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PC 2016-09-20_08a Supplemental14:4�rEel :7_]24Ifill ihI TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: TERESA McCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BY: DEBORAH WEICHINGER, ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AGENDA ITEM 8.a. — SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF THE EAST CHERRY AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN PROJECT (GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 15-001; DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 15-001; SPECIFIC PLAN 15-001; VESTING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 15-001; CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 15-004; CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 16-001) AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT; LOCATION — EAST CHERRY AVENUE AND TRAFFIC WAY; APPLICANTS — SRK HOTELS, MANGANO HOMES, INC., AND ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY JAPANESE WELFARE ASSOCIATION —JOHN RICKENBACH DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 Attached is correspondence received after agenda preparation regarding the subject project. Attachments: 1. Additional correspondence TO THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE. RECEIVED SEP 12 2016 CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE NO on the project at Cherry & Traffic at its current requested size. Water --major issue Traffic-- major issue Fleeting tourists looking for the beach, not lots of antique stores Downsize this project or better yet, wait for rain. Very concerned voting citizen Robby Gussman Arroyo Grande 4Z�� 11 SEP 19 2016 CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE ARROYO GRANDE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION: WE LIVE AT 502 LAUNA LANE AND HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 43 YEARS. ADDITIONALLY OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS AND CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO THIS AREA. RECEIVED I AM VERY OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT FOR THE FOLLOWING SEPT 9 2018 CONCERNS: CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE NO WATER - SO PEOPLE ARE TEARING OUT THEIR YARDS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WATER. YOU WANT US TO CUT WATER USAGE AND THEN THE CITY RAISES THE RATE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEYAND THEN ISSUE FINES FOR OVER USE. YOU SAY THAT WATER HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOTTED TO THIS PROJECT BUT HOW CAN YOU MAKE THE WATER APPEAR WHEN THERE IS NONE. IT WAS STATED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT THE AGRICULTURE FIELD USES MORE WATER THAN THE NEW PROPOSED BUILDING PROJECT WHICH IS A FOOLISH DREAM. THE WATERING OF THE FIELDS ARE NOT CONTINUOUS AS THE HOUSING/HOTEL/RESTAURANT WOULD BE. THE AGRICULTURE FIELD USES WELL WATER AND NOT CITY PIPED WATER. THE HOUSING AND HOTEL WOULD BE CONNECTED TO THE CITY SUPPLIED LINES. JUSTAS A SIDE NOTE - IF YOU TALK TO FARMERS THE GROUND WATER LEVEL IS EXTREMELY LOW IN ALL SURROUNDING FIELDS, AND EVEN IF IT RAINS THIS WINTER IT WILL NOT RAISE THE LEVEL ADEQUATELY. THERE SHOULD BE A BUILDING MORATORIUM PERIOD UNTILALL OUR WATER PROBLEMS ARE RESOLVED. TOO MANY HOMES BEING BUILT ALONG WITH A BUSY HOTEU RESTAURANT- THIS WILL CAUSE HEAVY TRAFFIC PROBLEMS ON CHERRY AND TRAFFIC WAY. BECAUSE OF EXTRA TRAFFIC THE SOUTHBOUND WILL BE MORE CONGESTED AND CAUSE SAFETY HAZARDS TRYING TO ACCESS THE FREEWAY WHICH NOW IS A SUICIDE TRIP. ADDITIONALLY TRAFFIC COMING OFF THE FREEWAY TRAVELING NORTH TRAVEL AT HIGH/UNSAFE SPEEDS AT THIS TIME. EAST CHERRY IS ALREADY IS A VERY BUSY TRAFFIC ROAD. THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION PROJECT IS NOT AREAL CONCERN AS IT WOULD BEA BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT AND IMPROVE THIS HISTORICAL SITE, BUT THE 10 UNIT SENIOR HOUSING APARTMENTS SEEMS TO BE TOO MANY. ALSO LAUNA LANE SHOULD REMAIN AS A CUL-DE-SAC AS IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE HOUSING TRACT WAS BUILT IN 1961 AND NOT TO BE OPENED UP TO THRU TRAFFIC. YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS OF ARROYO AND NOT JUST THINK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT THIS CITY WANTS. STORY -POLES SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON THE PROJECT SITE TO REPRESENT THE SIZE AND SCALE OF THE PROPOSED STRUCTURES THAT WILL BE BUILT. THE SILHOUETTE PROVIDED BY THE STORY POLES HELPS TO ASSESS POTENTIAL VISUAL IMPACT AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY. IF THERE ARE CONCERNS OR OBJECTIONS TO THE BUILDING OUTLINE, ADJUSTMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE STORY POLES MAY BE NECESSARY. THE STORY -POLES SHOULD REMAIN UP FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO ALLOW ALL CITY RESIDENTS TO INSPECT. IF THE BUILDING CONTINUES YOU MIGHT AS WELL REMOVE YOUR LITTLE NAME YOU THOUGHT OF AS THE "VILLAGE". NOT MUCH LONGER. RESPECTFULLY, JAMES AND FRANCES ASKINS Subject: RE: planning commission From: Jacki Nisbett Date: September 17, 2016 at 4:46:14 PM PDT To: ' Subject: Fw: planning commission Reply -To: Jacki Nisbett September 17,20016 City of Arroyo Grande Planning Commission John Mack, John Keen, Terry Fowler Payne, Lan George & Glenn