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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/26/1965City Council Minutes October 20, 1965 Page 4 On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Gallagher, the meeting adjourned to 7 :30 P.M. Tuesday, October 26, 1965. APPROVED: December 6, 1965 ��! ,X'-H. FIT�CK `CITY CLERK Roll Call City Staff MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL October 26, 1965 - 7:30 P.M. CITY HALL JOINT STUDY SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION Present: Emmons Blake, Frank Gallagher, Donald Q. Miller, Arthur F. Spring,'Clell W: Whelchel Present: J. H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; W. M. Houser, City Attorney; R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer; D. F. Romero, City Engineer; E. Rodgers, Police Captain, P. Chapman, Planning and Building Director. Planning Commission Present: Mrs. Joyce Abkin, Herbert A. Landeck,.Jim Twyeffort, John C. Brown, John H. Evans, George 0. Johnson, Kenneth Schwartz. 1. Dr. D. Jackson Faustman appeared before the City Council and Planning Commission and reviewed his 1965 report on the short range and long range future parking needs in the Central Business District of the City of San Luis Obispo. Dr. Faustman presented an analysis of current parking conditions to determine the adequacy of existing City and off - street parking facilities, an estimate of future parking needs on a short range basis 1965 to 1975, a study of the design and cost of developing the recommended parking facility including an estimate of income and expenses of operating said facility, and an analysis of the financial feasibility of the short range parking plan and general examination of possible financing methods. Dr. Faustman then reviewed for the City Council and Planning Commission his 1965 Central District Traffic Plan. He stated that in preparing this report an analysis of existing traffic conditions was made covering the following major points: 1. The determination of existing traffic deficiencies; 2. The projection of future traffic patterns;' 3. The development of major street networks including roadway sections and operational controls; 4. The effect on the central district street system of closing Monterey Street between Chorro Street and Broad Street; 5. The effect on the central district street system of the alternate alignments of the State Route 1 Freeway currently under consideration; 1 1 1 City Council Minutes October 26, 1965 Page 2 6. The priority of construction of various elements of the proposed major street plan. Dr. Faustman then went into detail on the various elements to implement the street plan, such as proposed street widenings on one way street repairs, parking and turn restrictions, etc. The City Council and Planning Commission discussed with Dr. Faustman various recommendations made in his report. 2. At this time the City Council and Planning Commission discussed various proposals.for the Mission Plaza development. Mr. P. Chapman, Planning Director, presented a map showing the plan as prepared by his office and tentatively approved by a prior Council for development of the Mission Plaza. He then presented the plan prepared for and by the Downtown Association which included realignment of Monterey Street and the construction of an underground parking structure with parking on top at the corner of Chorro and Monterey Street.. Mr. Chapman used the model prepared by the Downtown Association for his presentation. Mr. Romero, City Engineer; then briefed his report of September 17, 1965.in which his office studied the construction and the needed acquisition of properties to accomplish the proposal as prepared by the Downtown Association. Mr. Romero listed the following advantages to the plan prepared by the Downtown Association: 1. Construction according to the plan would create a net of approximately 111 additional parking spaces one block from the main intersection of town and two blocks from the centroid of present parking usage. 2. The plan has the backing of various.merchant groups who personally would be willing to finance and help develop the facility. 3. The plan would be a large step toward development of the Mission Plaza block and subsequent improvement to the rear of the Higuera Street stores. The disadvantages would be: 1. The proposed parking would be the most expensive by far of all lots considered. 2. The layout proposed would create intolerable traffic congestion.at Chorro and Monterey Streets. 3. The exit road to Broad Street would greatly.injure the pedestrian - park relationship desired in the Mission plaza. 4. The layout proposed does not lend itself to efficient attendant parking. Mr. Romero stated in conclusion that he believed the plan presented would provide an attractive addition to the community and modification as suggested could be quite practical. He stated he felt the only serious disadvantage was in the initial cost which would undoubtedly have to be financed by other than parking revenues. Mr. Romero then briefed the report prepared by the San Luis Obispo County Hydraulic Engineer stating that it would be feasible to have a dam on San Luis Creek at Broad Street to develop a pool of water up stream. Mr. Robert Leitcher suggested that the City Council and Planning Commission consider a location in.the Mission Plaza for the old Ramona Hotel Railroad Station and also a spot for the last horsecar operated in the City, both owned by the County Historical Association. City Council Minutes October 26, 1965 Page 3 He also would like the City Council and Planning Commission to consider the possibility of locating the existing Episcopal Church presently located at Nipomo and Pismo Street if it is moved as he felt this is one of the oldest buildings in San Luis Obispo and would fit in the Mission Plaza. Mr. James McDonald, Vice President, Downtown Association, again presented the proposal of his group for a parking structure at the corner of Chorro and Monterey Street urging that this plan be adopted by the City Council and Planning Commission subject to minor adjustments and variations prior to construction. He also wished to remind the City Council and Planning Commission that the property owners and merchants in the affected area have never accepted the Chapman proposal for development of the Mission Plaza but that the same groups would support the Downtown Association proposal. Mr. McDonald urged that no one get bogged down with minute details of the exact location of each exit or entrance, etc., but to adopt the.concept as presented by his association. Mrs. Burnette, representing the-Sierra Club, urged that the City Council and Planning Commission not consider any proposal for the Mission Plaza area which involved any covering of San Luis Creek as the City should protect and enhance this Creek as part of a beautiful and desirable project. Mr. Jim Kimball approved the Downtown Association's parking plan and also urged that Monterey Street be left open as he felt that the Downtown area needed more circulation.and more parking. Mrs. Schultz urged that the City go ahead with some development on the Mission Plaza which would be acceptable to the majority. Mr. Warden, property owner, for the Mission Plaza as it as he needs parking for his this parking. He felt that he could support the Downtown Association plan as it provided substitute park Mrs. Bilodeau stated that s Plaza would protect the old value. stated that he has never approved the Chapman plan takes away a heavy segment of his property's income tenants and under the Chapman plan he would lose ing. he hoped the City in its development of the Mission adobe across from the Mission for its historical Miss Maxwell asked how long would this expensive parking structure serve the population of the City which she felt was an important consideration. She also felt that the City should not build this structure or any other, but-should develop the Mission Plaza as an open space area-in front of the Mission. Mr. H. Lacterman stated that in his opinion the proposal of the Downtown Association was the best proposal for development of the Mission Plaza that he has seen in the past twenty years and he stated, as everyone knows, many plans have been presented in this time. . Mrs. Dunklee, property owner, stated that she was in favor of the Downtown Association Plan. Mr. R. Corcoran stated that he was in favor of the parking proposal as presented by the Downtown Association. Mr. Peter Kardel, Attorney for the Johnson Trust, stated that he had been unable to sell the Chapman plan to the tenants leasing the Johnson property as they felt the plan as presented by Mr. Chapman would not be of any.use or service to them in any way. He stated that his tenants felt they could support the concept of parking and open space as presented by the Downtown Association as they felt the salvation of the small businessman in the downtown area was close -in, adequate parking. Clay Davidson, President of the Downtown Association; stated that the City Council and Planning Commission should keep in mind the fact that the proposal of the Downtown Association parking and Plaza development has the support and