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CC 2014-12-09 Supplemental InformationMEMORANDUM TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: TERESA MCCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION DECEMBER 9, 2014 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 9.a. - ORDINANCE AMENDING AGTBID RELATING TO VACATION RENTALS AND HOMESTAYS DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2014 Attached is correspondence received regarding Item 9.a subsequent to distribution of the City Council Agenda packet. c: Acting City Manager Community Development Director Associate Planner City Attorney City Clerk Matt Downing From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Gay Groomes [gaygroomes@yahoo.com] Monday, December 08, 2014 8:28 AM Jim Hill; Kristen Barneich; Jim Guthrie; Tim Brown; Barbara Harmon Matt Downing; Robin and Paul Rinzler; Michelle Cota; Susan Thompson; Aaron Thompson; Joe Klamon Proposed BID tax on vacation rentals Good morning, Mayor and Council Members, I regret that I was unable to attend the November 25 City Council meeting and that this letter is so late. I wish to express my objection to the proposed BID assessment on vacation rentals and homestays. I fail to see how the BID can benefit our businesses, as we get and book our reservations only through AirBnb or VRBO and not through any promotional efforts of the City. As the proposal itself states, the impact on the City will be a very minimal increase but, for us, every additional assessment is significant. I therefore respectfully request that you choose Alternatives 3 and not adopt the proposed ordinance. Thank you, Gay Groomes 1 Matt Downing From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Susan Thompson [susan@brookethompsonlaw.com] Monday, December 08, 2014 9:39 AM Jim Hill; Kristen Barneich; Jim Guthrie; Tim Brown; Barbara Harmon Matt Downing; Robin and Paul Rinzler; Michelle Cota; Aaron Thompson; Joe Klaman RE: Proposed BID tax on vacation rentals Dear Honorable Mayor and Council Members, Aaron Thompson and I own 550 Crown Hill in Arroyo Grande and recently completed the process to have the home licensed as a vacation rental, which cost close to $1,000. It is a very small home and we rent it out every once in a while through AirBnB. Please let this email serve as our objection to the imposition of an additional tax on the rental activity. We don't believe that periodic rental of a private home is the same type of commercial activity that is contemplated for taxation by the BID assessment. Thank you for your consideration, Susan Thompson (805) 714-6229 -----Original Message----- From: Gay Groomes [mailto:gaygroomes@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, December 8, 2014 8:28 AM To: jhill@arroyogrande.org, kbarneich@arroyogrande.org, jguthrie@arroyogrande.org, tbrown@arroyogrande.org, bharmon@arroyogrande.org Cc: Matt Downing; Robin and Paul Rinzler; Michelle Cota; Susan Thompson; Aaron Thompson; Joe Klaman Subject: Proposed BID tax on vacation rentals Good morning, Mayor and Council Members, I regret that I was unable to attend the November 25 City Council meeting and that this letter is so late. I wish to express my objection to the proposed BID assessment on vacation rentals and homestays. I fail to see how the BID can benefit our businesses, as we get and book our reservations only through AirBnb or VRBO and not through any promotional efforts of the City. As the proposal itself states, the impact on the City will be a very minimal increase but, for us, every additional assessment is significant. I therefore respectfully request that you choose Alternatives 3 and not adopt the proposed ordinance. Thank you, Gay Groomes 1 Matt Downing From: Sent: joeklamon@gmail.com on behalf of Joseph Klamon Uoe@teraform-studios.com] Monday, December 08, 2014 11 :48 AM To: Susan Thompson Cc: Jim Hill; Kristen Barneich; Jim Guthrie; Tim Brown; Barbara Harmon; Matt Downing; Robin and Paul Rinzler; Michelle Cota; Aaron Thompson Subject: Re: Proposed BID tax on vacation rentals , My wife Laurie & I own 107 Oro Drive in Arroyo Grande. We respectfully oppose the proposed "BID" assessment on vacation rentals & homestays. Our bookings all come from AIRBNB or VRBO. Laurie & I believe that an additional tax won't help us generate additional bookings. Any additional tax will probably be regressive & could hinder business activity. Thank you for the opportunity to voice our opposition. Joseph Klamon 310-962-5878 On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 9:38 AM, Susan Thompson <susan@brookethompsonlaw.com> wrote: Dear Honorable Mayor and Council Members, Aaron Thompson and I own 550 Crown Hill in Arroyo Grande and recently completed the process to have the home licensed as a vacation rental, which cost close to $1,000. It is a very small home and we rent it out every once in a while through AirBnB. Please let this email serve as our objection to the imposition of an additional tax on the rental activity. We don't believe that periodic rental of a private home is the same type of commercial activity that is contemplated for trucation by the BID assessment. Thank you for your consideration, Susan Thompson (805) 714-6229 -----Original Message----- From: