HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/11/1981City Council Minutes
August 11, 1981 - 7:00 P.M.
Page 2
F. Whale Rock Committee Mayor Billig
No meetings in the last month.
G. Zone 9 Advisory Committee Councilman Dunin
No meetings in the last month.
2.. EDNA -ISLAY SPECIFIC PLAN
The City Council held a public hearing on the presentation and review of the
draft of the Edna -Islay Specific Plan recommended by the Planning Commission.
(A)appeal of environmental determination by Robert L. Stern, (B) discussion
of draft specific plan and EIR.
Mayor Billig stated that this meeting was simply a study session where the
city staff would present the Planning Commission's report and summary of the
plan. The consultants for the property owners would also be given an opportunity
to make their presentation. The council could then ask questions to clarify
issues and identify additional information that they would need at further
meetings. The City Council would also need to make a finding on the appeal
by Robert Stern of the environmental determination.
Terry Sanville, Senior Planner stated that the Planning Commission had completed
its review of the draft Edna -Islay Specific Plan and EIR. The City Council
would need to schedule public hearings to review and certify the EIR and
either approve, amend and approve or reject the specific plan. The Planning
Commission completed its initial review of the draft plan in March 1981.
The consultants prepared a draft plan and submitted it to the planning staff
for checking. The staff determined that the draft report included provisions
which had not been authorized by the commission. These issues (e.g. large
lot housing on Islay Hill, design of the Orcutt /Tank Farm'Road intersection)
were resolved at the commissions June 10th meeting. The addendum to the
1 EIR was revised to include the commissions final decisions. On June 24, 1981
the Community Development Director reviewed the revised'addendum and determined
that no additional environmental documents needed to be produced as a result
of the commissions actions. He stated that staff was submitting an additional
report supplemental to previous reports sent to the Planning.Commission.
It was focusing on alternatives and issues previously not covered in written
reports but discussed and acted on by the Planning Commission public hearings.
He stated that the City Council should certify the draft EIR with its addendum
as meeting City and State EIR guidelines. The City Council also needed to
adopt the Edna -Islay Specific Plan with the changes recommended in the latter
part of the report. He then gave a brief background report summary of the
project
Sandy Merriam, principal of Merriam, Deasy and Whisenant, presented the Edna
side of this project and gave a brief description of those significant areas
that were of concern. He stated that this was the third specific plan ever
to come before the City Council and it had been enjoyable to work on this
large of a segment of the City and being able to plan it all at one time.
Vic Montgomery, MDW, presented the consultants report for the owners for the
east side of the project known as the Islay area, that area east of the
railroad tracks. He spoke on 8 issues as follows:
1. Connection of Highway 227 to Orcutt Road and how they arrived
at going to use an underpass as opposed to the overpass.
2. The idea of using the connection system as a linear park.
3. Islay Hill. Although some pedistrian access has been made to the
hill it is a very limited access.
4. Mitigation of noise - Southern Pacific Railroad. He stated that
private recreational facilities would be used to form a buffer
for the residential areas to help avoid the noise of the train.
5. Flood control. They were asking the Council to lower their flood
control standard.
6. Orcutt Road /Tank Farm Road intersection. This intersection would
be put in a T formation hoping to slow down the traffic coming
in all directions.
7. Housing. The overall density for this section is 5.7 dwelling
units per acre which is below the maximum allowed.
8. Process. Throughout this procedure there had been alot of ups
and downs between the staff, consultants, and property owners in
City Council Minutes
August 11, 1951 - 7:00 P.M.
Page 3
their review of the project. They felt that they had all worked
well together and examined every avenue of possibility.
9. He felt that the project had been a very professional project
and he would look forward to this new neighborhood being in the
City.
John Aausbaugh, MDW, addressed two concerns: 1) drainage, 2) density.
With regard to .number 1, he stated it had always been city policy that every
effort be made that drainage plans be such that the water drained off of the
property. With regard to item 2, density, he stated that the Islay portion.
of the project had an average of 5.7 units per acre. The Edna side had
7.5 units per acre. He stated that development phasing would take place
over at least a 10 year span.
Chuck French, property owner, spoke in support of his project and the need
for additional housing in the City of San Luis Obispo. He stated that they
had worked with the Housing Authority and subsequently added rental housing
and low income housing to the project. Assembly Bill 1151 would allow an
additional 25% bonus if a developer provided low and moderate cost housing.
The Housing Authority spoke in favor of the project.
Councilman Bond was concerned with the additional traffic that would be created
on Broad Street as a result of this new development and its effect on other
city facilities such as fire, police, and schools.
