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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/25/2014minutes city of san Luis oi3ispo TOWN HALL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Special Meeting — 6:00 p.m. Ludwick Community Center, 864 Santa Rosa Street San Luis Obispo, California CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo City Council was called to order on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ludwick Community Center, located at 864 Santa Rosa Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Vice Mayor Christianson. ROLL CALL Council Members Present: Council Members John Ashbaugh, Dan Carpenter, Kathy Smith, and Vice Mayor Carlyn Christianson Council Member Absent: Mayor Marx City Staff Present: Katie Lichtig, City Manager, Andrea Visveshwara, Assistant City Attorney, Derek Johnson,. Community Development Director, and Anthony Mejia, City Clerk, were present at Roll Call. VICE MAYOR INTRODUCTION Vice Mayor Christianson announced that Mayor Marx recused herself from deliberations on the Cal Poly student housing project because she owns property within 500' of the subject property; advised that the City is in the process of preparing its second letter in response to the recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the project; explained the town hall meeting format. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CAL POLY STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT AT GRAND AVENUE ENTRANCE Sharon Whitney, San Luis Obispo, asserted that the subject DEIR contains analytical omissions; urged that the City's comments on the DEIR request 1 analysis on nighttime light pollution and whether the project will cause growth inducement; recommended that the Cal Poly Master Plan be updated to incorporate. the City's Land Use and Circulation Elements (LUCE) update. City Council Meeting Minutes — March 25, 2014 Page 2 Patrick Vauqhan, San Luis Obispo, expressed concern regarding bicyclist safety on Grand Avenue. t Susan Hay, San Luis Obispo, pointed out residential driveways on Grand Avenue pose a danger to pedestrian and bicyclist safety; stated that the project would have negative impacts on noise and air quality, noting that Old Pacheco School will be a magnet school thereby impacting those students. Stephanie Conner, San Luis Obispo, asserted that Cal Poly has not seriously considered alternative project sites and intends to construct the dorms at the proposed site despite community objections; stated the project will have negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods and City infrastructure and resources; urged Council to oppose the project. Stephanie Conner, read a written statement for Terry Conner, San Luis Obispo, stating that the project will worsen residential traffic congestion and deterioration of neighborhood quality of life; urged Council to make every effort to oppose the project. Paul Allen, San Luis Obispo, stated that the project will intrude on the quiet enjoyment of neighboring residences; spoke on the importance of creating a buffer zone between residences and dorm projects; questioned Cal Poly's rationale for not pursuing alternative sites; asserted that Cal Poly is intimidating residents thereby causing them to sell their homes to students; stated that Cal Poly has already issued request for bids for the project. Mr. Allen submitted a letter, dated March 25, 2014, which is on file with the City Clerk. Joe Arsenio, Il, San Luis Obispo, suggested that Council direct the City's Planning Commission to evaluate the project and report back to Council. Gordon Phares, San Luis Obispo, opined that if a private developer was attempting to construct a similar project within the jurisdiction of the City, that the project would be denied; asserted that student gentrification is negatively impacting the surrounding neighborhoods; suggested that identified alternate sites would be closer in proximity to student resources such as the library and cafeteria. Dia Hurd, San Luis Obispo, voiced concerns that Cal Poly students are active during evening hours thereby impacting the quality to sleep for neighborhood residents; asserted that students are destroying the community; opined that the project will impact the local water supply. Rebecca Keisler, San Luis Obispo, stated that the project will have long range and lasting impacts on the City; opined that the project will cause the demise of two residential neighborhoods; pointed out that the DER states that alternate sites would have less impacts to viewshed, traffic, parking, and City resources; urged Council to oppose the project. Ms. Keisler submitted a petition, containing 247 signatures opposing the project, which is on file with the City Clerk. City Council Meeting Minutes — March 25, 2014 Page 3 Jan Durocher, San Luis Obispo, questioned Cal Poly's rationale for not selecting an alternate site and suggested that the DER should evaluate Cal