Viewpoint

By Mayor Dave Romero

 

A year ago the City Council denied the Bridge Street project with direction to the developer to fix problems before the project was resubmitted.

 

That project included 8 affordable apartment-like units along the panhandle entry road into the main development. There has been criticism of the City Council for turning down this affordable housing, especially from my friend Silas Lyons who exercises much community influence with his Tribune column.

 

Rather than listing all my concerns leading to the Council denial, lets use our imagination  and pretend  the project was approved as submitted. Silas was delighted – so much so that he bought one of the units.  Silas’ unit is between two others, just past the creek. It is a tiny apartment-like unit built over the garage/carport, over a flood plane, in a manufacturing zone, with access off the 20 ft. private entry road.

 

Silas’ apartment has wire-glass windows (which can’t be opened) at the rear because it is only 5 ft. from an industrial zone. He keeps his front windows and drapes closed because he is VERY near the noisy and unsightly industrial operations on the other side of the 20 ft. entry road. There are no windows on either side of the apartment since these are common walls with neighbors (one practices drums and the other listens to hi-fi at maximum volume).  But, hey, this is a small price to pay for affordable housing.

 

Silas is reluctant to use his car, since all parking is common-use and the shortage of parking in the development makes finding a space a never-ending challenge. With no visitor parking, moving vans, garbage, mail, UPS trucks and other service vehicles often block the narrow access road in and out of the development. But, hey, it IS affordable housing.

 

Flood flows from the first really big rain find their passage now restricted by occupied garages and carports. With flows confined to about 1/3 of their former flood area, the now raging floodwaters wash out the low access bridge into the project and take out sewer, water, gas, electric, phone and cable TV lines hung on the bridge structure. Since the entry road is not constructed to City structural standards, all these improvements are private and must be replaced by the homeowners association. Corps of Engineers’ permits for replacement will only take about 6 months (unless there are no concerns about red-legged frogs, snails, or fairy shrimp).

 

Since there is no way to get his car over the creek, Silas must now rent a car and park it on Exposition Drive about 1/3 mile away (partially along an open space trail).  No heat, lights, phone or ready vehicular access would discourage most people, but not Silas. He has Finally found affordable housing in SLO-Town, and he is one HAPPY CAMPER.

 

Note: The latest Bridge Street submittal, approved by the City Council, resolves these problems, and I’m a happy camper too.  But alas, the units are no longer classified as affordable housing.