HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/27/2018 Item 1, Lopes (2)
From:James Lopes <
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:Davidson, Doug; Bell, Kyle
Subject:Reminder about Save Our Downtown Comments
Planning Commission
City of San Luis Obispo
RE: Item 1 - Proposed Zoning Regulations Update
Dear Chairperson Fowler and Commissioners:
This summary of my letter of June 24, 2018 is meant to remind you of the main points within the discussion:
1. Public Input: Please revise the "story poles" proposal to be required at the time of application, so that they will be up
during the Conditional Use Permit process. Requiring them as a Condition of Approval makes no sense.
2. R-1 Development Standards: Have staff propose to add design standards that scale back residential structures from
smaller ones on adjoining properties.
3. Upper Monterey Overlay Zone: Deny this staff proposal to allow buildings as tall as 75 feet, while the City conducts
an Upper Monterey Area Plan, which could take several years and involve the community. It is premature and will
influence if not predetermine the outcome of the Area Plan if the Downtown height limits of 50 ,to 60 and 75 feet with
bonuses, are adopted now. Direct staff to prepare a visualization model of the current building heights compared to the
proposal, if you wish to go forward.
4. Discretionary Actions and Permits. Do not allow the Director (staff) to make more exceptions, especially with a
ministerial (no notice or hearing) use permit. Direct staff to comb the ordinance and propose that all exceptions be
brought under the Variance section.
5. Recommendations from Advisory Bodies: Deny the staff proposal to allow the Director (staff) to ignore, revise or
replace recommendations by the Architectural Review Commission. Instead, keep the current practice of optional staff
recommendations within a staff report.
6. C-D Zone Residential Parking: Please direct staff to prepare criteria for approval of reduced parking within a
downtown project.
7. Application Filing, Processing and Review: Revise the proposal to allow a decision to set Conditions of Approval with
a ministerial use permit. Instead, require that an application can only be approved if it meets all general plan, zoning
ordinance requirements and findings.
8. Director's Hearing: This is the same process as the Minor Use permit. Revise it to combine it with the Minor Use
Permit section, and replace this title with Minor Use Permit in Table 6-1.
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9. Required Findings. The proposed findings are too narrow than the public's interest. Replace the proposed ones with
the three in my letter, which are from the County of San Luis Obispo and perfectly legal.
10. Initial Study/Negative Declaration: Have staff prepare a visual analysis of the Upper Monterey Area to compare the
current buildings with the current 45-foot height limit and with the proposed 50, 60 and 75-foot height limits. The
proposal to retain these taller limits within the Downtown HIstoric District should be analyzed for their effects on the
public, the historic structures and the viewsheds. Remove the "green" proposals from the bonuses for higher buildings,
and make them requirements for all buildings.
Thank you.
James Lopes
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