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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-07-2018 - Item 2 - Vujovich-LaBarre1 Tonikian, Victoria From:Mila Vujovich-LaBarre < Sent:Monday, May 07, 2018 3:46 PM To:Advisory Bodies Subject:790 Foothill May 7, 2018    Dear Chair Root and ARC Commissioners,  As a resident in the 93405 zip code who passes the intersection at Chorro and Foothill daily, I am requesting that you reject the height and lot coverage exceptions for the 790 Foothill project. There is no excuse for either.     Good planning requires the City to maintain standards, and not give in to every demand of developers.     Please consider the following:   1. The Metamorphosis of Foothill Blvd.   As it was discussed during the LUCE meetings, the people in the neighborhoods surrounding Foothill appreciate the vista in the view corridors. The vista is coveted for the sky and mountains scenery.     For the vision to have Foothill become a “canyon of tall apartment buildings” is not what a majority of the public desires.     People in San Luis Obispo are tired of losing public views. The enormous structure at 22 Chorro has caught many people by surprise. It is not consistent with neighborhood character.     Please scale down the height of the proposed structure. Please scale back the lot coverage.     2. Appropriate Land Use.   There should not be apartment buildings in this commercial zone along Foothill.   2   Please require that any project at this site include 100% commercial frontage extending at least 50 feet back from the building front.    3. This Type of Housing Project is Not Affordable.   The need for housing is apparent. This is a luxury student housing project.    This has been demonstrated in the last few years by the arrival of such "luxury" student housing, Ikon on Taft and 22 Chorro. Cal Poly has some of the most wealthy parents in the CSU. Families cannot compete with the rent paid by the parents of wealthy students.    The new structure at 22 Chorro is renting rooms from $1,300 per person per month. This has further inflated housing costs.     This project is being maximized to increase the monthly net for the developer. Period.     It is my belief that the developer can build fewer units on Foothill and still make a substantial profit for his company and family.     People have been ready to see the old McDonalds building revitalized but not like this. It should be commercial space,scaled back and down!    4. Traffic  The fire station on North Chorro will be compromised with a huge residential development at this site. The street will already be compromised by the mechanical lift for cars at 22 Chorro.     Chorro at Foothill is already one of the worst intersections in our town for crashes. Please do not make it worse. Protect public safety.    5. Parking  3 Residents are rapidly losing our neighborhood residential parking to under-parked new apartments. This approval from the City Council is turning many neighborhoods into second parking spots for these misplanned structures.     Ken Schwartz used the term "urban rape" earlier this year in reference to actions taken by our current City Council. Although considered controversial by some, I agree that this part of town is being destroyed by loosely interpreted LUCE language and a hungry, creative out of town developer who has displayed a lack of sensitivity already in regard to development at both 22 Chorro and 71 Palomar.     Commercial development along Foothill is what people are expecting. These proposed structures will be permanent and will severely alter the public views forever.     Please require appropriate onsite parking for all of the proposed residents and/or tenants in new development. Keep public safety and public views in mind when considering this project.     Thank you.    Mila Vujovich-La Barre  650 Skyline Drive  San Luis Obispo, CA 93405