HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/15/2019 Item 9, Grady
Purrington, Teresa
From:John Grady <johngrady5@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, January 13, 2019 3:13 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Agenda Item #9 - 790 Foothill Blvd.
Honorable Mayor Harmon & City Council Members:
I am writing to request you uphold the appeal to the project as proposed and approved by the Planning Commission for
790 Foothill Blvd.
My concerns for this project as currently approved are many, chief among them:
1. The lack of sufficient parking for the residents (barely one space for every two residents). It is completely unrealistic
to imagine or expect that only one of every two residents will have a vehicle. Add to that the limitations of a mechanical
lift to park over sized vehicles and trucks (ever increasing these days) which further exacerbates this problem. It is
irresponsible for the city to approve this project with such woefully inadequate parking. The adjoining neighborhood is
already impacted by a lack of parking and this project would make this problem even worse. I wonder how you might
feel if you lived in the adjoining neighborhood and drove through this intersection on a daily basis?
2. Health and safety concerns for the lack of ingress and egress for this facility by having only one driveway for both, and
that on a major thoroughfare which is already over congested. Additionally, this is at or near an awkward and already
busy and over crowded intersection.
3. The building's height and mass - with concessions given for very tiny and very few "affordable" or "low income"
housing units. I believe the developer is using this exception as a ruse to pack in ever more units out of pure greed.
Presumably many of the two bedroom 1200 plus square feet units will be further divided (as was done at the Academy
at Chorro) and thus rented out to 8 individuals (students) so as to maximize rent and profits. While I understand you
cannot dictate to whom one may rent their units. you CAN control the size, height, massing, and design of these units as
well as require adequate parking for the anticipated occupants.
4. The further erosion of our view shed due to the massive height. Nearby Bishop's Peak will be invisible to one walking
or driving along Foothill Blvd. at this site. At the rate you have approved similar developments lately, we may soon be
known as the city with open spaces whose residents cannot see and enjoy them without driving to them!
Please uphold the appeal of the very informed and concerned citizens who have taken their time and effort to bring this
urgent matter to your attention to seek a better project for our community. Send this project back through the ARC and
Planning Commission so as to achieve a development that we can all be proud of and which will truly provide more
affordable housing, not just for the designated units but for all the residents of the project, and one which will protect
the health and safety of all our residents.
Thank you.
John Grady
San Luis Obispo
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