HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2026-03-24_10a_Supplemental 4From:Russ Sheppel
To:Guillen, Christopher R.; Blackbern Linda; Scott Martin RRM; Cabral RRM Darrin/Lenny Grant; Matt Downing
Cc:Malone, Caitlin K.; public comment; Carlson, Mack; Isaac Rosen
Subject:Re: Correspondence re 3/24/2026 Meeting Agenda Item 10a - Appeal Case 26-002
Date:Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:50:50 AM
IRONSCALES couldn't recognize this email as this is the first time you received an email from
this sender rsheppel @ gmail.com
Dear Mayor Russom and esteemed Council,
The proposition posed of a potential delay in hearing from tonight to some future date is
unacceptable for many reasons, not the least of which is that unanimous approval from PC
occurred Jan 20. Due to pre-existing obligations overseas, I am unavailable both April and May.
Whether by continuance or other delay, further pushing out of this project will amount to
something around a 6-month actual delay (from January to June/July) which is totally
unacceptable, as any further delay is. Please keep in mind that the prior entitlement of these same
parcels (approved in 2022), a delay of shorter duration, caused a market lending change which
resulted in the financial inability for the similar project to be built…a consequence that affects the
city to this day, as there is no such Senior Care available in all of South County, much less to Arroyo
Grande itself.
We have worked diligently with City Staff for the past year and a half to bring an affordable
housing project to the City of Arroyo Grande and rest assured that Staff has competently
performed their roles in a professional manner. The current appeal claims otherwise; that certain
CEQA guidelines were violated in the processing. If this is so, let it come to light and be heard this
evening without delay or tactical procrastination.
The other central claim of the appeal has to do with onsite parking capacity and private
easements. Neither private easements nor parking are grounds to delay or deny this project, as
explained in the letter submitted by my counsel. Despite that, I engaged an independent Traffic
Engineering firm to analyze the existing parking conditions on the surrounding parcels. That study
is submitted herewith for your consideration and deserves to be heard this evening without further
delay. The above are sufficient grounds enough to be heard tonight as scheduled, but in addition
please consider:
1. Ironically, the very ones who brought this action to bear, are the same ones claiming
that they need more time (despite having the same access to the web-posted City report
that everyone else has.) This is not fair reasoning. Make no mistake, how the City treats
this project is indicative of how it will treat all others. This project is on the radar of many
locals and real estate professionals. Being the first AB-130 project processed by this city, a
precedent is being set and witnessed. If others see this type of manipulation occurring, it
will have a detrimental and devastating impact on any such future potential development
and investment in the city of Arroyo Grande, if it truly values affordable housing as it
states that it does.
2. It is highly presumptuous to push things out further. The project has already been
delayed 2 months for no good reason. To push this further imperils the project. I will show
the Council 5 different entitled projects I have had approved over the past 25 years. The
enemy of each was time and consequently, market conditions.
3. I do not ever make anything out of my physical disability. However, I have traveled
2,000 miles at noticeable personal difficulty. It is something that an able-bodied person
cannot understand, but should weigh and consider; whether it is reasonable to require
repeatedly. In addition, just to appear this evening and defend a sizeable investment of both
a monetary amount as well as a year and a half of time for both myself and the City of
Arroyo Grande, I am here to speak.
The credibility of the City of Arroyo Grande is at stake. Giving the time opportunity for the
appellant to go out and find a hired gun/biologist to try and make a potentially invalidating
claim (such as a protected species) onsite, or whatever the case might be, would be unfair to
the City's interests of addressing the need for affordable housing and staff time processing this
potential asset to the City. The appeal was granted and scheduled in order to be heard. Let it
then be heard without further delay or complication.
Respectfully,
Russell M. Sheppel, DDS
Project Owner and submitter
From:Jennifer Deitz
To:City Council; Matt Downing; Jessica Matson; Bill Robeson
Subject:92 unit 2 building house complex on James way
Date:Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:02:46 AM
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this sender jendeitz25 @ gmail.com
Dear Arroyo Grande city council,
I am outraged that you would approve such a HUGE development with no allotment for
parking and very dangerous ingress and egress!! I live off of Equestrian and also am a member
of Club fitness as well as see a physician in the medical complex. I witness a near miss of
traffic trying to get out of that parking lot nearly every time I attend, which is three times per
week. The traffic from Pismo Beach James Way crossing Oak Park moves very fast and as
they are coming down a hill they don’t pay attention to people coming out of parking lot. My
friend was hit in his pick up truck exiting that parking lot two months ago.
If you are considering allowing some parking in the church across the street there Will Be
injuries , hopefully not deaths trying to cross there!!
You have not planned on enough, if any necessary parking. How could you possibly have
approved this complex?!?! Outrageous!
Sincerely,
Jennifer L. Deitz
742 Scenic Circle
Arroyo Grande, CA. 93420
Jendeitz25@gmail.com