HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2019 Item 3, Lopes
Wilbanks, Megan
From:James Lopes <jameslopes@charter.net>
Sent:Sunday, October
To:Scott, Shawna; Bell, Kyle; Advisory Bodies
Subject:October 21, 2019 ARC hearing, Item 3: 3750 Bullock
Architectural Review Commission
City of San Luis Obispo
RE: October 21, 2019 ARC hearing, Item 3: 3750 Bullock
Dear Commissioners:
The Mission Revival style of this project should be referenced in other projects, especially the ones also occupying this
agenda. It is an exceptionally beautiful addition to this Orcutt area mono-culture of single-family houses which will not
be affordable to people working in San Luis Obispo, almost certainly. Please seek this design style in other projects
which cannot express anything more than wall planes and cantilevers. I do have a few concerns though.
1. The Union Pacific Railroad operates trains 24/7 just a stone's throw from this project, and the Surfliner uses the
railroad from early morning to evening. Union Pacific also utilizes a mile-long siding for temporary storage of trains. Is
this project going to impose bothersome, repetitive, objectionable railroad noise on residents? Will the buildings have
noise attenuation measures to reduce noise to less than voice volumes inside? Does the City expect residents to live
with their windows tightly closed? What if people want to open their windows to their un-air conditioned apartments,
especially on the second and third floors? What about outside? How will the project deflect railroad noise from
outdoor users?
How was this site chosen to impose repetitious, heavy railroad noises upon low-income residents? Isn't this choice
expressive of economic classism? Why is it that the City has chosen not to avoid well-known railroad noise impacts by
planning single-story development here, so close to the railroad? Why is it that low-income projects end up next to
railroads and freeways? Why isn't this project located east next to the commercial corner and park? How can the City
of San Luis Obispo be so proud of its community planning in the face of this project's location? I lived across the street
from this railroad, even with earth berms and the exhaust noise alone from locomotives was probably as loud as aircraft
- very loud!
2. The vehicle driveway on Bullock Lane is perhaps going to be bothersome and maybe even dangerous for entering /
exiting the parking area. Drivers will be occupied on Bullock Lane with maneuvering through the round-about; this
driveway will impose complications to those maneuvers. Would the project be better accessed on Tiburon Lane
solely? It would not be much of an inconvenience to turn the corner within the project to access Tiburon Lane.
Thank you,
James Lopes
912 Bluebell Way
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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