HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/12/2018 Item 2, Lewis
From:Donna Lewis <
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:Donna Lewis
Subject:Planning Commission Meeting - 650 Tank Farm Rd
Dear Chair Fowler & Planning Commission Members,
I was recently presented information regarding the request to rezone the site at 650 Tank Farm Road to facilitate the
construction of a 249 unit residential apartment complex and am writing in support of this request. So much good work
related to the development of housing has occurred in the past few years, however, our City still seems to lack a supply
of decent and affordable rental housing for our younger workforce. As a mother of 3 daughters in their twenties, as an
employer and as a mortgage broker, I come in contact with numerous residents in their twenties and thirties who aspire
to own their own home one day. In most cases, this set of residents is living with at least one if not two to three
roommates in order to share decent rental housing. The alternative otherwise would be in many cases substandard yet
costly options. Our city specifically lacks studio and one bedroom units that might be more affordable to the younger
workforce who have approached an age where their preference may be to live on their own or with a significant other.
Additionally, this age group lives with constant housing insecurity in that landlords of single family housing are more
than ever choosing to sell the homes in which these residents are living, causing them to move over and over again
which is stressful & costly. We desperately need newer apartment/rental housing in our community to meet the need
of this demographic.
I mentioned this project to my co-worker, Dylan Morrow, who is a 27 year old resident and lives with 2 roommates. He
is at a stage in life where he'd love to be able to afford to live on his own but there just aren't any good options in our
community that he can afford on his own. He loved the concept of this development and referred to apartment style
housing in other cities where he has friends who enjoy the sense of community that a development like this offers. In
many cases, these developments offer amenities that create a sense of place & community that specifically cater to this
age group. In doing so, the units are smaller but community amenities are embellished.
Having this type of housing stock is critical given it's proximity to employment and services and to give the younger
working set stability in housing until they are ready to take the next step toward purchasing a home of their own. Please
accept staffs recommendation to adopt the General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Amendment and Rezoning of this
site. Given that the majority of the units are proposed to be studio and one bedroom units, please also adopt the
recommendation for a parking reduction for this site. The site is in close proximity to employment & services (bank,
market, restaurants, bus stop, etc.) so that it will very likely be walkable/bikeable for many of its residents.
Donna Lewis
Branch Manager, Senior Loan Advisor
RPM MORTGAGE • SAN LUIS OBISPO
1065 Higuera Street, Suite 100
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805.783.4000 phone
805.235.0463 cell
844.496.1486 eFax
NMLS # 245945
donnalewis@rpm-mtg.com email
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