Gay Groomes [mailto:gaygroomes@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, December 8, 2014 8:28 AM To: jhill@arroyogrande.org, kbarneich@arroyogrande.org, j guthrie@arroyogrande.org, tbrown@arroyogrande.org, bharmon@arroyogrande.org Cc: Matt Downing; Robin and Paul Rinzler; Michelle Cota; Susan Thompson; Aaron Thompson; Joe Klamon Subject: Proposed BID tax on vacation rentals Good morning, Mayor and Council Members, I regret that I was unable to attend the November 25 City Council meeting and that this letter is so late. I wish to express my objection to the proposed BID assessment on vacation rentals and homestays. I fail to see how the BID can benefit our businesses, as we get and book our reservations only through AirBnb or VRBO and not through any promotional efforts of the City. As the proposal itself states, the impact on the City will be a very minimal increase but, for us, every additional assessment is significant. I therefore respectfully request that you choose Alternatives 3 and not adopt the proposed ordinance. 1 Thank you, Gay Groomes Best regards, Joseph Klamon (310) 962-5878 joe@klamon.com 2 Matt Downing From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Councilmember Brown, Michelle Cota [cota@charter.net] Monday, December 08, 2014 2:30 PM Tim Brown Matt Downing Proposed BID tax on vacation rentals I am writing to you in regards to the proposed BID tax on vacation rentals. I rent out a room on AIRbnb for the purpose pf meeting new people. I would like to say it is to supplement my income but it really doesn't generate much income and it is sporadic at best. I started doing this a couple of years ago after traveling to Ireland and Scotland and having such wonderful experiences in bed and breakfast homes over there. They have signs hung outside their homes and you can literally just drive up to someone's home and ask to stay the night. I have never met so many lovely and more heartwarming people in my entire life and that is was spurred me to open my own home. It has been such an enriching experience to say the least. I now have lifelong friends all over the world from opening my home. I also allow people to stay with me for free through the bicycling community as they are touring the country and the west coast of California. Again I don't do this for the money, I do it for the ability to meet people from all over the world and trade experiences and share our mutual love of travel and our areas. I respectfully ask that you forgo the additional assessment of the BID tax on vacation rentals . I cannot see how this organization will help or assist what I do and will only burden me with more tax that I don't need to pay. The hotels are trying to bring people to this area and I agree they should pay this sort of tax collectively to generate revenue. I am not looking to generate revenue. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Cota 10 f This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. 1 TO: FROM: BY: SUBJECT: DATE: MEMORANDUM CITY COUNCIL ~ TERESA MCCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR \\]'~ MATTHEW DOWNING, ASSISTANT PLANNER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AGENDA ITEM 9.b. -DECEMBER 9, 2014 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 14-002, SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 14-001, VESTING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 14-001 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CASE NO. 14-009; SUBDIVISION OF TWO (2) COMMERCIAL PARCELS INTO FORTY-ONE (41) RESIDENTIAL LOTS, ONE (1) COMMON AREA LOT, AND TWO (2) COMMERCIAL LOTS; LOCATION -SOUTHWEST CORNER OF EAST GRAND A VENUE AND SOUTH COURTLAND STREET; APPLICANTS -MF/ LIMITED AND NKT COMMERCIAL; REPRESENTATIVE -RRM DESIGN GROUP DECEMBER 9, 2014 Attached are four ( 4) letters in support of the proposed project, received December 8, 2014, and one (1) letter explaining typical restaurant food delivery options, received December 9, 2014. Attachments: 1. Letter of support from Jason Peterson, JP Woodworks 2. Letter of support from Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Higgins 3. Letter of support from Justin Ford, Cen Cal Painting 4. Letter of support from Mr. Craig Bricker 5. Letter from Phil Ready, US Foods December.8, 2014 Dear Mayor and City Council Members: RECEIVED DEC 0 8 2014 CITY OF ARROYO COMMUNITY 0 GRANDE EVELOPIVIENT City of Arroyo Grande Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 I am writing in support of the proposed project at Grand and Courtland. I am the owner of JP Woodworks and a resident of Arroyo Grande. I feel the new project would benefit both the citizens and the City and Arroyo Grande has not had any new housing built for some time. Our citizens needs homes and our City needs the tax dollars this development would generate. