HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/10/2018 Item 2, Brown
Sheffield, Alexis
From:Fowler, Xzandrea
Sent:Wednesday, October 10, 2018 1:41 PM
To:CityClerk; Davidson, Doug
Subject:FW: Please distribute to commission members for tonight's meeting
From: Russell Brown <
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 1:18 PM
To: Fowler, Xzandrea <XFowler@slocity.org>
Cc: Allan Cooper < ; James Lopes < ; E Thyne
<
Subject: Please distribute to commission members for tonight's meeting
Save Our Downtown
Seeking to protect and promote the historical character, design, livability and economic success of downtown
San Luis Obispo.
October 9, 2018
Planning Commission
City of San Luis Obispo
Subject: Item 2: Directional Items for the Zoning Regulations Update: Monterey Street Corridor
Dear Chair Fowler and Commissioners:
You may recall earlier comments from Save Our Downtown members opposed to extending the
Downtown Commercial C-D zoning standards to the upper Monterey Street corridor. We asked that
the proposed extension of a 75-foot height limit and a 50 percent parking reduction be postponed and
incorporated into an area plan for the entire upper Monterey Street corridor, called for in the LUCE
report.
We identified that adopting these allowances now would cause potentially significant traffic,
parking, noise and aesthetic impacts for the proposed area and its neighbors. In addition, the
allowance would leap ahead and bypass local participation of this neighborhood in the area plan
process. Our request was not responded to or acknowledged.
Now, the staff report states on page 6 that extending these standards entails more review of the
proposed changes by staff. Unfortunately, the staff report does not identify these changes or what
review is needed. Instead, the report makes the statement that these changes “would be best paired
with the subsequent amendments planned for March 2019, specifically the downtown density
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program to encourage smaller units (600 square feet and under).” We all need better and more
complete communication if good public participation and decision making is to occur.
We reaffirm our requests that the proposed zoning changes be analyzed by a new CEQA document –
an Initial Study – for the full range of impacts authorized by CEQA. The potential drastic differences
in heights will accommodate not just housing, as the staff report assumes. Any number of tech or
other office firms could locate in these towers. Their parking, traffic, noise, and other impacts should
be identified with very recent data. We recommend that a computer model be developed through a
private firm to identify the before and after potential impacts of the proposed height limit on
aesthetics, shading and urban design and character.
My experience teaches that in dealing with conflicting voices wanting differing outcomes, having an
overall plan against which to evaluate and provide perspective for individual issues is both desirable
and valuable. You have such a plan – the adopted 2017 Downtown Concept Plan. This plan goes into
great detail how to achieve the current, best intended character for this corridor. It states that
development should be from 2 to 4 stories for all the blocks captured in this zoning extension
proposal (see Table 3.1, Block Descriptions). Such buildings would typically be well-sized within a
45-foot height. Nowhere else does the City General Plan state that it is a higher priority to build
taller than the current 45-foot height limit. We submit that this plan is superior to the initiative of staff
and is your best guide for considering zoning changes within the corridor now. The Concept Plan
was carefully considered with significant citizen input.
We value the important role you play in this process and your commitment to our community. We
don’t always agree but know your time, effort and expertise is appreciated.
Thank you for considering these comments as well as those of our Secretary, Allan Cooper.
Sincerely,
Russ Brown
Chair, Save Our Downtown saveourdowntownslo.com
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