A.G. residents protest proposed shopping center

Arroyo Grande residents and others opposed to a project proposed for one “gateway” area of the city held a rally Thursday evening.

Gathered at East Grand Avenue and South Courtland Street, the protesters said the proposed development would harm existing businesses — namely, nearby grocery stores — and cause traffic problems.

The rally was organized by residents of Berry Gardens, the neighborhood located behind the proposed project, and representatives from surrounding businesses, including grocery store Cookie Crock Warehouse, said John Mack, an architect who said he speaks for about 80 of the residents.

The Arroyo Grande City Council on Tuesday will again consider a plan from Nick Tompkins of NTK Commercial, who has proposed to construct a 35,786-square-foot grocery store; two commercial buildings, at 5,800 and 5,700 square feet; and a 6,767-square-foot restaurant.

The plan may have been modified since the council last considered the project in February. The council had continued its discussion to give time to further study environmental concerns regarding traffic.

“The plan is a traffic nightmare,” Russell Read, attorney for Cookie Crock Warehouse, wrote in an e-mail. “The area is already saturated with grocery stores, and there are already eight liquor outlets within 500 yards of the proposed development.”

In addition to the development, San Luis Obispo-based Peoples’ Self-Help Housing is proposing to build 36 multifamily homes on the back half of the property that would be deed-restricted to low-and very-low-income tenants.

This story was originally published March 3, 2011 at 9:52 PM with the headline "A.G. residents protest proposed shopping center."