HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/12/19961
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MINUTES....;_.:,..:
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE C17Yt4.
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1996 -12:00 P.M.
CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBER - 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members Kathy Smith, Dave Romero, Bill Roalman, Vice
Mayor Dodie Williams, and Mayor Allen Settle
Absent: None
Downtown Design
Committee: Charles Crotser, Andrew Merriam, Pierre Rademaker, Ken Schwartz
City Staff
Present: John Dunn, City Administrative Officer, Ken Hampian, Assistant City
Administrative Officer, Kim Condon, Assistant City Clerk; Jeff
- Jorgensen, City Attorney; Arnold Jonas, Community Development
Director; Mike McCluskey, Public Works Director
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
There were no public comments.
STUDY SESSION
1. DOWNTOWN PHYSICAL CONCEPT PLAN (File No. 418)
Council considered input from members of the former Downtown Physical Concept Plan Design
Committee with regards to future land use and design considerations for the Court Street block.
Arnold Jonas, Community Development Director, briefly discussed the history of the Downtown
Physical Concept Plan and said that today's session was necessary to clarify the Planning
Commission recommendation, supported by Council, that the plan be modified to show the Court
Street lot redeveloped with a substantial public park/plaza, with mixed -use public buildings allowed
only as incidental to the park, with childcare facilities, and possibly small scale art galleries.
Pierre Rademaker, Downtown Concept Plan Committee Chair, said that many community groups
had participated in preparation of the plan which presents a vision for future designers and
architects when this site is developed.
Andrew Merriam, Downtown Committee Member, said the committee had been concerned that if
the Court Street lot was turned into a green public park concept, it would detract the the Mission
Plaza expansion and well as the design for Fremont Plaza.
Ken Schwartz, Committee Member, said that economic viability of the downtown should be
considered when deliberating on the future of this property.
Mayor. Settle opened the floor to comment from the audience.
City Council Meeting Page 2
Monday, February 12, 1996 -12:00 p.m.
Mary Beth Schroeder. San Luis Obispo, asked Council to keep Court Street as it is.
Brett Cross. Planning Commissioner, said that it was in the best interest of the City to make this
site a park or plaza.
Barry Karleskint. Planning Commission Chair, also supported the plaza concept.
Laura Joines- Novatny. Cal Poly professor, said she was a proponent of a hardscaped urban plaza
with commercial development for this site.
John Diaqerv. San Luis Obispo, proposed calling this site "Creek Court" or "Court Plaza."
Deborah Holley, BIA Administrator, said that although the recommendations before Council this
afternoon had not been presented to the BIA Board, she felt that they would support this site for
mixed use, retail -commercial.
Mary Whittlesey, speaking as a citizen and not Planning Commissioner, said that many factors
should,be taken into consideration including economics and downtown housing.
Ken Schwartz told Council he felt that the Planning Commission and City Council should
reconsider the process of how changes are made, and that cities that work the best are full of
special surprises that create a happy, pleasurable environment.
John Dunn. City Administrative Officer, said that as a practical matter, nearby replacement parking
would-be essential to the success of the development.
After discussion, moved by RomeroWilliams to adopt the recommendation presented by the design
committee, modified to show more open space; motion carried (5 -0).
John Dunn. City Administrative Officer, advised Council that the process issue of how the Planning
Commission conducts its biannual review of the Downtown Concept Plan should be clarified.
After discussion, Planning Commission directed to seek appropriate input from Downtown Design
Committee, BIA, and all interested parties, in their biannual review of the plan. (General consensus.)
Council Member Roalman asked about the opportunities the Design Committee to look at
pedestrian enhancement opportunites on Garden Street between Higuera and Marsh.
Pierre Rademaker responded that the plan did enhance pedestrian access by reducing it to one
lane in one direction and widening the sidewalk. He added that the revised map would accurately
illustrate the Downtown Center, Scolaris block, and the Emerson School site.
There were no communications.
1:40 p.m. There being no further business to come before the City Counci,,,Wavor Settle adjourned
the meeting to Tuesday, February 13, 1996, at 7• m. in t e Co hamber.
APPROVED BY COUNCIL:
kinytond6n, Asst. City Clerk
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