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, 0Q¥k- Jason Peterson JP Woodworks 1612 Badger Canyon Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 December 8, 2014 City of Arroyo Grande Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 Dear Mayor and City Council Members: We are residences' of Arroyo Grande and our children attend local schools. I am writing in support of the proposed project at Grand and Courtland. RECEIVED DEC 0 8 2014 CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Arroyo Grande has not had any new housing built for some time and I feel the demand is there. With the types of homes planned for Grand and Courtland, our police, fire, teachers and other professionals will be able to afford and build ownership equity. I also support "in fill" building, as a smart way to develop smart before. developing into other areas of the town. The commercial portion of the project appears to be thoughtfully laid out and the architecture is pleasing to the eye. In addition, we need the increases in tax dollars and fees that would be generated with this new · neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, 5t'$' • Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Higgins 626 S. Via Belmonte Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 December 8, 2014 Dear Mayor: Dear City Council Members: RECEIVED DEC 0 8 2014 CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEflff City of Arroyo Grande Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 I am a resident of Arroyo Grande and the business owner of Cen Cal Painting, and I am writing in support of the proposed project at Grand and Courtland. The project is appealing and I feel it would benefit both the City and the community Thank you for your consideration. Justin Ford Cen Cal Painting 129 Nelson Street Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 December 8, 2014 Dear Mayor: Dear City Council Members: I RECEIVED DEC 0 8 2014 CITY OF ARROYO GRA ..... ~MMUWiTY DEVELOPM~~! ! City of Arroyo Grande Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 I am writing in support of the proposed project at Grand and Courtland. I am a resident of Arroyo Grande and employed by MASCOS dba Western Insulation and Building Products. Arroyo Grande has not had any new housing built for somE;! time and I feel the new project would benefit both the citizens and the City. Our citizens needs homes and our City needs the tax dollars· this development would generate. Thank you for your consideration. ~·~· ~ Mr.C~icker 200 Stagecoach Road Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 .FOODS' .. -. ·. .. -. . , -',• l ~-~ •• ' !'!&PING H:l!ictiENS COOKING:' Hello Mr. Nick Tompkins, Phil Ready I C.O.P. Specialist 15155 Northam Street La Mirada Ca. 90638 Office 714.670.3500 ext. 63431 Mobile 805.441.9663 ,. .. '.-~IVED DEC 0 9 2014 CITY Of: ARROYO GRANDE ' COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT In regards to your question, concerning the means by which restaurants are delivered their food by a supplier, I wanted to email you and clarify the procedure. After signing a contract with a food company, then and only then will a restaurant receive their purchased food. In signing the contract, however, the customer has the ability to negotiate, with the upper hand, the time of arrival of the trucks delivering said food. Restaurants have the option to have their delivery as early as 5 am or before. Though most of the restaurants are not open at this time, to facilitate this drop of product at a location, the customer will supply us with a key which we can then utilize to drop off the product and not interfere with the restaurant operators' day. Most places will receive no more than 2 drops per week, though 1 per week is more common, and three is used in only the most extreme of circumstances. Regular and timely deliveries are the backbone of this industry and help maintain a consistent load size; most companies avoid more than 2 drops per week at an individual location as it increases costs, and decreases overall profitability, unless the magnitude demands it. Restaurants are on the same schedule every week, for example: Place order on Monday for Tuesday morning drop off at 6am, Place order on Thursday for Friday drop off at 8 am These specifications will not change unless extreme circumstances are found, and are quite honestly few and far between. If a customer is to order on a day they are not assigned, or an "off day", they usually do not obtain first priority for time in terms of shipping. However, the supplier, if notified that a certain location can only receive a drop during a certain time, can and will acclimate the trucks to such a request in order to maintain the business, because if they cannot, someone else will. Our trucks are coming from La Mirada, Sysco's trucks are coming from Ventura, Jordana's trucks are coming from Santa Barbara, and Vitco's trucks are coming from San Lws Obispo. These are going to be the companies delivering approximately 90% of the food in this area. To the best of my knowledge all of these companies understand the same rules, and play by them as well. From: To: Subject: Date: mares285@aol.com Kelly Wetmore Proposed Grand/Courtland Development Monday, December 08, 2014 9:57:32 PM Mary Beedle 1400 Blackberry Ave. Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 December 8, 2014 To the Mayor and Arroyo Grande City Council I have lived in the Berry Gardens for almost 6 years and recently became aware of the housing development proposed on the corner of Grand and Courtland Ave. Yesterday, I attended a meeting hosted by the developer who explained his vision for this property. I am not opposed to developing the property, but would like more thought put into the planning of it before it is approved. After returning home and looking at the project site, I have some concerns. First, I think that the type of houses proposed do not complement the established homes that are in Berry Gardens. Too many units appear to be crammed into a very limited space. The ones that border the west and south look very urban in nature, lacking sidewalks and front yards. The neighborhood is not pedestrian friendly. Secondly, I am very concerned about the lack of parking in the complex and the proposed commercial project, and fear that my neighborhood will suffer because of it. Lastly, I think more space needs to be added to the commercial portion of the property. My neighbors and I were told that the Grand Ave. commercial project would have pedestrian friendly businesses that meet t_he needs of the community. I do not think that this proposed plan would benefit our neighborhood or the City of Arroyo Grande. Please reconsider the application before you. Sincerely, Mary Beedle MEMORANDUM TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: TERESA MCCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2014 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 9.b. -S. COURTLAND AND E. GRAND PROJECT DECEMBER 9, 2014 Attached is correspondence received subsequent to distribution of the City Council Agenda packet from RRM Design Group which includes a supplemental traffic analysis memo from W-Trans for the subject project. c: Acting City Manager Community Development Directo~ Associate Planner City Attorney City Clerk Matt Horn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Good Afternoon All Roberts, Joshua R. [JRRoberts@rrmdesign.com] Tuesday, December 09, 2014 4:38 PM Matt Horn; Matt Downing Andy Mangano; Nick Tompkins; Rudd, Debbie L.; Scott, Michael L.; Cabral, Darin J. Courtland & Grand Traffic Review Grand-Courtland Traffic 12-9-14 (3).pdf Please find the attached supplemental traffic analysis memo from W-Trans Based on staff, Traffic & Planning Commissions', and public comments we asked W-Trans traffic engineers to review the project (in conjunction with the Omni Means study) specifically regarding Access, Queuing and Trip Generation. Access Summary: The right-turn-in/out driveways along Grand Avenue would help alleviate potential impacts of the project traffic to the intersection of Grand Avenue/Courtland Street. Queuing: A) Under Future plus Project conditions, during both the a.m. and p.m. peak hours, the 95th percentile queues would not extend beyond the project driveway on Courtland Street. However, to not limit access, It is recommended that "KEEP CLEAR" legends and striping be installed on Courtland Street at the project driveway. B) Westbound left turn queues on Grand Avenue at Courtland Street would exceed the available storage capacity for the 95th percentile queues by approximately one vehicle during the a.m. peak hour and approximately two vehicles during the p.m. peak hour, both of which are within acceptable ranges based on the statistical analysis. Trip Generation: Compared with a 58,000 square foot shopping center, the current retail/residential mixed project would result in an approximate 55-60 percent reduction in traffic generated by the site. JOSHUA ROBERTS, P.E. Project Manager 37 65 S. Higuera St., Suite 102 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 543-1794 rrmdesi n.com 1 me'morandum Date: To: December 9, 20.14 Ms. Debbie Rudd RRM Design Group 3765 S Higuera St., Ste. I 02 San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 I From: ~reject: Steve Weinberger and Smadar Boardman AGROOI Subject: Courtland and Grand -Supplemental Traffic Analysis w-tran~ Whitlock & Weinberger Transportation, Inc. 490 Mendocino Avenue Suite 201 Santa Rosa, CA 9540 I VOICe (707) 542-9500 fax (707) 542-9590 website www.w-trans.com email sweinberger@w-trans.com As requested, this memorandum addresses a follow-up traffic analysis of the Courtland and Grand project, including the need for driveway access on Grand Avenue, left turn queuing at Grand Avenue/Courtland Street, and a comparison of trip generation for commercial, office and residential land uses. Driveway Access The need for the two driveways that provide right-in/right-out access to the project site was assessed. By providing these access points, inbound vehicles travelling eastbound along Grand Avenue would turn into the project site before the intersection of Grand Avenue/Courtland Street, thus avoiding the potential of additional project-related delay impacting the intersection. Vehicles turning right out of the driveways would add traffic to the Grand Avenue approaches, which have more available green time (and therefore less impact) than the Courtland Street approaches of the intersection. Ideally, two driveways would serve the project on Grand Avenue given the size of the project. We understand that there may be a restriction to right-turn inbound movements at the western driveway. If this movement is to be restricted, there should be an access for right-turn movements into the project via the central driveway location. Queuing There was concern as to whether vehicles