HomeMy WebLinkAbout06_28-29_2017 PC Correspondence - Avila Ranch (Justesen)
From: Justesen, Erik P. < DECEIVED
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 5:49 PM CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
To: Advisory Bodies
Subject: Avila Ranch Development Plan JUN 2 9 2017
Dear Commissioners, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT y
I would like to voice my support of the development plan as outlined in the June 281h 2017 Planning Commission staff report.
As a local employer for over 42 years, RRM has provided "head of house" paying jobs for working professionals. Over our 42
years we have employed in our San Luis Obispo Headquarters over 600 people many of them still work for us. Our average
salary for our professional staff is approximately $75,000 per year plus full medical, 401K match and our Employee Stock
Ownership Plan or ESOP.
More local housing is critical for our business to thrive and grow. Not only are the vacancy rates extremely low (less than 5%)
and home prices astronomical, but the quality and energy efficiency of the local housing stock is subpar. New housing built
under the 2017/8 CBC is drastically more energy and resource efficient than 90%= of the existing housing supply on the market.
New housing such as Avila Ranch will be built to Net Zero standards. That is good for the environment.
Currently only 30% of our over 90 local employees live in SLO, the other 70% commute daily from other communities to work.
They consistently tell us that they wish there were more housing opportunities in SLO. The fact is that residential production
has hovered around 3% per year for the last decade at least which has created a large deficiency in the supply of housing. The
City growth rate target is 1% per year. the largest contributor to our local GHG is transportation sector largely from the over
30,000 daily commuters. Building a project like Avila Ranch is good for the environment.
Over the last 3 years we have lost just under 10 professionals that move out of the area because they could not find suitable
housing in SLO. Add that to the dozens of prospective employees who turn down jobs at our firm due to high costs and limited
choices, and we have a crisis on our hands.
I serve on the Chamber Economic Committee and the Boards of several non- profits including French Hospital and the number
one issue for employers is the exact same issue. Lack of supply and high cost of housing. Virtually all major local employers
have the same % of their employees commuting in and out of SLO daily, around 70%.
Perhaps the most alarming issue of all is the strain commuting put on them and their families. They struggle with child care,
getting to sports and after school programs, juggle parent teacher conferences, running errands away from your own
community is difficult and they spend more commuting on gas and maintenance. It is unfair to our working population to
continue the imbalance of a suitable housing supply.
For all these reasons, I am here to be the voice for our employees and ask that you consider this project carefully, help make it
better, and recommend approval to the City Council.
Thank you
Having more housing choices in our community is good for our economy, good for the environment and good for families.
Erik P Justesen, ASLA, LEED AP
President +CEO
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(805 431-6032 C
f # group
rrmciesign.com
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