New development will bring 192 homes to SLO. Here’s a look at what’s planned
A proposal to add 192 new homes as part of mixed-use development in the Orcutt Area of San Luis Obispo was approved 5-0 by the City Council at its Tuesday meeting.
The planned project, called Bullock Ranch, is envisioned for an 11-acre space between Bullock Lane and Ranch House Lane near the intersection of Orcutt Road and Broad Street.
The project is part of the 230-acre Orcutt Area Specific Plan, where other housing, parks and recreation projects have been developed in recent years.
In total, the Orcutt Area plan calls for up to 979 homes, some of which have already been built as part of the Righetti Ranch development, which has different ownership from the Bullock Ranch project.
The Orcutt Area is bounded by Orcutt Road, the railroad and Tank Farm Road.
“I’m very excited that we’re putting more housing into the community, which is obviously one of our top goals,” said Mayor Erica Stewart. “I’m looking forward to seeing this in future years.”
SLO development home types
The Bullock Ranch project will consist of 96 townhouse apartments, 88 bungalows and eight live/work units. It will also include 585 square feet of commercial space.
Once built, homes will be offered in 10-unit plan types ranging from 733 square feet to 2,508 square feet with one to four bedrooms, according to a concept design.
As of now, the townhouses will be available for rent, while the bungalows and live/work units will be for sale, said John Young, a project representative. Sale prices will range from $400,000 to $800,000.
“(The developer will be) submitting grading plans next month, so depending on process time, we could start (construction in) late summer or early fall,” Young said.
The project includes seven “inclusionary” units — two designated for low-income residents and five for moderate-income residents.
Under the city’s inclusionary housing policy, prices would be deed-restricted on those homes in line with affordable levels for those incomes.
The development will also feature a 1,766-square-foot community center with a fitness facility, lease office, pool, landscaped area, tot lot play area and shade structure.
Bike path will link homes to downtown
A half-mile bike path along Bullock Lane between Orcutt Road and Tiburon Way is planned to be part of the roadway improvements.
The bike path will close the gap in the existing Railroad Safety Trail between Tiburon Way and the intersection of Orcutt Road, Bullock Lane and Laurel Lane
The path will offer a connection for the entire Orcutt Area to downtown and beyond, said Michael Codron, the city’s community development director.
The new bike path leg will provide a continuous route from the southern limits of the city (Tank Farm Road) to the Amtrak Station.
At the train station, travelers can walk or bike along the Bill Roalman Greenway along Morro Street directly to downtown, Luke Schwartz, the city’s transportation manager, told The Tribune in an email.
The Bullock Ranch project plans to provide 410 parking spaces and 384 bike parking spaces.
This story was originally published January 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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