making left turns out of the project driveway on Courtland · Street would be blocked due to an excessiye northbound left turn queue length at Grand · Avenue/Courtland Street. Based on our analysis of intersection operations and queuing conditions under Future plus Project conditions, during both the a.m. and p.m. peak hours, the 95th percentile queues would not extend beyond the project driveway on Courtland Street, but the queues would be close. Therefore, it is recommended that "KEEP CLEAR" legend and striping be installed on Courtland Street at the driveway location. Westbound left turn queues on Grand Avenue at Courtland Street would exceed the available storage capacity for the 95th percentile queues by approximately one vehicle during the a.m. peak hour. During the p.m. peak hour, the 95th percentile queue length would exceed available capacity by approximately two vehicles. However, due to the statistical nature of the analysis software, an excess queue of one to two vehicles would be considered acceptable. Ms. Debbie Rudd Page 2 December 9, 2014 Trip Generation A comparison of standard trip generation rates for various land uses published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) in Trip Generation Manual, 9th Edition, 2012 is shown in the table below. Table Trip Generation Summary Land Use ITE LU Units AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour Code Rate In Out Rate In Out Single Family Detached 210 du 0.75 25% 75% 1.00 63% 37% ------------~ -------------------------- Apartment 220 du 0.51 20% 80% 0.62 65% 35% Office 710 ksf 1.56 88% 12% 1.49 17% 83% Shopping Center 820 ksf 0.96 62% 38% 3.71 48% 52% --- Medical Office 720 ksf 2.39 79% 21% 3.57 28% 72% Note: du = dwelling unit; ksf = 1,000 square feet Compared with _the previously proposed 58,000 square foot shopping center, the current retail/residential mixed project would result in an approximate 55-60 percent reduction in traffic generated by the site. Conclusions and Recommendations • The right-turn-in/out driveways along Grand Avenue would help alleviate potential impacts of the project traffic to the intersection of Grand Avenue/Courtland Street. It is recommended that "KEEP CLEAR" legends and striping be installed on Courtland Street at the' project driveway. Compared with a 58,000 square foot shopping center, the current retail/residential mixed project would result in an approximate 55-60 percent reduction in traffic generated by the site. SJW/sab/AGROO 1.M I .docx Matt Downing From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Dear Mr. Downing, Kenneth Trigueiro [KennethT@pshhc.org] Tuesday, December 09, 2014 3:15 PM Matt Downing Kenneth Trigueiro Comment on CC item 9.b. rJ/o, >)upplemwbJ l nt . We are the non profit affordable housing developer, owner and manager of the 36 new rental homes at 150 South Courtland Street, next to the property owned by our neighbor Nick Tompkins (NKT Commercial). The project team associated with the proposed development at the NKT location has been very gracious to include us in their conceptual design process. And we support the project now contemplated. We have reviewed the staff report associated with tonight's City Council meeting and support staffs' and the Planning Commission recommended action to adopt a MND and approve the GPA and SPA, VTTM, and CUP. We would prefer to deliver these comments to City Council in person, however our President and CEO, Mr. John Fowler is in Washington DC meeting with legislators about affordable housing issues and we have a conflicting hearing to attend tonight for an affordable housing project in Goleta, to be covered by myself and other staff. We would therefore appreciate if you would make certain the Council receives this comment from us as part of a their deliberations on this item tonight. Thanks in advance, Ken Trigueiro Executive VP & CFO Peoples' Self-Help Housing Corp Sent f ~om my iPhone Attention: Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the message states otherwise and the sender is authorized to state them to be the views of any such entity. The information contained in this message and or attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system and destroy any copi~s. 1 Matt Downing From: Sent: To: Subject: December 9, 2014 Patricia Funk [hpfunk@att.net] Tuesday, December 09, 2014 4:p1 PM Matt Downing Berry Gardens Proposed Development To whom it may concern: q.b, My name is Pat Funk. My husband, Howard and I, own our home at 1463 Strawberry Avenue in Berry Gardens. We love our little community and have_ been blessed to become part of a tight knit group of neighbors who are our friends. We believe our neighborhood is a group of people looking out for the best interests of each other and sharing in our daily lives. We are happy to be part of the larger community of Arroyo Grande. We attended the meeting at A.J. Spurs last night and were pleased to meet Nick, Andy, & Debbie. We were also glad to see a council member in attendance. We were impressed with the plans for the commercial portion of the proposed project. The plans looked very appealing and we are excited about the possibility of a "fish" restaurant going in one portion. We loved the outside patio areas as well. We were