HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-07-2018 - Item 2 - Lopes (2)1
Tonikian, Victoria
From:James Lopes <
Sent:Monday, May 07, 2018 2:34 PM
To:Advisory Bodies; Davidson, Doug; Cohen, Rachel
Cc:Allan Cooper
Subject:ARC Item 2 - 790 Foothill Blvd - 2nd email
Architectural Review Commission
City of San Luis Obispo
RE: 790 Foothill
Dear Chairperson Root and Commissioners:
I neglected to notice, as staff apparently did, that Community Design Guideline no. 3.1.C.2.d ‐ Scenic views is germane to
the analysis and needs to be analyzed:
Scenic views and natural features around the site, and a site's location on a scenic route
(see the Circulation and Open Space Elements of the General Plan) should be considered
early in project design. For instance, the placement of buildings against the backdrop of
the hills should not obscure views by being oversized, extremely tall, or use materials or
colors to draw attention away from the natural environment.
It is still early in the design process for this application; important issues have not been addressed. Apparently, this
guideline was not utilized with COSE policies which I previously emailed to you. It should have been used early in the
design review process.
I ask that you add this policy to those in my previous email. Basically, besides the COSE, the City Community Design
Guidelines encourage you to reduce the scale (size) and massing where it blocks street views of Bishop Peak and other
peaks where an analysis is needed to identify. The project "should not obscure views."
I also neglected to note that the corner facade box is quite different than the remainder of the project ‐ too different. It
is not designed to create a visual and functional relationship with the other buildings, as recommended by Guideline
3.1.c.2.g.
Lastly, the sidewalk planters along Foothill Boulevard will likely constrict pedestrian flow toward the street and away
from the building. The planters should just be eliminated so that the sidewalk looks and encourages sidewalk shopping
and circulation. Planters might be located at the street edge, if at least 8 to 11 feet is still in sidewalk for pedestrians.
Thank you.
James Lopes, AICP