Poly's internal politics as to this question. Duba Gott, San Luis Obispo, voiced opposition to the project; noted that there is a lack of available employment for students and increasing enrollment would worsen conditions. Michelle Tasseff, San Luis Obispo, opined that there is misinformation being spread about the project; pointed out that Cal Poly is a State organization and the project is not subject to approval by the City. Karen Blake, San Luis Obispo, stated that Cal Poly is required to mitigate and /or compensate the City for impacts caused by the project; cited Cal Poly President Armstrong as stating that enrollment is expected to increase by 5,000 students in the future; voiced concern that constructing a freshmen dorm will only increase availability of residential housing for upperclassmen. Claudia Andersen, San Luis Obispo, expressed concerns that Cal Poly does not effectively discourage the use of alcohol by students, pointing out the number of police calls for service in the adjacent neighborhoods; spoke on the misconduct of students such as fighting and vandalism; urged Council to protect the quality of ' life for the surrounding neighborhoods. Isabel Marques, San Luis Obispo, opined that the topography of the site is not appropriate for dorms; voiced concern that the proposed 300 -500 parking space lot is not adequate to address the needs for the site; voiced concerns regarding an increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic caused by the dorms and reuse of Old Pacheco School. Karen Adler, San Luis Obispo, conveyed support for on- campus student housing but opposes the proposed site; recommended that Parking Lots H12 and H16 be selected as an alternate site. Laura White, San Luis Obispo, displayed aerial photos of San Luis Obispo and the morros; expressed concern that the dorms will impact the viewshed and noise; spoke on the impacts of studentification on neighborhoods. Ms. White submitted a letter and two reports from Cardiff University and Universities UK related to studentification, which are on file with the City Clerk. Linda White, San Luis Obispo, voiced concerns that the DER does not adequately analyze traffic impacts to the intersection of Grand Avenue and Slack Street and Highway 101 /Grand Avenue; pointed out that Old Pacheco School will have a more intense use and the DER does not analyze potential impacts. ' John Keisler, San Luis Obispo, voiced opposition to the selected project site, stating that Parking Lots H12 and H16 would be superior sites as identified in the DEIR; urged Council to recommend that Cal Poly select the alternate site. City Council Meeting Minutes — March 25, 2014 Page 4 Terry Elfrink, San Luis Obispo, voiced concern that the DEIR does not address parking needs during the construction period nor does it analyze long term traffic impacts on Grand Avenue; stated that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires public agencies to consider economic and social i. mpacts on neighborhoods, asserting that the DEIR does not consider these factors; stated that the project will result in a loss of privacy and property values for residences. Gordon Mullin, San Luis Obispo, voiced opposition to the selected site; read and urged Council to adopt a resolution voicing opposition to the project and requesting that Cal Poly consult with the City hereafter on the placement of dorms and the timing of increased student population growth. Sandra Rowley, representing Residents for Quality Neighborhoods (RQN), spoke in support of on- campus student housing; addressed the need for locating an alternate site for the project that is further away from residents. Eric Meyer, San Luis Obispo, voiced concerns that Cal Poly has not addressed the east/west circulation connection, which will cause cut- through traffic in residential streets; urged Council to support residents and to oppose the project. Charlene Rosales, representing the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, noted that the Chamber has not taken a policy position on the proposed project but supports on- campus student housing and planned student population growth; 1 stated that on- campus housing will improve conditions in residential areas. Rachel Kovesdi, San Luis Obispo, reported that the California Supreme Court has determined a public agency's noncompliance with CEQA and regulatory law constitutes a prejudicial abuse of discretion; asserted that Cal Poly has rejected superior alternate sites without rationale and needs to make findings of overriding considerations, but only after it has been determined mitigation cannot be met; voiced concern that Cal Poly has already issued request for bids. Jamie Lopes. San Luis Obispo, conveyed support for the resolution proposed by Gordon Mullin and the selection of Parking Lots H12 and H16 as an alternate site; suggested that Council direct staff to determine whether the proposed project would comply with the City's General