HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/21/2018 Item 17, Vujovich-LaBarre
Christian, Kevin
To:Christianson, Carlyn
Subject:RE: Zoning Updates #17
From: Mila Vujovich-LaBarre <
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 12:02 PM
To: Harmon, Heidi <hharmon@slocity.org>; Christianson, Carlyn <cchristianson@slocity.org>; Pease, Andy
<apease@slocity.org>; Gomez, Aaron <agomez@slocity.org>; Rivoire, Dan <DRivoire@slocity.org>
Subject: Zoning Updates #17
To: San Luis Obispo City Council
Re: August 21, 2018 - Review of the Update to the Zoning Regulations
From: Mila Vujovich-La Barre
Dear Mayor Harmon and Council Members -
Having reviewed the letters from of Save Our Downtown on the proposed Zoning
Regulations, I share many of their grave concerns.
In regard to the staff proposed “more efficient development review processes,” I sense
there will be a loss of public input.
The love of both public engagement and good planning looks like they will be
eliminated. This “homogenization” will indeed turn our town into every other town.
It is blatantly obvious that the majority of the current Council and staff is willing to
streamline the development review process. This will reduce opportunities for public
input. Protect public discourse. There are brilliant people who have chosen to live in
our beautiful town. Let them have a voice.
It also seems that the hard work of people on the current advisory committees is
beginning to be marginalized. Under the new guidelines, I can see some people who
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will want to have the advisory bodies eliminated in the name of “fast-tracking”
development.
In addition, it seems that the Council’s current responsibility to approve or deny density
bonuses, concessions and incentives will be transferred from the City Council to the
Director. Does this mean that very important decisions will no longer involve a public
hearing? Will these decisions reflect the sentiments of our duly elected
representatives?
Also, the proposed height limit change from Santa Rosa to Pepper Street, I am
opposed to. People are currently outraged at the public views being lost by some of the
recent construction and the construction that is slated for the near future. This
extension of height along Monterrey towards Pepper may provide for infill and
profit for the property owners but is not in the best interest of residents and
visitors. Please preserve the public views.
Parking and traffic also are of concern on the new development guidelines.
People are moving into town and parking in the neighborhoods when parking is
insufficient in their place of residence. Mechanical garages, especially along major
thoroughfares on streets like, are not the solution for our town.
Traffic and congestion are going to get substantially worse without you all holding to
the standards set forth in the LUCE. You are readily permitting construction but not
demanding that the traffic infrastructure is put in place. This is poor government.
Please do not let that continue in the new guidelines.
Lastly, tiny homes. I think they are a great idea but they should be all placed either on
Cal Poly land, residential parcels of at least one acre or on Los Osos Valley Road on
the site that currently houses Sunny Acres. I do realize that with the latter suggestion
that Sunny Acres would need to be incorporated into the City but I think that it is a
perfect amount of acreage for a tiny home village. I do not want tiny homes to be status
quo throughout our existing neighborhoods.
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In closing, the word “NIMBY” has been in the news lately here and throughout
California where people are pushing for affordable housing. Please keep in mind that
several residents, both homeowners and renters, have taken pay cuts and have set
professional opportunities aside to reside here. They put the ease of life and scenic
beauty above dollars in their bank account. Please consider those facts and remember
to represent the people who elected you.
Thank you for your consideration and service.
Sincerely,
Mila Vujovich-La Barre
650 Skyline Drive
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
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