HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-01-2017 ARC Correspondence - Item 2 (Vujovich-La Barre) Meeting: W— ~ - 1, ( 2
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May 1, 2017
Mila Vujovich-LaBarre < item: Z
Monday, May 01, 2017 11:52 AM
Advisory Bodies;
Harmon, Heidi; Pease, Andy; Gomez, Aaron; Rivoire, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn
ARC - 5/1/17 San Luis Ranch
Architectural Review Commission
City Hall
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
RECEIVED
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
MAY 01 2017
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT I
Dear Chair Wynn and Commissioners,
It is my understanding that some final determinations for the San Luis Ranch project are on the
agenda for this evening.
It is not clear why, since this property has not yet been annexed, that you are making concrete
determinations to be advanced to the City Council.
This project has not yet completed the CEQA process. By bringing this project before the ARC at this
point, it is appearing that the CEQA process is being ignored by the developers.
It appears to me that this final design approval and recommendation to Council should be postponed
until the Final Environmental Impact Report(EIR) is certified and the property is annexed into the City.
The Draft EIR indicated that this project will have significant, unavoidable impacts on traffic and air
quality. Since I travel Los Osos Valley Road and Madonna Road daily due to the proximity of both
streets to my work, any additions to this traffic pattern should be properly analyzed.
Additionally, the Draft EIR public review period was recently extended to address energy impacts that
were not initially sufficiently addressed. To my knowledge, a Final EIR has not been published and/or
certified.
It is also my understanding that the purpose of CEQA is to identify possible and probable
environmental impacts before decisions are made so that those impacts can be eliminated or
mitigated by the proper design of the project. How can this commission be looking at a final design of
this project when it is uncertain that this will be the final project after all mitigation measures and
alternatives have been studied and considered?
You, as committee members, should be aware of all impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives
before making any final recommendations to the City Council.
Since you will primarily be addressing design, I do feel that this project is too dense. Pursuant to the
Draft EIR, a large number of residential units in this project will have significant unavoidable impacts
on traffic, particularly, but not limited to the southern section of our city.
I also believe that the public will be alarmed by the trees that are scheduled to be cut down along
Madonna Road. There are still many residents who need to be convinced that our water supply is
secure for both current residents and those that will be here in the projected buildout.
The Prado Road extension or overpass is not included or expected to be built before or even
concurrently with this project. This project was in the Land Use Circulation Element (LUCE).
However, it was in the LUCE with the Prado Road overpass or interchange highlighted.
Without that long -anticipated extension or overpass, the density of this project will cause
the level of service at many of intersections surrounding the project to be disastrous.
Residents will be forced to wait in long queues for several light -signal cycles, creating severe
congestion and fumes. While some occupants of this project may ride bikes and utilize the bus, no
one can truly believe those alternatives will result in a significant reduction of traffic from this project.
Also, unless an overpass of some sort is constructed into the Laguna Lake area, many pedestrians and
bicyclists will deem the traffic unsafe to bike or walk.
The severely increased traffic will be a violation of the Clean Air Act. One of the goals of the Clean Air
Act, with regard to new development in "Title 1, Part C—Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air
Quality," is to "protect public health and welfare from any adverse air pollution effects from the new
development."
The Draft EIR recognized the severe adverse affects to our air quality from excessive traffic which is
detrimental to all residents.
People in development are selectively disregarding traffic complications with the cry of "workforce
housing." This housing will not necessarily be "workforce." The design of the units are ideal for
affluent retirees and Cal Poly students.
While affordable housing is one of our City's major goals, it should not come at such a great cost to
our residents' safety, quality of life, and air quality.
Please postpone final determinations on this project until the area is annexed. Please make
sure that the Prado Road overpass or interchange is fully analyzed and funded before you
allow construction on this parcel of 131 -acres of Class 1 agricultural land.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mila Vujovich-La Barre
650 Skyline Drive
San Luis Obispo, California 93405