Downtown Height Policy Study

On March 14th, 2006 the San Luis Obispo City Council conducted a study session to consider increasing height limits in the downtown core. Current General Plan policy calls for 2-3 stories near the center of blocks with a 50 ft. height limit. As applications for redevelopment downtown, near the center of blocks with a 50 ft. height limit. As applications for redevelopment downtown, particularly as retrofit efforts ramp up, exceptions to the height limit are being sought. Since the city emphasizes compact urban form, it may be sensible to increase the height limit in the downtown but keep it at a 35 ft. in the outlying areas. A 50f ft. limit is especially problematic when policy would provide a more comprehensive way to review projects and reduce exceptions while maintaining a sense of place at our commercial core. Exisiting buildings which exceed the existing height limit include the Anderson Hotel at 59 ft. and the new parking structure at 919 Palm at 54 ft. Theh Chamber encouraged the City Council to open the issue of increasing height limits in the downtown core as a consistent with the  shared goal for compact urban form.

Housing in the Margarita Specific Plan Area getting closer

The Planning Commission unanimously moved forward a subdivision tract map for the western enclave ofthe Margarita Area. The Council looked at this issue in March 2006. This was a long awaited project that will significantly address the city's need for housing by providing a variety of housing types and sizes. Please click here (link will be up on 9/12/06) to read the Chamber's White Paper on Housing. This topic continues to be the number one concern of our members.

Chamber Forms Healthcare Task Force

Chamber members continue to be concerned about the cost and availability of healthcare. In response, we have formed a Healthcare Task Force that has widespread representatives from members in the field of health, human resources and insurance. The task force has been charged by the Board of Directors to establish a Healthcare Policy Platform to serve as a guide for the Chamber in evaluating healthcare related legislation click here to view. They will also be developing a practical tool that will assist both employers and employees in dealing with healthcare issues as well as developing  a program to educate its members on an ongoing basis on healthcare issues.

Airport Runway Extension Sought

After study by our Economic Development Committee of the draft report "Economic and Operational Analysis of Regional Jets" followed by the discussions of a specially convened task force, the Board of Directors has supported the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport runway extension to 6000 ft. We have requested that the FAA fund this work as a high priority project in. As the only commercial service airport in the County, we must preserve this vital link to the commercial air transportation system. Current runway length is not sufficient for operational requirements of all regional jets operated by carriers wishing to serve our community. As one of the most widely used airports in California, the airport, located just outside the city limits of San Luis Obispo, now serves over 307,000 air travelers per year from a population base of 247,000 in the county. With our current runway length, it is very likely that we would lose the existing air service so vital to the local economy including tourism and business development. The possibility of new flights to new destinations will be an advantage to the entire county. For this reason, our Chamber has sought and received endorsements for the extension from other Chambers throughout the area.