
justification for the use of a gull-wing roof would be that it
could be an efficient way to collect rain water. But there is no
evidence of a roof water tank in the plans. I am therefore
recommending that a more contextually -consistent, far less
costly and more practical (i.e., leak proof) hip or gable roof be
used instead.
3. In order to reinforce the horizontal lines of the one-story
facades within the immediate vicinity, the architect should step
back from the street the three residential blocks located on the
third floor. This would have the added benefit of buffering the
residences from car noise originating from Monterey Street.
4. The architect states that a mature Ficus tree must be
1..
removed because it will detract from the architectural rhythm
of the primary building fagade. He further states that having
one Ione holdout (Ficus) mixed with new street trees of a
more appropriate species would have a negative impact on
the streetscape. This makes no sense given the importance of
mature trees and their ability to help our environment. Young
trees absorb carbon dioxide at a significantly smaller rate than
a mature tree which can consume 48 pounds of carbon
dioxide per year. It then releases enough oxygen to support
two human beings for years. These two effects help to
promote a healthier climate. Further the shade canopy from
mature trees act as natural air conditioning which helps
reduce energy use. It will take the new street trees proposed
to be planted in this project decades to reach the level of
climate benefits that this mature tree produces.
Thank you!
SLO Community Design Guidelines
B. Height and Scale
4 b. Reinforce the established horizontal lines of facades in
adjacent buildings; Horizontal lines. Reinforcing established
horizontal lines is one way to provide a logical transition between
adjacent buildings with different heights.