HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/5/2017 Item 7, Montgomery
Christian, Kevin
From:Montgomery, Victor <VMontgomery@rrmdesign.com>
Sent:Wednesday, July 05,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Froom Ranch Specific Plan request for EIR proposals - authorization for Request for
Proposals - 7-05-2017 Consent Agenda Item #7
Councilmembers, you recently received a letter from Neil Havlik regarding this authorization to proceed with issuance of
an RFP for preparation of an EIR on the Froom Ranch Specific Plan. His letter essentially asks you to make decisions and
impose conditions on the project that will be the subject of the EIR – before the EIR is prepared. He also accuses the
Council of failing to “defend” City General Plan policies. The specific policy he references reads as follows;
“6.4.7.H. The Irish Hills area should secure permanent open space with no building sites above the 150-foot elevation, in
conjunction with any subdivision of development of the lower areas. (emphasis added)”
The City Council at the 4/5/2016 authorization hearing for the Specific Plan considered this issue and by resolution
adopted the following language to guide preparation of the Specific Plan (and EIR evaluation) with regard to the specific
issue raised by Mr. Havlik.
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Regarding the 7 items listed in Mr. Havlik’s letter our responses are as follows:
1. The purpose of the EIR is to analyze potential impacts.
2. The City specifically chose not to purchase the area on the Froom Ranch property above the 150-foot elevation
as part of the Irish Hills Natural Preserve when they had the opportunity.
3. The City has preliminarily determined that a recycled water tank on this site likely will not be required (subject
to further detailed analysis).
4. The restoration of Froom Creek to reflect its historic alignment is designed to avoid significant impacts to
jurisdictional wetlands identified adjacent to Calle Joaquin.
5. In addition to studies already performed by the applicant and reviewed by City staff, traffic impacts will be
analyzed as part of the EIR analysis.
6. A public, Trailhead Park consistent with City parkland standards for annexation areas is included in the Froom
Ranch Specific plan proposal.
7. The applicants have listened to the comments of the PRC and CHC and are responding. An Architectural
Historian with experience in San Luis Obispo has been retained to provide guidance on the incorporation of
historically significant buildings into the Froom Ranch Trailhead Park. The revised proposal is scheduled to go
back to the CHC for conceptual review on 8/28/2017.
We encourage the Council not to preempt the General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan and Environmental Review
Processes from moving forward, and approve the RFP for EIR proposals at tonight’s meeting.
Thank you.
VICTOR MONTGOMERY, AIA
Principal
P: (805) 543-1794
rrmdesign.com
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