Let’s stick to a plan for SLO, please

I have been a resident of SLO since 1974 and worked at Cal Poly for much of that time.

When I got here, I think the population was about 25,000, with maybe 12,000 or so students at Poly. Since then the town and the university have both grown considerably. Student housing on campus has been increased, as has other housing in the city and elsewhere. The growth has created problems with housing, traffic, etc.

Every change brings with it a ripple effect. More housing creates more traffic in town. People living out of town creates more inter-city traffic. Any growth creates demand for water, sewer and trash service, etc.

I would love to go back to the 1974 population and campus size, or even to stay the size we are now. It would also be nice if Poly’s and Cuesta’s fee schedules could go back to where they were. Not happening. We can try to slow growth, but it seems unlikely that we can prevent growth.

Can we agree on a long-term plan and then stick with it, or are we doomed to muddle along in reactive mode?

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 8:46 AM with the headline "Let’s stick to a plan for SLO, please."