commuity and neighborhood character

Attendance: Total attendance at workshop, including presenters, was 52. Attendees included two City Council members, on Planning Commissioner, and the City Attorney.

Coverage of Neighborhoods: Addresses provided on the signup sheets show that a variety of Morro Bay neighborhoods were represented.

Interest in further participation: Enthusiasm for future activities was strong. 21 attendees signed up to participate in future committee work. 20 signed up to participate in letter/email writing efforts. 20 signed up to attend Council and Planning Commission meetings.

Individual questionnaires: Participants were asked to fill out individual questionnaires on bulk and scale issues before group work began. 38 questionnaires were collected (some participants came late, and did not fill them out; a few others, including some workshop presenters, did not fill them out, hence we did not receive completed questionnaires from 12 attendees).

Common themes in the questionnaires, in order by number of participants who mentioned issues in the 9 categories, included:

Need for new zoning; GP/LCP updates, including specific suggestions and recommendations - mentioned by 29 participants
View blockage issues - mentioned by 20 participants
Character, feel, ambiance, scale of neighborhoods - mentioned by 17 participants
Lack of provisions/ability for citizens to influence/stop what they consider unacceptable and inappropriate development - mentioned by 16 participants
Failure of Council, Planning Commission, planners to follow existing zoning/rules; excessive variances - mentioned by 14 participants
Concerns about agendas, impartiality, developer influence on City staff/government; competence of City government and/or staff - mentioned by 8 participants
Light/solar access - mentioned by 8 participants
Privacy issues - mentioned by 7 participants
Affordable housing issues - mentioned by 6 participants

Other issues: Many other important issues/observations are contained in the questionnaires, including lack of attention to renter notification about projects, need for increased impact and other fees for development, importance of energy-efficient houses, need to preserve trees and shrubbery, out-of-town owners/weekenders, property value loss, parking problems, historical designation from some areas, need to control building in commercial areas, an

Group Brainstorming of Issues: After completing their questionnaires, participants were asked to do group brainstorming on their top bulk and scale issues.. First, participants stated their individual top issues. They were discussed, and then the top issues for each group were compiled.

Common themes in group-level top issues, as documented by the groups are:

Problems with enforcement of existing zoning, and need for new/strengthened zoning law: This category contained the largest number of top issues. Here are the issues that fall into that category:

No exceptions & variances
Zoning and variances
Planners need to follow the rules we have on books now. Inconsistent enforcement of existing ordinances. Lack of vested interest in equitably looking at ways to improve existing situation
Zoning needs to be enforced
Zoning document is too vague, too complex, and not enforced
Zoning – no variances
Reviewing General Plan & enforcing with code enforcement officer
Enforcement
City must address these issues with creation of regulations and enforcement
Enforce laws already have
Zoning laws eased to benefit developers
Stop builders. Scale & character – zoning. Dictate to planners what the zoning
Bad & stupid design
Moratorium

Problems with Bulk and Scale. were cited in the following top issues:

Homes being out of scale & blocking views/sunlight
Large houses block views
Loss of property & sunlight
Destroys environment (loss of trees)
Loss of sunlight & privacy
Scale & character
Over-sized units & over development of lots
Bulk and scale and neighborhood character of new construction is not consistent with community expectations
Respecting character of neighborhood

Affordability was noted as problematic in the following top group issues:

Affordable housing, provide housing for service people
Changing nature of community of concern. Lack of affordable housing
Not building housing appropriate to locals
Economic impact
Object to elimination of middle class and affordable housing

Infrastructure impacts were identified as top issues as follows:

City resources (police, water, sewer, etc.)
Infrastructure, energy impacts
Consider energy efficiency of project, not just size
Parking & Public Notices

Problems with City staff, direction were noted as top issues by some groups:

Unresponsive and unavailable city staff
Revamp & look at Planning staff; hiring procedures
City is headed in wrong direction
Public calendar of projects
Feedback from staff
Community involvement
Bring renters more fully into process

Ideas and Recommendations for Future Work on Mansionization

Have more workshops
include all points of view
Televise workshops
Keep politics out of our endeavors

Other top issues identified are:

