HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2017 Item 1, RowleyCOUNCIL MEETING: WEE VCD
ITEM NO.: APR 11 2017
SL CITY CLERKJ
From: RQN of SLO [
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 12:03 PM
To: Harmon, Heidi <hharmon2slocity.org>; Rivoire, Dan <DRivoire@slocity.or >; Christianson, Carlyn
<cchristianson@siocitv.orR>; Pease, Andy <aoease@slocity.ore>; Gomez, Aaron <apomez@siocity.or>; Advisory Bodies
<advisor bbodies@slocity.org>
Cc: Gallagher, Carrie <CGallagher@slocity.o(g>; Goodwin, Heather <hgoodwin @slocity.orQ>; CityClerk
<CityCle rk@ slocity. o >
Subject: Item 1, Study Session April 12, 2017 - Zoning Regs
Please distribute this letter to the Planning Commissioners.
Residents for Quality Neighborhoods
Meeting Date: April 12, 2017
SUBJECT: Item 1, Study Session — Zoning Regulations Update
Dear Mayor Harmon, Council Members and Planning Commissioners,
We are seeing the City slowly converting its commercial spaces to residential. This is not a benefit/amenity
to either current or future residents of the city and does not comply with the stated purpose of commercial
zones.
Per our Zoning Regulations, a neighborhood commercial (C -N) property may include the residential density of
an R-2 property (12 units per acre), regardless if it is located in an R-1 or R-2 zone; however, there are
currently no standards addressing the portion of the project that must remain commercial. As long as there
is a commercial element, the remainder of the project can be residential. The 14,309 square foot, $1,000+
per bed ICON project at 1340 Taft Street is an example, with only 4,900 square feet (34%) of the project
devoted to commercial uses.
For Community Commercial (C -C) properties the problem is even more serious. At 36 units per acre, this is a
50% greater density than is allowed in our R-4, high density residential, zones (24 units per acre). This was a
holdover from the 1994 LUE, although never used. And, as with C -N zones, there are no standards regarding
the amount of the project that must remain commercial; a small space qualifies, as aptly demonstrated by
the 22 Chorro design.
The project at 22 Chorro contains 41,188 square feet. The residential living space totals 28,259 square
feet, residential amenity space totals 11,329 square feet, and the commercial space totals 1,600 square feet.
In other words, residential living and amenity spaces comprise 96% of the project while commercial space is
limited to 4% of the project. And this is designated as community -serving commercial?
There is one commercial property, built years ago, that does adhere to the philosophy of a commercial
property while still including residential elements; it is the Crossroads Center located off of Broad Street. In it
are diverse commercial and business uses that serve city residents, and tucked in behind second floor
businesses are four residential units. Unlike the 1340 Taft and 22 Chorro projects, residents are not the main
feature of this commercial property.
RQN knows and supports the need for affordable housing, however that is not what is currently being built.
We are sacrificing the majority of our community -serving commercial amenities for minimal affordable -by -
design housing while reducing the quality of life for both residents of and employees in the city.
We request you take the following action: Direct staff to include consideration during the update of setting a
minimum portion (percentage) of N -C and C -C properties required to be retained for commercial uses.
Thank you for your consideration of this topic.
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
Chairperson, RQN