HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-03-2016 Item 12, SchwartzCOUNCIL MEETING: Og
ITEM NO.: l Z
To: Maier, John Paul
Subject: RE: Appeal of Naomi Hoffman to prior City action on the 40-42 Buena Vista
development proposal
AC — Item 12
MAY 0 2 2016
From: Codron, Michael
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 1:08 PM
To: Maier, John Paul
Subject: Fwd: Appeal of Naomi Hoffman to prior City action on the 40-42 Buena Vista development proposal
Thank you,
Michael Codron
City of San Luis Obispo
Sent from mobile device
805-540-0767
----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Kenneth Schwartz" <
To: "Codron, Michael" <mcodron@slocit ..org>
Subject: Appeal of Naomi Hoffman to prior City action on the 40-42 Buena Vista development proposal
Date: Sun, May 1, 2016 10:21 PM
Michael, would you please see that my following communication is transmitted to the city council for Tuesday's hearing.
Thank you, Ken Schwartz
Madame Mayor and Councilmembers,
I was Mayor of our City when the "S" overlay zone was applied to the hillside properties in our community including the hillside
properties in the Monterey Heights subdivision. This action was taken as a preventive measure to thwart unsightly development and
to insure the best possible aesthetic fit of structures into our very prominent hillsides. It was presumed that owners of hillside
properties designated with the "S" overlay would recognize that they would need to engage building designers/architects who had a
special talent for designing structures with respect to their hillside setting. There was also an implied obligation that the City would
assign its most experienced staff in urban aesthetics to oversee the processing of applications for building in "S" overlay zones.
In the appeal before you, neither the design presumption on the part of the property owner, nor the City's implied obligation are
evident. It is clear from the repeated hearings that the neighbors who have themselves complied are firmly of the belief that City
officialdom has failed them and they seek your redress.
In this case, the redress is simple: (a) This site is extremely rare in that it has two frontages, one to Buena Vista, and a second to
Loomis Street; reject the proposal submitted for Buena Vista and suggest the owner explore Loomis Street as his property access. (b)
Reassign this staff member and/or direct him into supplemental coursework in urban aesthetics before being assigned to other projects
having an "S" overlay zone.
I have spent 16 years on the SLO Council dais. My recommendations are made with some confidence of what you are able to do, and
I urge you to support the appeal of Naomi Hoffman.
Respectfully,
S/ Kenneth E. Schwartz,
FAIA 201 Buena Vista
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405