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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-13-2017 - Item PH2 (Belsher)1 Purrington, Teresa From:Cohen, Rachel Sent:Thursday, November 09, 2017 4:30 PM To:Purrington, Teresa Subject:FW: San Luis Square Attachments:Foote Jack House ltr to Belsher.pdf Importance:High Hi Teresa- Can you please forward the email and attachment to the ARC? Can you confirm if it will be sent out today? Thank you, Rachel Cohen Associate Planner Community Development 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218 E rcohen@slocity.org T 805.781.7574 slocity.org From: John Belsher [    Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2017 4:07 PM  To: Cohen, Rachel <rcohen@slocity.org>  Subject: San Luis Square  Importance: High  Rachel, are you able to forward this communication to the ARC Commissioners today?  Please confirm you can do this.  Please be sure to include the newest Council‐confirmed commissioner Micah Smith.    Best,  John Belsher  Dear Commissioner: As the proponent of the San Luis Square project coming before the Commission the Monday evening of November 13, I wanted to bring to your attention some information in the substantial record before you. This email is sent with the intentions of assisting you in sifting through the voluminous materials connected with the project as well as shortening our applicant presentation during the hearing of November 13. 1.Zoning history. This project was designed to mesh with the vision and requirements of the Downtown Concept Plan, Community Design Guidelines as well as the zoning for mixed-use residential buildings in the Downtown Commercial zoning district. It is important to note that no variances or exceptions are requested, while meeting the City’s 2017-19 Major Goal of "all types Agenda Item: PH2 2 of housing" in alignment with the Climate Action Plan. The Project exemplifies this Major Goal with housing units averaging well below 1,000 square feet and closer to 600 square feet. We have compiled a lengthy history of how and why the City adopted the present development standards for the Downtown zoning, including its height. In 2007, the City adopted the current development standards for Downtown, after conducting an extensive review of goals for downtown residential development. It was agreed by all advisory commissions and the council (including the CHC) that a four-story plan would be necessary to encourage downtown residential development. Much of these endorsements were secured by efforts of the present Planning Director Michael Codron, under the leadership of then Planning Director John Mandeville. Among those endorsing the four-story approach were Ken Schwartz (former mayor and co-author of the original Downtown Concept Plan) and Jamie Lopes (a CHC member at that time). These records are contained in the San Luis Square Project Statement that is in the record and can be found at the site below (see link). The Project Statement Executive Summary tells the story in a more concise fashion (see link).  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wgz7cbd68bqlrlb/AAABjrY3PyzNrkEo2hvAYzw-a?dl=0 2. Urban Parks Video. We have compiled a photo essay examining parks in urban settings. This addresses the fear that a four-story building will negatively impact the Jack House or its gardens. Contrary to this fear is the fact that the Project leaves intact the 70-foot tall row of redwood trees along the border of the Jack House gardens and the Project (this includes adjusting the subterranean parking structure to feature a buffer zone to protect the trees' roots even though it sacrifices much needed parking spaces).  Moreover, the 570 Marsh Street building is set back nearly 20 feet in order to provide additional buffers, as well as further setbacks from the Jack House property at the 3rd and 4th floors as well as moving the entrance to underground parking onto Nipomo Street. All these design elements incorporated into the Project were a direct result of feedback we received through our ongoing dialogue with the Jack House Committee. The link to the Vimeo of urban parks appears below. We firmly believe the properties can co-exist and in fact will promote the revitalization fervently sought by Jack House supporters and City taxpayers as a result from an active use due to an increased residential presence. https://vimeo.com/239344932 3. Jack House Gardens. There have been references by some to a need to protect the historic gardens associated with the Jack House. These gardens are in fact already protected by the 70-foot redwood trees and the numerous project setbacks previously discussed. Additionally, the Jack House gardens are not in any form or fashion historical in nature. The gardens were not included in the application for the Jack House historic designation. Attached is a letter from landscape architect David Foote who installed the gardens after the City’s purchase. He clearly and emphatically states the gardens were not historical when installed and should not be considered so now. [David Foote letter attached] 4. Greenscape. The project has substantial greenscape and pedestrian and bike friendly features, notably on the 570 Marsh and 581 Higuera buildings which faces the Jack House gardens. Attached are a couple graphics to illustrate these features, which help the project blend with its environment, reduce its carbon footprint and act as a living buffer -all of which are in line with the 2017-2019 Major City Goal of Climate Action endeavoring to achieve a "net-zero carbon City". 3 https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B94gRJ0uZLldajZyYmpxb3Z2RUk  If you wish to discuss any of this please feel free to call at the number below. Otherwise I look forward to seeing you Monday night. John Belsher 3480 South Higuera Street, Suite 130 (805) 540-2522 direct (805) 540-3330 office (805) 550-5848 cell John@TheObispoCompany.com The information contained in this transmission and any attached files are intended only for the named addressee(s) and may contain confidential, proprietary and/or privileged attorney-client material. Any interception, review, retransmission, dissemination, or other use of this information by parties other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please notify the sender using either the "Reply" command or via telephone at (805) 540-3330.