Right to develop property
Soft costs & 2 car garages
Respect property rights – balance

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	Workshop Report Data Summary
		Attendance: Total attendance at workshop, including presenters, was 52. Attendees included two City Council members, on Planning Commissioner, and the City Attorney. Coverage of Neighborhoods: Addresses provided on the signup sheets show that a variety of Morro Bay neighborhoods were represented. Interest in further participation: Enthusiasm for future activities was strong. 21 attendees signed up to participate in future committee work. 20 signed up to participate in letter/email writing efforts. 20 signed up to attend Council and Planning Commission meetings. Individual questionnaires: Participants were asked to fill out individual questionnaires on bulk and scale issues before group work began. 38 questionnaires were collected (some participants came late, and did not fill them out; a few others, including some workshop presenters, did not fill them out, hence we did not receive completed questionnaires from 12 attendees). Common themes in the questionnaires, in order by number of participants who mentioned issues in the 9 categories, included: Need for new zoning; GP/LCP updates, including specific suggestions and recommendations - mentioned by 29 participants View blockage issues - mentioned by 20 participants Character, feel, ambiance, scale of neighborhoods - mentioned by 17 participants Lack of provisions/ability for citizens to influence/stop what they consider unacceptable and inappropriate development - mentioned by 16 participants Failure of Council, Planning Commission, planners to follow existing zoning/rules; excessive variances - mentioned by 14 participants Concerns about agendas, impartiality, developer influence on City staff/government; competence of City government and/or staff - mentioned by 8 participants Light/solar access - mentioned by 8 participants Privacy issues - mentioned by 7 participants Affordable housing issues - mentioned by 6 participants Other issues: Many other important issues/observations are contained in the questionnaires, including lack of attention to renter notification about projects, need for increased impact and other fees for development, importance of energy-efficient houses, need to preserve trees and shrubbery, out-of-town owners/weekenders, property value loss, parking problems, historical designation from some areas, need to control building in commercial areas, an Group Brainstorming of Issues: After completing their questionnaires, participants were asked to do group brainstorming on their top bulk and scale issues.. First, participants stated their individual top issues. They were discussed, and then the top issues for each group were compiled. Common themes in group-level top issues, as documented by the groups are: Problems with enforcement of existing zoning, and need for new/strengthened zoning law: This category contained the largest number of top issues. Here are the issues that fall into that category: No exceptions & variances Zoning and variances Planners need to follow the rules we have on books now. Inconsistent enforcement of existing ordinances. Lack of vested interest in equitably looking at ways to improve existing situation Zoning needs to be enforced Zoning document is too vague, too complex, and not enforced Zoning – no variances Reviewing General Plan & enforcing with code enforcement officer Enforcement City must address these issues with creation of regulations and enforcement Enforce laws already have Zoning laws eased to benefit developers Stop builders. Scale & character – zoning. Dictate to planners what the zoning Bad & stupid design Moratorium Problems with Bulk and Scale. were cited in the following top issues: Homes being out of scale & blocking views/sunlight Large houses block views Loss of property & sunlight Destroys environment (loss of trees) Loss of sunlight & privacy Scale & character Over-sized units & over development of lots Bulk and scale and neighborhood character of new construction is not consistent with community expectations Respecting character of neighborhood Affordability was noted as problematic in the following top group issues: Affordable housing, provide housing for service people Changing nature of community of concern. Lack of affordable housing Not building housing appropriate to locals Economic impact Object to elimination of middle class and affordable housing Infrastructure impacts were identified as top issues as follows: City resources (police, water, sewer, etc.) Infrastructure, energy impacts Consider energy efficiency of project, not just size Parking & Public Notices Problems with City staff, direction were noted as top issues by some groups: Unresponsive and unavailable city staff Revamp & look at Planning staff; hiring procedures City is headed in wrong direction Public calendar of projects Feedback from staff Community involvement Bring renters more fully into process Ideas and Recommendations for Future Work on Mansionization Have more workshops include all points of view Televise workshops Keep politics out of our endeavors Other top issues identified are: Right to develop property Soft costs & 2 car garages Respect property rights – balance Return to home page