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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/25/2019 Item 2, Brooks Wilbanks, Megan From:Lea Brooks <leabrooks332@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, To:Advisory Bodies Subject:Comments for Sept. 25 Planning Commission meeting Attachments:Planning Commission, 279 Bridge St., Item 2.docx Please see attached comments for the Planning Commission. Thank you. Lea Brooks San Luis Obispo 1 To: San Luis Obispo Planning Commission Chair Mike Wulkan and Commissioners Jorgensen, Kahn, McKenzie, Quincey, Stevenson and Hemalata Dandekar From: Lea Brooks, San Luis Obispo Re: Sept. 25, 2019, Planning Commission Meeting, Item 2, 279 Bridge St. I am a member of the Active Transportation Committee (ATC), but am submitting comments as an individual. I cannot attend your meeting because the ATC has a special meeting at the same time in the Council Hearing Room. I am neutral on the proposed mixed-use project design review, but want to raise concerns about the impact of additional motor vehicle traffic on Bridge Street, which is becoming an increasingly popular alternative for people on bikes to segments of South Higuera and South streets and the intersection of South Higuera and Madonna Road. People on bikes have a choice of the multi- use path through Meadow Park or residential neighborhood streets Exposition and Corrida drives and Woodbridge Street. These neighborhoods are connected to Bridge Street via a multi-use path through a small city park. Information for you to consider: -During commute hours and other times of the day, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to turn left/south on South Higuera Street from Bridge Street because of heavy traffic on South Higuera and motorists turning right/south onto South Higuera from Madonna Road. Many people on bikes actually ride through the Pacific Coast Center to take advantage of the traffic signal on South Higuera Street at Madonna Road. This traffic signal enables bicyclists to safely turn left onto South Higuera or straight across to Madonna Road. Pacific Coast Center deserves a thumbs up for not blocking through bicyclists using its private parking lot as an alternative route to the heavily congested city streets. -People on bikes often are forced to ride in the traffic lanes on Bridge Street because of on- street vehicle parking. Either the businesses on Bridge Street don’t have enough parking spaces for their employees and customers or motorists prefer to park on the street rather than use businesses’ parking spaces. Many of the vehicles are heavy industrial and commercial trucks that take up a lot space and are difficult to see around. Bridge Street is also a popular temporary parking place for homeless people with recreational vehicles and buses. -Some northbound motorists and bicyclists on South Higuera Street use Bridge Street to access Beebee Street to avoid the intersections of South Higuera/Madonna/South. When the Prado Road overcrossing is constructed to South Higuera Street in conjunction with San Luis Ranch, and Avila Ranch is occupied, more motorists will likely use Bridge and Beebee streets to bypass the intersections of South Higuera/Madonna/South. I think you are aware that the ATC is developing the city’s first-ever Active Transportation Plan, which will consist of an update of the Bicycle Transportation Plan and a Pedestrian Plan. Issues we are discussing include improving bicycle and pedestrian access across South Higuera Street at Bridge Street and possibly upgrading Bridge Street from a Class 3 neighborhood street to Class 2 bike lanes. Motor vehicle parking would be eliminated if Class 2 bike lanes are recommended by the ACT and ultimately approved by City Council.