NOT impressed with the proposed housing portion. The project was compared to the Walnut Grove development. We are familiar with this area because we have friends who live there. It is claustrophobic, doesn't have enough parking areas, and doesn't provide an opportunity for people to walk on sidewalks and foster a spirit of "community". Each unit is a little island unto itself. We believe a better fit would be to have homes modeled after the town homes on Cranberry Street or at the south end of Courtland. The homes on Bakeman Street would also be an option. These neighborhoods are welcoming and inviting to families. Homeowners who learn to know each other and look out for each other have pride in where they live and they develop a sense of community spirit. The current plans don't foster this connectedness. We would love to see fewer homes built that were facing each other with little patches of yards, rather than the larger "park like" setting. We would like to see sidewalks where people could walk, kids could ride bikes, could accommodate wheel chairs easily, baby carriages, scooters, etc. We appreciate the effort put forth by the developers in asking for our input. We want this new development to be a positive reflection of the love and community spirit that is shared in Arroyo Grande and is especially evident in our little Berry Gardens. We aren't part of the "village", but we love our neighborhood too! We like the looks of the Self Help apartments, but we were extremely saddened when the plans somehow were "reversed" allowing for the 3 story unit to be built closer to Strawberry Avenue. We also are saddened when we walk along Courtland and see an increase in the amount of trash- especially cigarette butts! The apartments are "smoke free" which means people simply walk across the street and smoke. We have ~lso had an increase in traffic and find it difficult at times to cross the street from East Strawberry to West Strawberry to get our mail. We are happy people have a better place to live, but the down side is they-are not the owners of their dwellings and many do not take pride in our community. 1 We are sorry we were unable to attend tonight's meeting, but we appreciate you allowing us to express our concerns. Sincerely, Pat & Howard Funk 1463 Strawberry Avenue 2 COLLEEN TITUS MARTIN 855 Olive Street Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 colleentitusmartin@sbcglobal.net Dear Mayor Hill and City Council members: Many years ago Arroyo Grande citizens gathered at the Arroyo Grande High School Gym for a community visioning meeting to discuss to future of our City. The farmers came in droves to protect prime farmlands and the . people were in an uproar about the density of the proposed housing. The City terminated the out of town consultant and hired Rob Strong to lead City leaders and stakeholders to complete a thorough General Plan Update including a Land Use Element that you and the City are proud of today. It seems that the Courtland · proposal on your agenda this evening is willing to shred years' work by many people for one developer desires .. The Courtland property proposal is inadequate and a detriment to Arroyo Grande because the residential portion is out of place and out of compliance with the General Plan. The residential portion of the project is already complete with the subsidized apartments. In fact, when Berry Gardens was built, the small patio homes provided for density and lower priced models on 3,000 sq. ft. lots. The proposed housing project is inappropriate for the area and in direct contrast to our General Plan. There should be a transition or buffer between the multifamily housing unit and the commercial-clearly single family homes is not that transition. I am shocked this project garnered Planning Commission approval. It took three years to build and sell the condos at Walnut Grove (adjacent to hospital). Two story homes in the commercial zone will end up as vacation rentals, not homes for people who really want to live, work, retire, and raise their families here. It is the commercial project that must be enlarged and enhanced to complete the East Grand Avenue Enhancement Plan & Commercial Gateway Corridor. That area must be planned according to the Specific Plan (page 56). Because the proposed added residential project is so large, the commercial plan has been sacrificed and will eventually be a challenge to continue the commercial growth at that end of town. We cannot take other parts of town and make them commercial, but we CAN keep commercial ·where it ought to be (on Grand Avenue and adjacent areas). I ask you to be true to the General Plan and your heart when you consider and vote for the best interests of Arroyo Grande, not one businessman's investment. v Berry Gardens Specific Plan Amendment -Subareas 3 and 4 Pu.rpose and Objectives The purpose and objed:ives for Subare<1s S <:1-nd 4 of the Berry Gardens Specific Plan Include the following: . - a. Implement the goals, objectives and policies of the City of A..,rroyo Grande's General Plan; b. Promote hJgh-quality retail/commerclal development YVithin the City of Arroyo Grande':;; Redevelopment Area; c. Increase the atv of Arroyo Grancle's supply of affordable rental housing stock; and