This Website
This site has been created to provide a repository of links, documents and descriptions of the Johnson Avenue Housing Project so that those interested in the project can have a single, easy to access location to find relevant information.
The Project
The Johnson Avenue Housing Project is a proposed development by the San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) to be built on land owned by the school district that is adjacent to the San Luis Obispo High School between the Adult School and Johnson Avenue. Proposed is the building of approximately 7 structures which will include 88 mostly 2-bedroom apartments and underground parking for approximately 200 vehicles.
The Process
To date (January 2014), the project has been presented to the San Luis Obispo Community Development department (the city planning department) as part of the approval process. An Initial Study and assessment has been completed by the Community Development department and it was determined that there were enough concerns about the project that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) would be required before any approval could be completed. On May 9, 2012, the initial study was presented to the Planning Commission and public comments were heard. The purpose of this meeting was to approve the need for an EIR and to agree to the scope of the needed EIR. The EIR was completed by a private consultancy hired by the city. It was completed in October, 2012 January 2014, with a tentative schedule for discussion before the Planning Commission on October 10, 2012. February 26. Most recent schedule is that the Draft EIR will be available for public review starting on December 18, 2012 January 24, 2014. The draft EIR can be downloaded or viewed on this website or on the city website. According to Pam Ricci, Senior Planner for the City, the following milestones are expected for the EIR:
| Draft EIR Public Review Period: | |
| Architectural Review Commission Review (aesthetics discussion): | |
| Planning Commission Review of draft EIR: | |
| Planning Commission Review / Hearning of Final EIR/Project: | |
| City Council Review / Hearing on Final EIR/Project: |
February 14, 2014 Update
The high density approach to the JAHP site has been cancelled. Next steps are a re-evaluation by the school district of the site as part of their facilities master plan, an economic analysis of the use options for the site and future meetings with the neighborhoods should the school district continue to feel the site should be developed. See this post for more details.
February 12, 2014 Update
If you have not been keeping up-to-date, a lot has been going on since the release of the EIR. A City sponsored neighborhood meeting was held on January 30th (See summary) that helped to consolidate those neighborhoods opposed to the project. The EIR was presented to the SLCUSD school board meeting on February 4th (See summary) during which the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Ryan Pinkerton, made overtures to the neighbors about wanting to meet and dialogue on project options. Letters have been written to the various agencies involved (see Letters to . . . page) and a meeting was held by the Architectural Review Commission of the City to review the EIR (See summary).
Rumors are flying around about possible changes to the project by the school district and about possible postponement of the City sequence of approval meetings. But the reality is that until something changes officially, the neighborhoods opposing the project need to keep applying pressure and need to be pro-active in their efforts of communicating to the City and the School District the neighborhood concerns about how the project does not fit a rational model for development.
January 22, 2014 Update
The draft EIR is scheduled for release on Friday, January 24, 2014. Check the post for details on the announcement. The schedule above has been updated to reflect the new dates.
January 16, 2014 Update
A meeting has been scheduled by the City Public Works department to discuss the Fixlini Neighborhood Traffic and the Johnson Avenue Housing Project. Click here to see the post with information about the meeting.
October 24, 2013 Update
Following the article earlier in the week (see below), the Tribune published an editorial seriously questioning the viability of an 88 unit Johnson Avenue Housing Project. You can read the editorial here or on the Tribune website, here.
October 20, 2013 Update
In case you have not read it, there was a front page article on the JAHP in the Tribune. You can read it here. Of note is the reference to the City supposedly giving direction to the school district to increase the density of the project. And reference to an EIR being completed in early 2014.
We have informed the author of the article of the fact that this website exists. Also, we have received new comments on this website.
October 15, 2013 Update
While not directly related to the JAHP, you should be aware that Land Use and Circulation Element Update to the General Plan was presented to the city council. You should be aware of this update and read the proposed recommendations that influence areas in the neighborhood of the JAHP.
August 2, 2013 Update
According to Pam Ricci, Senior Planner for the City, the traffic study (mentioned below) “has been put on hold at the request of the applicant. I am expecting to hear from the School District in the near future about moving forward with the study. That is the status as of today.“
EIR Update – February 2013
Latest info from Pam Ricci is that the above schedule has been changed with no new dates yet scheduled. “Although the draft environmental impact report (EIR) was soon to be released for public review and comment, the School District has suggested and the City has concurred to put the EIR on hold and conduct a separate and more focused access and circulation study of the existing High School and surrounding street system. The intent is to identify any physical or operational changes that can address the current traffic issues around the High School not associated with the proposed Project. At this point we are crafting the scope of the study, which we anticipate this to be completed within the next several weeks. Once the scope is completed we will have a better idea of how this will in turn affect the EIR. I will periodically add updates to our web page.”
Project Documents
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Initial Study – the initial study conducted by the city evaluating the project.
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Project Plans – initial plans provided by the developer.
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Tentative Map Sheets – maps of the project
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Traffic Estimate – an initial traffic estimate that states the traffic impact will be minimal
Planning Commission Agenda and Minutes
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May 9, 2012 Agenda Report– contains information about the scoping of the EIR
- May 9, 2012 Meeting Update
- May 9, 2012 Meeting Minutes
San Luis Coastal Unified School District Board Meeting Agenda, Minutes and Reports
Where can I comment about this project?
- If you are a Facebook user, you can comment on the Johnson Avenue Housing Project Facebook page as well as read others comments there. As comments are received on Facebook, we will endeavour to summarize those comments here.
- You may also add comments to posts in the Comments and Posts page of this site.
How can I keep up-to-date on developments regarding this project?
- At the bottom right of this page, you can click on FOLLOW and choose to be emailed whenever changes or new posts are made to this site.
What can you do if you have concerns about this project? We expect that the next decision point in the process will be the review of the EIR and public hearing by the Planning Commission on February 26, 2014. Formal comments on the EIR will be received until March 10, 2014. Review the EIR, see if there are any conclusions that don’t make sense to you and send your comments to Pam Ricci, Senior Planner, for the city. A large turnout at the Planning Commission meeting on February 26, 2014 expressing concern about the project will help to send a message to the School Board, School District management, elected officials and the City that public opinion is against such a high density project with its related traffic, noise and congestion in an area bounded by single family residences. Prior to that you can:
- Communicate your thoughts and concerns with the SLO City Council , the SLO Planning Commission, the SLO Community Development staff, the SLCUSD (school district) board members and the SLCUSD Superintendent,
- Express your views on the Facebook page, or as a comment to one of the posts in the Comments and Post page of this site
- Pass this Site and project information on to your neighbors so that they are aware of the upcoming project,
- Be prepared to help with support if the completed EIR looks like it was created to provide a rubber stamp for approval.
Please visit the Facebook page and LIKE it Summary of expressed concerns
- The impact of 200 additional cars daily moving each way through the Fixlini Street, Lizzie Street and Johnson Avenue intersections will be significant. During school sessions, traffic is already dangerous especially when both sides of Lizzie contain parked vehicles and boats near Johnson Avenue.
- Emergency access to the project at peak hours will be nearly impossible.
- Why can’t there be additional access routes to the project from San Luis Drive?
- Such high density housing is not consistent with the neighborhood.
- Parking impact upon the neighborhood and adjacent streets.
- Additional traffic concerns on Johnson Avenue, Buchon and Pismo Streets.
- Inadequacy of the northern section of Fixlini Street for the project access.
- The blocking of hillside views from Johnson Avenue / San Luis Drive.
Johnson Avenue Housing Project (JAHP) 