Businesses back big SLO project

Downtown Association's board of directors writes letter to support Garden Street mixed-use proposal

By Sally Connell - The Tribune

The Garden Street Terraces Project, a large hotel, residential and retail complex proposed for downtown San Luis Obispo, has received support from the city's Downtown Association board of directors.

In their campaign for the project, Garden Street Terraces promoters have sent out postcards asking for support from various quarters of the city.

Instead of just checking a box on the postcard, Downtown Association Administrator Deborah Cash said the association's board decided to give a "vote of confidence" for the project.

The letter of support notes that the association's strategic plan supports infill that replaces surface parking lots, as Garden Street Terraces would do.

"We basically believe it is better to go up than go out," Cash said. "The developer has assured us that it is within the zoning regulations. If that is the case, it seems to match our strategic plan."

Garden Street Terraces has been proposed to occupy the block along Marsh Street between Garden and Broad streets. It's in the planning stages at City Hall. The developer is San Luis Obispo-based WestPac Investments Inc.

The project is proposed to reach heights of up to 74 feet, which is allowed under the city's new height ordinance.

The project also would provide some public parking to replace the city lot, plus parking for the development itself.

The comment period for the draft environmental impact report has closed, and those comments now will go back to the environmental consultant for review.

A final environmental document, including comments and consultant responses, should be released for review in late July and go before the Planning Commission in August.

The project will be adjusted from what was submitted for the report because WestPac could not come to terms with the owners of the Verizon building at 742 Marsh St.

"We will still have a project that meets our client's goals and objectives," said Carol Florence, the principal planner from Oasis Associates Inc. representing WestPac. "It will just lose a little square footage" to accommodate the Verizon building.

City planner Tyler Corey said the project is being adjusted before the environmental review process is done, but the final report should be adequate as long as the project doesn't increase in square footage.

Florence said the postcard campaign has elicited mostly positive responses from the public. Corey said some public comments on the environmental report criticized the project's height and size. Others emphasized historic buildings at the site. The developer has proposed moving some of the buildings to the Edna area.

The City Council is expected to see the final environmental impact report and hold a hearing in late fall.