HomeMy WebLinkAbout06_28-29_2017 PC Correspondence - Avila Ranch (Bike SLO County - Bennett) 860 Pacific St, Suite 105 | San Luis Obispo, CA | 93401
Mike Bennett
LtCol USMC Ret.
Executive Director
mike@bikeslocounty.org
27 June 2017
Dear Chairman Stevenson and Planning Commission Members,
Bike SLO County appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Avila Ranch Development
Project and its’ Environmental Impact Report. Our organization is comprised of more than 4,900
individuals throughout the region who believe safer complete roads for biki ng, walking and
driving are essential to communitywide well-being. Replacing personal motor vehicle trips with
bicycle, transit and pedestrian trips saves energy by reducing fuel consumption, reduces air
pollution and traffic congestion and improves public health.
Bike SLO County recognizes the need for a significant increase in the amount of affordable local
housing. Without more affordable housing, the success and character of the city will be
threatened as young working people will not be able to afford to rent or buy within the city limits
and middle aged professionals will choose not to move here due to the cost of buying a house in
the area.
To that end, Bike SLO County supports denser, in-fill housing for people who want to live closer
to their jobs in the City so that they don't have to commute long distances, and for many of
whom, riding a bicycle, walking and/or taking transit are viable transportation options.
We appreciate the fact that Avila Ranch reached out to the cycling community to ask for design
recommendations, and are pleased to see a plan that emphasizes bikeways and pedestrian
connections on site and to the future site of the Octagon Barn / Bob Jones Trail Trailhead
Center. The Class I multi-use paths and Class II bike lanes throughout the site and between the
site and the Octagon Barn will benefit Avila Ranch residents and visitors to the region alike.
Creation of locally beneficial bike and pedestrian facilities alo ne, however, will not enable the
City of San Luis Obispo to realize its stated goal of 20% mode share travel by bicycle by 2035
as defined in the LUCE. A Class II or IV connection on Buckley road between the Avila Ranch
Development and Broad Street as envisioned in the City’s Bicycle Transportation Plan would
encourage residents to utilize active forms of transportation to reach work, shopping, and
recreation destinations along Broad Street. A Class I multi use path along this route will create a
Safe Route to School for Avila Ranch children attendin g Los Ranchos Elementary School.
Additionally, completion of the section of the Bob Jones Trail between the Octagon Barn and
Los Osos Valley Road would connect the Avila Ranch Development to existing bicycle facilities
providing access to Laguna Lake and Downtown SL O. These projects require cooperation with
the County, and they will not happen without City leadership.
If given viable and safe bicycle facilities that connect to the businesses in southern and central
San Luis Obispo, Avila Ranch residents will consider active transportation as a reasonable
BI KE SLO COUN T Y b i k e sl o c o u n t y.o r g
option; this option will become even more appealing when they are confronted by the additional
local vehicle traffic that will come by necessity from this development and the nearby San Luis
Ranch development. The only way to mitigate the additional traffic is to provide facilities that
support multi-modal options like bicycles and ebikes. We encourage City leadership to continue
to demonstrate their commitment to multi modal transportation and take the lead in making
these facilities a reality. If you build it, they will ride.
Respectfully,
Mike Bennett