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;
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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