d. Produce a functional, aestheticaHv pleasing project that will serve as a landmark in the City of Anoyo Grande's western gateway and complete build-out of the Berry Gardens Specific Plan. ------------------,-----------------------------------------~--------------------. -----________ J Please deny this project as it is proposed today. A better plan is out there, please wait for it. Thank you. CoiluM.. Colleen Martin RcvcJ 12/q/11 1-ulfnn Akins Good Evening Mr. Mayor, Council, and Staff, My name is LeAnn Akins and I am a resident of Arroyo Grande, California. I have many concerns with this project. My main concern is how the housing has been described at various times though the recent planning commission meetings, and it seems to change every time. The first meeting I attended, the terms affordable and entry level were used, now it is being described as attainable. My concerns are further heightened when I did research on the median house prices as well as the median incomes in Arroyo Grande. The median house price is 535,000, the median income is 62,976. The homes begin proposed in this project we have been told will sell for 400,000. People who earn the median income in Arroyo Grande would not be able to attain these homes or afford them. The median income brakes down to $5,248 dollars per month. The mortgage would roughly cost $1, 965, an additional $500 dollars would need to be set aside every month for property taxes, and there is an additional HOA fee of about 124.00 per month. Housing costs taken care of, the family or person now has $2,695 dollars remaining for the month to cover food, car, home upkeep, student loan debt, credit card debt, retirement funding, health care, electric, gas, phone, water, and sewage, and all other living expenses. Additional information I have found includes facts like: *43.8 percent of the city's population is BELOW the county's median income *47 .66% of AGs residents would not be able to purchase these homes *40.22% of AGs residents would be able to purchase these homes; keep in mind this group already enjoys overly sufficient housing If Arroyo Grande is experiencing a housing shortage, doesn't it seem reasonable to say that the people who are not able to participate in the real estate market here in AG, will continue to be able to not participate in the real estate market in AG inside of this development? When is the city going to entertain or seek partnerships with people who want to build houses where people who are at least at the median income level can work towards attaining a home in the city? I do believe that this property needs to be developed, I do believe that Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Magano should be able to partner with the city, but I also believe the project needs to meet the needs of the city and not only meet the needs of the people developing, selling, or renting out in the project. What will the benefits be to the city? When are the true housing needs of the city going to be addressed? Thank you for your time this evening. qb Dear City Council, RECEIVED DEC 09 2014 ARROYO GRANDE C!TYCLERK I live at 1501 Loganberry, Berry Gardens since 2002. I am also the original Architect for the developer for the Berry Gardens specific plan and the represented the developer who completed sub areas 1 and 2 of the specific plan. Prior to working for this residential developer I was the lead Architect for RRM Design group from 1985 to 1997 for all commercial development. After walking the neighbor this week a number of residence h~ve asked me to speak and represent our collective thought of the current proposal. We are disappointed that the developer has not included us in a workshop setting to take comments and concerns from the neighborhood prior to pushing his current proposal to final design and approval to the Planning Commission and City Council. In the past, being the Foods 4 Less proposal the Developer has promised to have a workshop for our neighborhood prior to the next proposal being prepared to include our design ideas. This has not happened. The City Council has conducted a conceptual review of the current proposal and gave direction to the applicant to provide a mix use development more keeping with the gateway mix use designation. There has been no changes to the proposed plan or building massing. At the request of the developers representative (RRM) prior to and following these review meetings I was asked to give input on how to better design the current proposal as to gain the majority approval of the Berry Gardens neighborhood. The big issues were not addressed and there have been no changes to plan. These Issues were to provide a vertical mixed use transition between existing residential units and to provide buffers to the existing commercial buildings to the West. Provide more commercial uses and more parking overall and internal vehicle circulation as to not use Grand A venue as an extension of the developments parking lot. The project is severely under parked by today's standards for commercial development even though it may meet City standards. Restaurants alone need 100 stalls, and there is no provision for employee parking. We see a conflict on where persons for both the residential