HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/10/2018 Item 2, Czech
Christian, Kevin
From:Genevieve Czech <agczech@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 10,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Study Session on Zoning Regulations and related matters on April 10, 2018
Following a recently published memorandum paid for by the City of San Luis Obispo urging cooperation with Cal Poly, it
is a matter of grave concern that the City Council is asked to "study" recommendations to rewrite zoning regulations to
enable higher density and reduced regulation and review. "Densification" must not be abused to mask
"dormitorization", and it is rather the emphasis that Cal Poly cooperate with the City that should propel the discussions.
Question #7 proposes a change that is inconsistent with the pledge to seek remedies "that work" for the community. To
consolidate and streamline the review process for more simplicity (as recommended, moreover, by Sacramento) does
not mean that Advisory Bodies would have meetings scheduled concurrently , so that ARC would not be able to consider
recommendations made by the CHC. With Advisory Bodies becoming more insulated from one another, and the
approval process fast tracked altogether, the decision making burden is placed into the hands of those few who lack the
experience or judgment or detachment to approve the projects in terms of their long-term consequences. Such a
change would go in the direction of silencing dissent, or removing the appropriate forum/procedure for essential
considerations, e.g.
environmental impact, expansion of services (e.g. wastewater and water ), infrastructure considerations before project
approval, public safety, e.g. fire. Public safety includes the exposure to contaminated dust during the building process
that causes diseases like valley fever.
The review process must also welcome neighborhood contribution to the discussion, and not be dismissed as a "small
but very frustrated part of the community" (Heidi Harmon, Tribune, Thursday, April 5th) Frustration occurs when review
is reduced to a meaningless exercise, without respect for the arguments put forward, without due notice for the wisdom
of those arguments. May this study session prove itself as open to comment, incorporating the comment for its worth.
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