Plan for San Luis Ranch development is moving forward
A project application for the San Luis Ranch development at the southern gateway of San Luis Obispo is expected to be submitted to the city within the next few months.
Escrow on the $19.7 million Dalidio Ranch property closed Dec. 23, project representative Marshall Ochylski said.
New owner Gary Grossman, president of Coastal Community Builders Inc., bought the 131-acre property from Ernie Dalidio, who fought for years to develop it but faced opposition from environmental groups and downtown businesses. (The owner is listed as San Luis Ranch LLC; Coastal Community Builders is the parent company.)
“It is gratifying to reach our goal and an honor to assume ownership of a property that is of vital importance to the future of San Luis Obispo,” Grossman said in an email. “We are committed to preserving the agricultural and open space heritage of the site.”
In 2006, voters approved Measure J, which would allow big-box stores, sports fields and a business park. But Grossman’s plans are drastically different, focusing more on housing than commercial buildings.
The San Luis Obispo City Council voted unanimously in April 2014 to begin the application process, allowing Grossman to begin seeking General Plan amendments and various entitlements needed to move the project forward.
Grossman was cautioned to prepare a project application that reserved 50 percent of the property, or 65 acres, as open space — as required by the city’s General Plan.
Ochylski said the project team “is looking forward to working with the community to come up with a plan for the site that includes entry-level workforce housing for our local young professionals.” The plan will also include commercial and office space and a hotel.
San Luis Ranch is in San Luis Obispo County but also is within the city’s sphere of influence and will eventually be annexed into San Luis Obispo.
The land is adjacent to Highway 101 at the southern end of San Luis Obispo between Embassy Suites and Alfano Motorcars.
This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Plan for San Luis Ranch development is moving forward."