HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-30-2017 ARC Correspondence - Item 1 (C. Smith) Meeting: 1 , ?j ) . n -
From: carolyn smith <
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 8:47 AM Item:
To: Advisory Bodies RECEIVED
Subject: Fw: ARC Meeting - January 30, 2017 - 71 Palomar CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
JAN 3 0 2017
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
I made an error in the subject line of my e-mail for this afternoon's ARC meeting on 71 Palomar. I driserlai►�an
meeting by error. Could you please make sure my e-mail below is included in Agenda Correspondence for the ARC meeting this
afternoon. Thank you. Carolyn Smith
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: carolyn smith <
To: Advisory Bodies <advisorybodies@slocity.org>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 7:45 AM
Subject: Planning Commission Meeting - January 30, 2017 - 71 Palomar
Chair Wynn and Commissioners,
I have lived in SLO for 37 years. residents have supported and applauded the city's policies to protect our
environment by taking action such as banning drive-through restaurants and banks to prevent pollution
from idling vehicles, not allowing smoking in restaurants and public areas, banning plastic bags in grocery
stores, plastic food containers in restaurants, and now plastic bottles at public events. Truly it should be
obvious to anyone that this city is very concerned about our carbon footprint in the world and does
whatever it can to protect our environment.
So you can imagine the surprise and confusion when this project moved forward through the planning
process with the removal of 55 tall mature trees on this historical site. This makes no sense given the
importance of mature trees and their ability to help our environment. Young trees absorb carbon dioxide at
a significantly smaller rate than a mature tree which can consume 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. It
then releases enough oxygen to support two human beings for years. These two effects help to promote a
healthier climate. Further the shade from mature trees act as natural air conditioning which helps reduce
energy use. It will take the new trees proposed to be planted in this project decades to reach the level of
climate benefits that the 55 mature trees on this site produce.
Last week I attended a Planning Commission meeting. Even though I was there for another agenda item,
there was a project being presented on Orcutt Road that required cutting quite a large number of
Eucalyptus and other trees in order to build residential housing. One of the Commissioners expressed a
real concern for cutting so many trees, but those concerns were immediately dismissed by assurances that
there would be 2 trees planted for each one removed. Of course, two small young trees, that take decades
to mature, do not provide the same shade, carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange, not to mention wild -life
habitat, that the tall mature trees proposed to be removed provide. Even at 2 to 1, it's not an even
exchange and we should be discouraging, not encouraging such a destruction of mature trees in our city.
It is apparent that our city has developed a cavalier and reckless attitude about removing our urban forest.
This is so contrary and even hypocritical to our historical desire to protect our environment. The pleas from
those who want the city to build housing they can afford is causing us to toss aside the very protections that
have kept our city such a desirable place to live. Why would we want to destroy what we have worked so
hard to achieve?
This isn't about whether or not you're in favor of more housing. It's about standing firm on our city's
historical commitment to preserve our environment and quality of life. Certainly there is a way to design a
project surrounding the historical Stanford house that won't require moving it or removing the many trees. It
might also accomplish a secondary benefit by providing for a smaller project that will be less intrusive on
the nearby R-1 neighborhoods. Their concerns for traffic, peace, and safety is legitimate and long-term
residents should be given respect and consideration, not just be summarily dismissed.
Therefore, please send this project back to the applicant for a re -design that retains a majority of the trees
and reduces the carbon and physical footprint of the project.
Thank you for your consideration.
Carolyn Smith
San Luis Obispo