HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/10/2018 Item 2, Mulholland
From:Christine Mulholland <
To:E-mail Council Website; CityClerk
Subject:Zoning Regulation Update Study Session
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I agree with Allan Cooper's assessment. I frequently hear from long term residents that we are loosing our quality of life
here
in San Luis Obispo. Protecting our quality of life was a very important stance for council candidates only a few years
back, but
seems to have fallen off the radar. Many of us who have lived in San Luis Obispo for a long time appreciated the small
town
ambiance and worked to maintain it. But we don't feel we are of importance now, as if the old guard is now shunted
aside
and ignored.
Not all towns need to become dense urban cities. We should try to preserve some small towns for those who just do
better in
them. I know some who encourage high densities and want the new urbanist environment, but haven't spent time living
in large cities,
where that is available, and thus have little understanding of the loss and trade-offs.
I urge you to please rethink the rapid growth and densification paradigm and consequent loss of neighborhood
cohesion.
Christine Mulholland
805-544-6618
To: SLO City Council
Re: Zoning Regulation Update Study Session
From: Allan Cooper, San Luis Obispo
Date: April 10, 2018
Mayor Harmon and Council Members -
Tonight, you have before you a recipe for disaster. First, significantly increase
the densities in R-2, -3 & -4 residential neighborhoods; second, quadruple the
densities of housing in our downtown core; third, increase our densities in R-1
residential neighborhoods through ADU’s and tiny homes; fourth, reduce or
eliminate the opportunity for public comment on virtually all projects while
consolidating decision making powers in the hands of the Administrative
Hearing Officer; and fifth, cut back on automobile parking altogether.
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Many of the property owners and landlords who are in opposition to these
proposed policy changes are not speaking from personal financial interest.
Should you green light all eight proposals tonight, our property values will go
up and our rental incomes will increase. Why? Because the homes we live in
will now be valued based on the increase in potential rental income they will
earn should we decide to vacate them and our rental properties will become
lucrative mini-dorms.
But instead of focussing on our pocket books, we are here tonight fighting for
the heart and soul of San Luis Obispo. We all believe the SLO Life, the good
life we’ve all enjoyed up until now, will be a thing of the past should you
continue to move this aggressively toward densification - toward stacking and
packing more people into tighter quarters. Traffic congestion will become
untenable, parking will become unavailable and neighborhood solidarity will
decline.
With countryside visible from every corner, there is a feeling of being in the
country while also being in the city. This will be lost once San Luis Obispo
continues to promote the construction of mid-rise and high-rise buildings.
“SLOTOWN” is the rallying cry of a city that resists the civic homogenization
that can turn any town into every other town. This too will be lost once our
former emphasis on public engagement, good planning and contextual fit is
taken off the table.
Please put a stop to this steamroller mentality centered on affordable housing,
this knee jerk reaction to State mandates and, yes, even to this apparent sell
out to the development community. Thank you!
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