HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2017 Item 1, AyralCOUNCIL MEETING: [,tom E1- 'I iz
RECEIVED
ITEM NO.:__ 1 - APR 11 2017
:SLO CITY CLERK
From: On Behalf Of Odile Ayral
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 1:45 PM
To: Advisory Bodies <advisorybodies@slocitv.org>; E-mail Council Website <emailcouncii@slocity.org>; Harmon, Heidi
<hharmon slocit .or >
Subject: Zoning Regulations Update
Dear Mayor Harmon, Council Members and Planning Commissioners,
I have read the recent report on zoning regulations update, and I feel uncomfortable about a number of issues.
1) The summary of the stakeholder interviews does not differentiate between residents and developers. As
you know, their opinions often clash, and putting them in the same bag is very misleading. For instance, I know
for certain that whoever said the Foothill / Chorro district could increase its density to 5 or 6 story buildings is
not a local resident, and is only thinking of profit making. No resident of this area wants to see this happen. In
any case, the last "in fill" in this area is the infamous 22 Chorro, and the rest is fully occupied by one-story
homes, 2 and 3 story apartment buildings, and one and two-story recently remodeled commercial
buildings. Furthermore this area is already so congested that car owners often park several blocks away from
their residences and thus impact other neighborhoods (see attached picture.)
2) Reducing parking for commercial and mixed-use areas is stealing from Peter to pay Paul, and very harmful
to businesses. Many businessmen downtown and elsewhere already complain that the limited parking harms
their businesses because potential customers go elsewhere. Allowing downtown residents to use city parking
garages will only worsen the situation and will force businesses out of the center (I am sure you have noticed
that it's already happening.) A downtown without a thriving commercial heart is a dead downtown, unless you
want to turn it into a food and drink mall.
3) There must be transitions between high density and low density areas to protect people who live next to "in
fill" projects. The city staff often considers the protection of the people who will live in the building (against
noise and lack of safety, for example) but forgets the people who have lived next door for decades. These
people deserve at least as much protection.
Sincerely,
Odile Ayral