HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-28-2018 - Item 4 - Small1
Purrington, Teresa
From:Camille Small <
Sent:Wednesday, March 28, 2018 2:58 AM
To:Davidson, Doug; Bell, Kyle; Advisory Bodies; CityClerk
Subject:"Re-Envisioning Personal Mobility"
Dear Planning Commissioners,
The idea to take away parking to get people out of their cars was rolled out, it seems, not
that long ago. All of a sudden the
entire Council was chanting the 'mantra' on a regular basis.
It was like---WHAT?--- What are you people talking about? I knew they weren't part of a
cult but it sounded like it! It would be quite fascinating to learn the back story.
I can imagine that 'story' might involve using big cities as examples to follow. Someone is
frequently referring to NYC or
Washington D.C or Portland. It should be obvious our City should not be compared for a
number of reasons. Isn't it evident that a very large number of those people got out of their
cars to ride buses because parking became expensive and unavailable....and
buses/subways were available?
So San Luis Obispo is going to fast-forward? I think we could call
it putting the cart before the horse. May I suggest that until the City can provide an
efficient transit system, you are all responsible for impacting residents by (prematurely) not
providing adequate parking in many locations. 'Someone' will likely be held responsible for
a great number of our residents, who will not be riding bicycles, being continually
inconvenienced and frustrated. That just means people, with good cause to be angry, will
be more critical of those who are charged with representing and/or working for us and seek
a change. That is human nature and
it is my nature to help people.
We have learned what it means to make decisions based on what might be "conceptual". It
often turns out a novel or "good" idea bantered about is simply not based on reality. We're
out here living in the real world. In the 'real world' some bike advocates
have two cars at their home and one is nearly always gone. That
is reality!
Thankfully, Allan Cooper has put together some figures that help
picture reality.
We are 'painfully' aware that your Commission must go along
with what Council and Staff puts before you. You are to be commended for serving as you
do. Thank you very much!
A concerned resident,
Camille Small
Received 03-28-2018
Item #4
2
p.s. If you have not visited 'University Square' shopping area on
Foothill, please do. If you happen to find a parking place, note there will be several more
cars entering/circling who won't.
Someone on Nextdoor wrote that she never goes to our part of
town because it is so inconvenient. By the way, this is before we
have 244 more students living at Staff driven/Council approved
22 Chorro and 71 Palomar. These are additional examples of 'mantras' e.g.'affordable'
housing and 'workforce' housing. 22 Chorro is so affordable they want only $1,350 per bed
(2 beds per bedroom/4 beds per apartment.) Councilman Gomez thinks it will take
students out of neighborhoods (he may not know that
logic is what the developers invent) I think when Cal Poly (oops) adds 1,000 extra students
and continues to grow enrollment that we are still filling up neighborhoods.
Commissioner Fowler, you are the only one providing for workforce-the City just talks the
talk (until over-charged and taken-advantage-of students move in and residents trying to
hold onto some remnant of an R-1 neighborhood sadly move out.)
I once wrote about some 'negative but truthful' aspect and Mayor Harmon was curious
because we were awarded 'Best Place to Live". Does anyone else notice that is awarded to
towns that are blessed with a beautiful physical/environmental setting? That's the answer!
I still like San Luis; I just feel so bad for many residents in neighborhoods trying to cope
and for such unnecessary height to buildings obscuring Morros that played a big part in
"Best Place"
Sorry.....I'll step off my soap box.
On Sunday, March 25, 2018, 10:49:10 PM PDT, Allan Cooper <allancoope@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Doug and Kyle -
Would you kindly forward the letter attached below to the
Planning Commission before their Wednesday, March 28,
2018 meeting? Thanks!
- Allan