Plan, Zoning Code, and Design Guidelines; voiced concern related to impacts on aesthetic resources, pedestrian safety, and traffic; -stated that the proposed mitigation measures for aesthetic resources are unacceptable. Carolyn Smith, San Luis Obispo, distributed a map of noise complaints reported in September 2013, noting 237 calls for service primarily from neighborhoods near Cal Poly; raised concern regarding the issue of noise and student misconduct; stated that the proposed dorms would significantly increase noise, vandalism, and assaults; urged Council to protect residents from Cal Poly's I encroachment on peace and safety. City Council Meeting Minutes — March 25, 2014 Page 5 Michele Hall, San Luis Obispo, expressed concern related to the proximity of the t proposed dorms to Old Pacheco School; pointed out that Old Pacheco students will be impacted by noise, noxious fumes, and dust during the three year construction period; stated the project will negatively impact pedestrian safety at the intersection of Slack Street and Grand Avenue; expressed support for selecting the identified alternate site. Russell Hall, San Luis Obispo, expressed concerns regarding noise and dust impacts during construction and noise, trash, and illegal substance use near Old Pacheco School following construction. Mila Vuiovich- LaBarre, San Luis Obispo, related concerns on the height, shape, and massing of the proposed project and impacts to noise, traffic, public safety resources, and air circulation; stated the project is not consistent with neighborhood character and that alternate sites should be further evaluated and selected. Laurel Smith, San Luis Obispo, voiced concern that the project will negatively impact bicyclist safety, residents' quality of life, and property values; spoke on the misconduct by students including vandalism to her property on Longview and Slack. Tim Townley, San Luis Obispo, pointed out that the existing parking lot is heavily ' utilized and questioned where parking will be relocated to accommodate current and future increases in student population; urged that the City make a statement in opposition to the selected site. Hayley Townley, San Luis Obispo, submitted a letter calling for Council to pledge to protect the quality of life for all residents. A hard copy of Ms. Townley's letter, dated March 25, 2014, is on file with the City Clerk. Eliahe Wilson, San Luis Obispo, questioned whether Cal Poly has inquired as to whether students desire to live in dorms; recommended that Cal Poly update its Master Plan prior to expanding student housing. Sherry Lewis, San Luis Obispo, stated that the project will have long term impacts on ambient noise and will increase traffic intensity particularly on Slack Street, Longview Lane, and Foothill Boulevard. Jim Duenow, San Luis Obispo, recommended that the City negotiate with Cal Poly as to selecting a project site; suggested that Grand Avenue may need to be considered for closure as leverage. Annie AguiniQa, San Luis Obispo, voiced disappointment that the Town Hall 1 meeting was conducted during Spring Break; stated that it is important for students to living close to or on- campus in order to be near student population and resources; suggested that attention should be focused on improving relationships. City Council Meeting Minutes — March 25, 2014 Page 6 Ken Schwartz, San Luis Obispo, noted that he is a former facility member of Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design and former Mayor of 1 San Luis Obispo; suggested evaluation of population and housing and the back - fill of housing units by students in relation to the proposed project; asserted that the City is subsidizing student residents, citing their inability to match the average sales tax revenue generated by the average citizen. Debbie Farwell, San Luis Obispo, pointed out that the DEIR does not address the Grand Avenue /Slack Street intersection; expressed concern regarding bicyclist safety at the intersection; spoke on the death of a bicyclist at the subject intersection. COUNCIL DISCUSSION Community Development Director Johnson advised that staff is evaluating the recirculated DEIR and will be submitting comments to Cal Poly prior to the March 31, 2014 deadline; explained that residents can submit comments directly to Cal Poly. Council discussion ensued as to whether it should support a resolution expressing opposition to the proposed project site and requesting that Cal Poly consult with the City hereafter on the placement of dorms and timing of increased student population growth. By Council consent, it was agreed that: 1) a letter will be sent to Cal Poly, under the signature of the Vice Mayor, as formal input on the DEIR and will include the minutes and recording of the meeting; and 2) to direct staff to ensure that Cal Poly follows CEQA law. ADJOURNMENT The City Council adjourned at 8:24 p.m. APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 05/06/14