HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/15/2019 Item 9, Czech
From:Genevieve Czech <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Fwd: Appeal of Planning Commission's approval for a use permit at 790 Foothill
Please include the enclosed letter in the public correspondence for the Council meeting of Jan. 15, 2019. Thank you.
Genevieve Czech
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Genevieve Czech <agczech@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 10:34 PM
Subject: Appeal of Planning Commission's approval for a use permit at
790 Foothill
To: Harmon, Heidi <hharmon@slocity.org>, Pease, Andy <apease@slocity.org>, Gomez, Aaron <agomez@slocity.org>,
<cchristi@slocity.org>, <estewart@slocity.org>
You are currently receiving carefully considered objections to the scope and height of the 790 Foothill development.
Potential violations of state and federal housing law in the current proposal seem to have been dismissed by the
Planning Commission. When 790 Foothill was first proposed, the 22 Chorro project was cited as an example of
neighborhood compatibility.
The 22 Chorro developer (same as 790 Foothill)h had touted his mixed use and affordable housing element giving him
exemption status. It appears that the housing element has not served its purpose yet, nor was it initially conceived to
accommodate families. Hardly had ground been broken at the site, than billboards were erected promoting prestigious,
luxurious student rentals. It has been sold to a London based corporation investing in student housing across the U.S.A.
Are we repeating the same saga?
The current Mayor and Council has an opportunity to learn from the past mistakes of former Councils if they uphold this
appeal. 790 Foothill must be modified, and its basic premise of providing workforce housing reviewed. The developer
has not incorporated solar panels as recommended in its initial review with the Planning Commission. I believe solar
heating is meant to be a component of all current CA construction.
Bishop Peak is the jewel in the crown of San Luis Obispo, and it should not be obscured by a development that
masquerades as workforce housing. This project can easily be modified to satisfy the greater good as you pledged in
your electoral campaigns.This appeal has been lodged by concerned residents with no personal interest other than that
greater good: safety, aesthetics, preservation of a portion of a scenic highway, honest development that addresses the
urgent need for workforce housing rather than dormitory units with some afterthought -added on workforce units that
create the semblance of sincere compliance with California and San Luis Obispo's housing crisis. 790 Foothill is not
designed with these ends at its heart, and it is claiming a site that will not repeat itself once the concrete is poured. Will
790 Foothill be another opportunity lost to demonstrate our city's commitment to provide the housing needed, not for
Cal Poly students, but rather for all those who work here and are forced to commute outside SLO? This is your Council's
opportunity to review, reflect and recommend. May you have the courage to seize it.
Respectfully,
Genevieve Czech,
612 Stanford Drive, San Luis Obispo
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