HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/16/2018 Item 2, Hill
Goodwin, Heather
From:Patrick Hill <delmarpat@yahoo.com>
Sent:Monday, July
To:Advisory Bodies; E-mail Council Website
Subject:790 Foothill Boulevard, SLO
July 16, 2018
Dear Mayor Harmon, ARC Chairman Root, Council Members and Commissioners:
My apologies for the lateness of this letter, I only received notice of tonight's 5:00 PM ARC meeting
and the noon deadline to send an e-mail earlier this morning.
I am a licensed California Architect, a Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Cal Poly (32 years) and
a former Associate Department Head of the Department of Architecture.
I served as a commissioner on the ARC in the mid 80's for 6 years and helped redraft the then
ARC's guidelines.
I am writing with concerns over mass, height and density of the proposed project with regard to it's
location at the intersections of Foothill and Chorro.
As I understand, current zoning for that site has a maximum height of 35 ft. and an allowable
building lot coverage of 75%. The applicant is asking for 4 floors, which will be at least 48 ft. and lot
coverage of 90%, primarily because of exemptions allowed under the cities municipal code. This I feel
does not meet the intent of the cities Land Use Element 2.3.9 Compatible Development.
The scale and massing of development along Foothill has always been in keeping with the low-rise 1
- 2 story residential character of the area, such as University Plaza, Ferrini Plaza, Foothill Plaza and
the other adjoining small scale businesses. They allow views of the surrounding peaks from the
crossroads and fit comfortably with the neighboring homes. A project of this height and massing will
irrevocably change the character of the area, and will only precipitate more large scale
development. Not a small college town environment. Not keeping with Cal Poly's balance of low and
mid rise structures.
Taller development is, I feel, appropriate, as it is happening, in the CBD of downtown. Not near our
beautiful hills and urban reserves. The city worked hard in the 80's to keep development off of the old
Bunnell ranch property near Bishop's Peak. We should continue to be so protective of what makes
SLO special now and for the future.
Patrick Hill
California Registered Architect C8945
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