Martin: I found out about the scope of the East Cherry Project on Monday 8/29 & attended the meeting of 8/30. Most of the information I had knowledge of prior to this came from the Tribune in late May. They reported a hotel & homes were being considered. Since I am .2 miles from the project, at 200 Trinity Ave., I expected a notification by mail about an up -coming neighborhood forum to hear about this project. That did not happen. The water issue is paramount in my mind. 2% of 0 is 0. The exchange of nonexistent water from one site for another is nonsensical. Why is there no Xeriscaping plan for this whole project? The 50 room Branch Street Boutique hotel is estimated to consume 1.7 million gallons per year if used with "care" and not considering how much it will take to construct it. We believe developers can buy property and develop plans and wait their turn on a list of projects to be determined by you when we again have a reservoir sufficient to, take residents off of restrictions. Be that said, I wonder if the same logic used to calculate non existing water is being used to calculate the geological report that states this land is highly subject to liquefaction? The active Wilmar fault under this area will need an earthquake study. I do not see this in the Environmental Impact Report, only the Seismic Hazard Analysis which does not go into detail and there is no structural engineering report. Why wouldn't the city pay for its own unbiased earthquake report? Furthermore the top layer of soils, (made into a fine clay powder from years of cultivation) will need to be removed to insure the foundations of the subarea 2 houses will not crack & slide. Why is there no mention of this? The extensive excavation and considerable grading, that will have to be done to this site will take many months and huge disruption of traffic not to mention an extravagant use of water to keep the construction site wetted down during the lengthy process. The winds usually blow from the northwest to the south. How will construction dust and pollutants be mitigated for all of us on the hill? How will the city compensate the hill residents if the excavation hits a schist of Obispo rock that will need industrial jack -hammering which (has in the past) done damage to our homes? The geology & soils report states its study is based on 44 single houses not 55-60. Do you not think that on this substandard expansion clay soil, this won't make a difference?? The report also mentions it's findings are for Subarea 2. Where is the report on Subarea 1 & 3? Why is there no report for the chain hotel and chain restaurant? A 3 story building sitting on an active fault needs an "in depth" seismic report. As stated in my letter to the CC, this land has flooded in rainy years. The older village homes have had some flooding, but this has been relieved by the flow of drainage southward to the dry creek bed at the base of the hill on the proposed site. If this is covered up, flooding in the section of (some 100 year old) homes, will become an issue. The small proposed drainage basin/park is not in the right location nor adequate. If a retaining wall is built along this drainage area how will the runoff from the hill be channeled? The trailer park has flooded many times due to the dry creek and hill runoff emptying into it. Where will the water from the hill go after the retaining wall is built? These homes will most likely be purchased by off site owners who will want rental income. Renters may or may not be single families. This urban large city plan does not fit here. My experience has shown that many many cars come with rentals. Where is the over flow parking lot for the renters? A freeway motor lodge attracts people passing through possibly with their large RV's. Where is the over flow parking for the hotel? We wait months for code enforcement to paint tag transients who park along the freeway side of Traffic Way Ext now, what will happen when this project adds to that blight? I can fore see a motoring travelers crash pad for over -night stays, hook-up or drug deal. We already have 2 others on Traffic Way that accomplish this. It will be a money drain on services not a money maker. The Traffic Report is grossly inadequate. It has not taken into consideration the congestion generated by 3 separate schools and the daily car & foot traffic that generates. It has not taken into consideration the traffic ebb & flow during the different times of the year a tourist destination is burdened with. Our festivals pose another logistical problem that has not been thought through. (Cars park up the hill on Trinity Ave during these events) Placing a light at Traffic Way& Fair Oaks will produce a disastrous back up of traffic so no one will be able to exit Traffic Way Ext. during an event. Traffic Way Ext. (currently a dead end, no through traffic)has no foreseeable future of connecting with EI Campo. There will be years of frustration and accidents for hill residents. Guidelines for true transparency have not been followed by city staff and planners. Why else would there be so many unanswered questions? The history of this style of operation was the policy of prior city governments. I believe the ghosts of those bodies and individuals from them still play a hand in decision making. Allowing the developer