HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/5/2017 Item 7, Cooper
To:SLO City Council, Rebecca Gershow and Michael Codron
Re: Downtown Concept Plan
From:Allan Cooper, Secretary Save Our Downtown
Date:September 5, 2017
Honorable Mayor and Council Members -
We would like to commend the consultant and the Creative Vision Team for their long-awaited
eorts in amending this concept plan. We are pleased to see that you have deleted
recommending 3-4 story high buildings for blocks 15, 16, 18, 24, 34, 35 and 46 and deleted
mentioning the term ÅlandmarkÆ buildings for block 23. Incorporating Å2 story minimumsÆ into
blocks 23, 24, 34, 35 and 46 could be acceptable to us.
However, we would like to itemize below a number of key concerns we still have with this plan.
1) Incorporating 3-4 story building into block 28 would have an untoward impact on the
surrounding historical context including the Jack House and the Creamery.
2) We would substitute a 2 story minimum for the 3-4 stories recommended for block 29
because tall buildings would place the mid-block paseo between Nipomo and Broad in
perpetual shade. As a general rule, solar access to all mid-block paseos (unless they are
covered) should be maintained.
3) Taller buildings (3-4 stories) could ideally be located within the interior of block 42 stretching
along the diagonal paseo linking Emerson Park with Downtown. And taller buildings would
more appropriately be located adjacent to the proposed underground parking structure.
4) Taller buildings (3-4 stories) could also be placed within the interior of block 23 above the
proposed above ground parking structure.
5) Although taller buildings have not been recommended for block 18, it should be noted that
proximity to the Dana Street neighborhood should dictate lower buildings along San Luis
Creek. This would also address the problem of casting north shadows across the Creek and
creek walk extension. Connecting the creekwalk extension to Dana Street via a bridge in order
to better access the Rosa Butron Adobe is a good idea but this should Ðrst be run past the
Dana Street residents for approval before it is Ðnalized.
6) Recommending that the Upper Downtown Planning Area invite Åa variety of design stylesÆ
like ÅThe MixÆ is tantamount to saying that in one portion of town we should abandon the
Community Design Guidelines altogether.
7) The existing Morro Street bike boulevard should be extended up to Monterey Street (not end
on Higuera) where it can then connect to the proposed Broad Street bike boulevard via Mission
Plaza. Chorro Street has too high a trac volume to become a bike boulevard.
8) The proposed parks/plazas/paseo graphic on page 3.18 is an extremely important part of
this concept plan and it is currently unreadable. Moreover, ideal locations for more mid-block
crosswalks (a number one concern for those weÈve surveyed) should be included in this
graphic not only for pedestrian convenience but for trac calming purposes.
9) Because blocks 56, 57 and 58 are contiguous to the Old Town Neighborhood, three story
oce buildings should not be permitted.