HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-2018 Item 1 - Lynch J ,,,,,, �., �� . , . �..� �
Rachel Cohen,Associate Planner � ��� , � ��� � � � � �
�ommunity Development '� � �
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919 Palm Street � �
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 G� , ,,,�,%�„��,�,�, , ,; , : ��� � ,�� �
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Dear Members of the Architectural Review Committee,
Tina Cliff will be reading my letter in my absence. I regret that I am unable to
attend, due to the course I teach at Cal Poly State being held at the same time. My name
is Melinda Lynch. I am a Cal Poly alum, San Luis Obispo resident for over 30 years, and
local business owner. I have lived in my current home on Higuera Street for over 10
years now. My home sits behind the wall where the Los Padres Inn is currently located,
and where this proposed building would cast its shadow,
My concerns fall witliin the scope of the following Land Use Element requirements:
1.7.5 Building Design and siting: All buildings and structures should be subordinate to
and in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
2.2.10 Compatible development: New buildings should respect existing buildings which
contribute to neighborhood historical or architectural character, in terms of size, spacing
and variety. �
2.2.4 Residential next to Non-residential —Residential areas should be separated or
screened from incompatible, non-residential activities, including most commercial and
manufacturing businesses. Residential areas should be protected from encroachment by
detrimental commercial acrivities.
To the first point, a four story building is clearly not in harmony with the
remainder of the block. It would be wildly off-scale and out of balance to everything
around it. There are a number of mature trees in our neighborhood that have grown very
tall throughout the course of their lifetime. There is no way a four story hotel could be
considered "subordinate to" that landscape. Even when you go up the street to Quality
Suites, arguably the largest building in this neighborhood, it tops out at three stories.
In regards to compatible development, I beseech you to consider the historical
significance of Monterey Street to San Luis Obispo. From the Sinsheimer Bros.
building, which opened in 1884, to Muzio's, which opened in 1913, to the Monday
Club, which opened in 1934- the extended downtown area has a reputation, and
expectation of preserving the city's history and character whenever possible. Our
neighborhood in particular is full of pristine craftsman-era homes, adobe style homes,
and post-WW2 bungalows.A shared feature of all of them is their short stature. A four-
story hotel would in no way be respecting the architectural character of the surrounding
area. This proposal is grossly unproportioned to the space that exists. I highly
recommend scaling back to a two story building; a project that would complement, not
dominate the block.
Lastly, yet most importantly, this project would be detrimental to the lifestyles of
current residents in this neighborhood. A building of this height would completely block
the sun and cast a permanent shadow over myself, and my neighbors' homes. The sheer
size of the proposed facility is an encroachment upon the residential area. Projects of
this magnitude need to be further separated from private homes. Perhaps my biggest
concern with this project is the parking situation. Between the medical offices and
restaurants in the area, there is already very limited parking during the day. I refuse to
battle with ovemight guests parking in front of my home, preventing my own family
from finding a space to park. That's not fair to any of us. Every other hotel in the area is
small enough to be able to house the vehicles of their guests without negatively
impacting the neighborhood. There is no way a four story hotel could create enough self-
sufficient parking in the space allotted, without overflow into the streets.
While I understand the desire to maximize profits and squeeze every dollar out of
each square foot- this is not the place to do so. That kind of development is better suited
in the heart of downtown, away from traditional neighborhoods. I implore you to
reconsider this project, reduce the scale, reduce the impact to the neighborhood, and
respect the historical integrity of the area.
Respectfully,
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Melinda Lynch
1592 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401