to have so much time with staff, the council, and you,the commission promoting and propagandizing his vision while the citizenry is not given equal time is a travesty. Why are the citizens given so much less time to speak when the developer has been given as much time as he dictates to "court' staff & council & planners? Allowing one developer to be the single draftsman of 3 key locations (North, South & East side) seems monopolistic to say the least, a developer who will not be remembered for his superior design integration. ..will NOT be forgotten by those whose properties are devalued by a high-density footprint at the 1st entrance to our city. It is true we are holding you to a high standard. A HIGHER standard than what is being offered. Any allegiance or alliances that effect decisions will not only be bad for us individually but this is our collective reputation. Jaclynn Nisbett The information contained in this email pertains to City business and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not an intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible far delivering the message to the intended recipient and you have received this message in error, please advise the sender by reply email orphone and delete the message. Please note that email correspondence with the City ofArroyo Grande, along with attachments, may be subject to the California Public Records Act, and therefore may be subject to disclosure unless otherwise exempt by law. Debbie Weichinger From: Lan George Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2016 11:14 PM To: Debbie Weichinger; Teresa McClish Subject: Fwd: East Cherry Project Concerns Lan George Digital Media Consultant Touchpoint Fix Media, Inc. Begin forwarded message: From: Deborah Love > Subject: East Cherry_ Project Concerns Date: September 18, 2016 at 9:39:01 PM PDT To: Dear C:otn nissioner Gcorge, In preparation for Tuesday night's Planning Commission meeting, I am sharing with you a on F mail l recently sent to Mayor i fill and the Concil Members, 1. I was disappointed to hear that it is the corporation of La Quinta Inn building the hotel. It is sure to have a strip malt motel [eel to it. La Quinta's representative stated that their facilities in other locations in the county are top performers, but is that because they are lower cost? Lower priced hotel/motels tend to deteriorate much faster due to cheaper building practices and the clientele they attract. I lotels of that type attract the person traveling tlirough, not a tourist that will spend monc;y in our city. Will AG just be getting the people that cannot afford the luxury Pismo hotels'? A small boutique hotel, 50 rooms or less, would br, much less objectionable. 2. Much has been made cif this project favorably impacting local businesses such as Miners I €ardware, but these corporate and larp,c scale developments do not buy building supplies locally, Providing more; jobs? Again, Chain restaurants and motels do not pay enough for a person to be able to afford to live in Arroyo (3rande. i. I e,ould like to see the Japanese Welfare Association project be separated trorn the other t so, or is it there purposely to garner favor, bccausc it is certain to be a vvell-liked addition to the community? 4. At 4000sf it scerns most likely that the restaurant will be a chain restaurant, Grvcn it's Proximity to the freeway, probably something that will be open 24 hours. Why do the Last Cherry Avenue neighbors not deserve the same consideration as "The Vilftn)e" per a ban on chain businesses? 5. Is a strip mall type chain motel and restaurant really a pleasing gateway to our City? Not in any nice town f have visited anywhere in this country. O; Ii a 5pccibcvPtan is designed to be flexible, docs this leave roorn for the developers or builders to N01 follow plans submitted, and trade out elements as building progresses? is that not what happened with the retail/office complex .?it the vest end of Old Arroyo" Once it was complete and people started complaining that it did not f t in yr ith the rent of the buildings on hast Branch, weren't, they told that the developer/builder strayed from the plans that had been approved? flow would that be kept from happening? Are there repercussions or consequences? Do any and all changes have to go back through the process or can one City staff person giant such changes? 7. A traffic lights at Fair Oaks/1"raffie Way will do little to slow down traffic coming directly off the Freeway. I laving been involved in two minor rear -end accidents between Allen Street and the Mobil Station myself, both when I was stopped trying to make a turn, there must be many mare. Cars exit the freeway at much too high a rate of speed. There is also much more traffic in that area than was stated in the East Cherry Specific Plan. More studies should like place, but at 8:OOam and 3:00pm, as well as other times of day. 8. Inviting more traffic to use the "Traffic Way on- and off -ramps will impact them to the point where modifications will need to be made, or they will have to be closed. They are not safe for increased traffic. Will the developers pay for freeway upgrades of berth ramps? What will be the impact of those ramps having to close in the future? 9. East Chorry Avenue is extremely busy, as I am well aware as my back yard is long that sheet, Not 60 seconds goes by. day or night, that a car does not go by. 