Councilwoman Dovey agreed with Councilman Bond's concerns and added that
she was concerned with the additional buses that would be required.
Councilman Settle thought that this was a good development for the city and
the largest single development ever planned at one time for the city. He
felt it could.provide good housing and.it would be able to help the Housing
Authority. His primary concerns were the impact on municipal capacities,
specifically water. He was also.concerned with the density bonus issue. He
stated that.there was 724 units planned for the Edna site, this was over
the allowed fixed.units per acre. He was also concerned with the phasing
because of the impact on facilities and the consistency -- with the general
plan. He was concerned with catch basins and how they were going to deal with
water runoff.
Councilman Dunin stated he was very impressed with the consultant's approach.
The water-issue did not bother him as he felt that there was sufficient water
in the city. He felt that the density was alright as the City Council had
recently increased the allowed density for this zone of 7 units per acre.
He felt that the growth pattern was a good one and.in the right direction..
as this development was the same distance from the center'of downtown. He
did have a problem with the choice of having an underpass as opposed to
an overpass.on.Orcutt Road. He was also concerned with further impact on
the school system. He liked the approach of the mixed housing.. He was
pleased that there had been such good cooperation between the consultants,
developers and staff. He was concerned as to the effect on municipal capacities
such as the additional manpower needed for the police department as this
would require additional patrol units and additional people and he wasn't
sure that the taxes received from new home owners would be sufficient -td
offset the expenses that the taxpayers within the city would have to Hear.
Mayor Billig stated that she had several concerns, many of them already ex-
pressed by the other councilmembers. She felt that the water supply issue
was an important one. She was not convinced that the city had sufficient:
water as we do not have the resources to enlarge-the treatment plant and
therefore a shortage of water might exist. She had a problem with the density
and the phasing. She felt that there were several growth inducing impacts
expecially between the current city limits and the project outer limits
which might require additional annexation of the property outside. She
had a problem with the drainage, she did not feel it was within the growth
management guidelines recently set by the city. She was concerned about
the traffic volumes on other areas of the city,.specifically Broad Street.
She felt we needed to look not only at the capital costs but over a long
period of time the maintenance costs as well. She felt this needed to be
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City Council Minutes
August 1.1.E 1481 7;QO.�,k1.
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looked at comparing the economics as well as the environmental impacts, i.e.
the air quality. She did feel that this was an innovative project, she liked
the mixed use of housing. The project provided for good bike paths and showed
sensitivity and had a good planning approach.
Robert Stern spoke on behalf of his appeal of the EIR and he stated that
he felt additional studies needed to be made in the following areas: 1) Well
and septic tanks in the agricultural zone; 2) He had serious concerns regarding
water runoff; 3) The proposed locations for storage tanks on Orcutt Road.
He stated that the EIR indicated that the additional flood problems were
minor and would be mitigated by the County. He disagreed with this.
Adele Stern also spoke in support of Mr. Stern's appeal. She was concerned
with the additional traffic on Orcutt and Islay Hill open space. She did
not feel the EIR covered sufficiently the noise and flooding problems.
Mary Lou Latz spoke in support of keeping Isly Hill as open space as this
was one of the seven Morros and she felt should be left for all people to
enjoy. She would rather see a trade off if there had to be one of additional
homes being allowed and given greater density then to try to build anything
at the foot of Islay Hill.
Robert Stern stated that he would like to see the density cut in half. He
felt that the property owners and consultants were using the highest maximum
density allowed and there was no reason why they couldn't use the lowest or a
more moderate level. He felt this in turn would cut in half many of the
other problems.
Several of the councilmembers stated that they were concerned as to exactly
how much it was going to cost city taxpayers as far as adding additional
municipal services by the demand created by this housing project. The staff
was directed.to look into this and research, review and make recommendations
to the council.
Upon general consensus, the Council continued their consideration of the
EIR appeal by Robert Stern to August 31, 1981 at 12:10 P.M.
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Billig
adjourned the meeting - 9:50 P.M.
Pamela Voges, City Clerk
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APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON:
8/18/81
M I N U.T E S
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY.COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1981 - 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
Roll Call
Councilmembers.
Present: Alan Bond, GlennaDeane Dovey, Ron Dunin, and Mayor Melanie
Billig
Absent: Allen Settle
City Staff
Present: Geoff Grote, Acting City Administrative Officer; George Thacher,
City Attorney; Pamela Voges, City Clerk; Richard Minor, Fire
Chief; Ann McKibbin, Personnel Director; Roger Neuman, Police
Chief; Dave Romero, Public Services Director; Henry Engen,
Community Development Director