and commercial will really end up parking, being down Courtland and across the street to CVS and Smart and Final parking lots. The true test of when you have a mixed use commercial development is when mixed use parking reductions are being applied for. This project has none. We object to the architecture, style, detailing, and site development of the proposed residential component where many aspects fall short or are non-existent in the proposal which were requirements in both sub areas 1 and 2 ( Brambles off of Oak Park Blvd and Jasmine Place off Ash Street). There is no pedestrian conductivity by providing adequate guest parking, safe pedestrian routes of travel to the front door of each unit and residential blight with no buffers to an adjacent commercial projects. We are in objection to the cmTent prop_osal bec~use it is not~ good or gre.at proposal and wastes the last remaining vacant commercial opportunity in the most sensitive part of our City. It is not only underutilizing our commercial opportunities ~t is misusing the property for purely financial gain by allowing a General Plan ~n&nent in allowing . single.family residences to occur. The current proposal also lacks providing neighborhood services and being a tax revenue provider which is both important to adjacent neighborhoods but the City as well. The current proposal is both arbitrary and capricious and offers no public benefit to the Cify and meets no need of the City in terms of affordable housing opportunities which General Plan amendments require a minimum of 25% to occur. The main argument that RRM has hanged their hat on is that additional commercial buildings away from Grand avenue are unsuccessful and not leasable. This is not true. A properly designed project that allows for visibility of the rear buildings from Grand A venue can be very successful. The existing commercial project to the East of the proposal that RRM uses as an example is now fully occupied (Exhibit C attached). The main reason this building was vacant is because Me and Ed's Pizza was coming soon to that location and was re-negotiated their lease to the old Applebee's with Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company. We rather have no project at all than a poorly designed project that offers no public benefit or neighborhood serving opportunities on the Berry Gardens side of town. Traffic will also be reduced by providing a neighborhood serving uses. Suggestions are attached as presented in the Foods 4 Less power point presentation from the previous application. Please also know that Government Code Section 65358, sub section c-d only allows for a City to amend their General Plan four times in a calendar year which we believe you have met your quota for the year. We urge that this project be continued and be re-designed with the public in a workshop setting in keeping with current General Plan and land use policies while respecting the Gateway Mix-Use designation. We have attached a copy of the approved master plan for this area which had popular approval of the sun-ounding neighborhoods but now has been totally abandon by the City and current developer. TOUCHSTONE PLAZA CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN EXISTING POPLAR DETENTION BASIN EXISTING DRUG STORE --__________ .:: __ ~_ MASTER PLAN SUMMARY PROPERTY OWNl!RS:: toJC!m'Ol.1!rwAUC IUJf.G\l.IDA'l"l AAROJOCWll!.CAnal """''"""" :lmllEAClff\\'"T WUfllNOCAHlU ARCHITBOT/ AGE!Nn "'"""' 114[1CGltN(IWAY OtoVOIW.Cll.CAPl..U A.PJl f'll1131.(!ll f!WEU 13,)tl5Sf MASTER PLAN PROJear INFORMATION UIAC MA'TEAPLAN PROPOSAL norOltDW.i:ns11:iei1G11.U1m: w SI' PHAGE! t COMMl!RCIAL ~&f'!Glo D~~OON t!eo SUITCTAl.P.W:tfGIEQD.• SU8TOTALPROVlDED• ,llHIAUS ...... ~H'll'~~'ik,~.=~lOHGS PHASE If: COMMERCIAL LA!B. OESCR!POCIH AREA SlJBIOTALPMJaNGREQD• JOTAl.PAAk!HGPRCVIDED• lf2Sl)dUJA!lJ l/2,1!•16StlJJS 111J1•11Stl.US 1/.Ul•llWW .. .., D111.1D ZCXMJlfDl21~ 1t•\'lmtl11COYOm TOTAL PROVIDED• d~ STAW PHASE It REBIDENTIAL lABB. DBCRIPllON QNl't TYPE PJ.RrnGREQD i~IOt.GI lfONElmloor.l llaMElll'wcovmD 111'1!0eEDtCOW llaMmlSWWl1lllCOVElt:D &llllll!Olll!CO'JBS) lOTALFROYJCEDc6JST>.11S nAn S&SHOMES OJITIT11 CtlNTil.AL COAIT, IKC. 1.1,0B.OJ\ANDSAVB ~yo0ninda,CAllJ"420 pllvnci(805J<l!IJ-40l3 lu.(10,)<IBl·IOG' mo.mar AROHrTEan JomMaak l'HONB (105)-<140-1112 TOUCHSTONE PLAZA LLC 10•0 I! GRANDI! AVE ARROYO GRANDE PHONll(IOS)~ -I z ~ :3· I-c.. c.. 0: Ww 0 1-Z tn O<C 0 :!: TOUCHSTONE PLAZA COURTIAND & EAST GRAND ARROYO QMND!!!. CA. APN!ll 077-131-002 APN!ll 077-131-003 APN!ll D77-131-004 SCALE: r-aa-o· REVISION DATE: 1-28-06 3-30-05 A-1 '1 . 1 '.ti. EXISTJNG, 'c.;OMMERCtAt DEVELOPi:ME~ Gateway Mixed Use Suggestions • Bath/Skin Care -Bath & Body Works Toddler/Child Care • Family Arcade • Fabric Store - • Bakery/Special Cakes Beverly's • Bagel Shop (t Gym • New Book Store -Barnes & Nobles • Physical Therapy • Hair Style/Cutting " Crafts • Pet Store/Supplies •-Laundry Mat e Specialty Boutiques/Clothing • Education/Tutoring • Pool Hall • Music Store • Bike Shop/Bike Repair • Kitchen Supplies • Men's Apparel • Organic/Sugar Free • Shoe Store Foods • Second Floor Offices • ~~~~y/Support • Gourmet Food/Supply • Antique Store • Med Stop • Computer Store/Repair • Jewelry Store/ Accessories ' \ /' "'