'The new project, if allowed to go forward as proposed, will greatly and negatively impact the residents of Fast Cherry Avenue, and most likely affect their property values as well, How can that be mitigated over time? 10. I was not notified, nor was I invited to participate in any of the "neighborhood" discussion, and apparently there are at least a dozen others not notified.I asked the question about failure to post signage on Faeebook a .veek before the planning C o emission meeting. Why dict City staff not catch this sooner? 11. I would not object to a housing development built with the same density, lot size and diverse styles as Ca eekside Estates, provided that there were no two-story homes on East Cherry Street, 12. It was insulting to me, and others who have either removed Lawns and put in ground cover, or those who were forced to let their fawns and gardens die un der threat of oppressive water bills, to see: the renderings hos. Florence shared showing lush lawns and gardens. Any and all new developments should be required to install only drought tolerant Landscaping, and no lawns. 13. The net gain of vvater does not make sense. first, it is based on only 2.4 residents per house. Will (here be limitations in the size farmlies allowed to purchase" Since that is unlikely, it seems as though the equation should not be used. Second, at the September 6 Planning Commission Ms. Florence mentioned a trade offif the current agricultural land, for agricultural land elsewhere in the City. If the trade is for Land currently not being irrigated, it will be an increase in water use If the trade is for land already being irrigated. it is just a wash. Uther way,here us not net gain of water to the City. 14. Is has not mentioned whether it not the new development will be an ILOA, or of the City will be encumbered by additional park and landscape management. 17. At what baseline will new residents be located for determine appropriate water usage. "lucre are those. Arroyo Grande residents who drastically cut their water usage before the lowered mandate, and now are being penalized because they cannot cut their water usage any lower, And yet, there is apparently water for new residents` 16. While there has been a mention of making gray water stubs required in this development, I understand that it was decided NOT to make them required of recent developments. 17. 1 was puzzled when the only person at the September 6 planning Commission meeting that spoke in favor of the project was the Principal of Mission Prep t ligh School. Until I was told that the children of ane of the developers attends that school, in San Luis Obispo, and that they will be receiving a sizable donation from the project proceeds. What??? A private, religion based school in another town benefits from a project within the Lucia Mar Unified School District? I low is that a partnership that should matter in the making of this decision? 18. Had I been a member of the Planning, Commission. I would have felt patronized and insulted when Ms. Florence continued to laud her clients for going above and beyond, as if we were not aware that those were things that would have had to be done anyway as more public hearing continued to take place? 19. Realizing that although this project may have been "in the pipeline" for a number of years, this drought becomes more severe every year. As such; constant review of environmental, weather and economic situation must be allowed to influence this and all projects, regardless of how long they may have been in planning. 9 Thank you again for being a City Council and I'ianriing Commission that not only reads input from residents, but also responds, for the most part. After my last communication to the Council. I heard back immediately fiom Mayor IIiII, Council Member Batneieh and Council Member grown. It was oreat:ly appreciated. With hope that the decisions that must be made will be done so taking into account not just the request of developers. but also o1 residents, Sincerely, Deborah Love Deborah Love "If I had but two loaves of bread I would sell one of them & buy white hyacinths to feed my soul." - Elbert Hubbard Debbie Weichinger From: Teresa McClish Sent: Monday, September 19, 2016 9:47 AM To: Debbie Weichinger Subject: FW: East Cheery Teresa McClish, AICP Director of Community Development City of Arroyo Grande 300 E. Branch Street Arroyo Grande, CA 93421 (805)473-5420 fax(805)473-0386 tmcclish @ a rroyogrande.org -----Original Message ----- From: Colleen Martin [mailt Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2016 4:50 PM To: Teresa McClish Subject: East Cheery We're the hotel numbers included in the staff report? The three story buildings? Thanks Colleen The information contained in this email pertains to City business and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not an intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient and you have received this message in error, please advise the sender by reply email or phone and delete the message. Please note that email correspondence with the City of Arroyo Grande, along with attachments, may be subject to the California Public Records Act, and therefore may be subject to disclosure unless otherwise exempt by law.