Too much development in Nipomo despite lack of water

How is it that the county planning office and commission have fallen asleep at the wheel again when it comes to irresponsible development of the Trilogy/Woodlands project?

Nipomo has documented steadily falling groundwater levels, and the Nipomo Community Services District is considering a Stage 4 water shortage and has responsibly stopped all development.

But the greedy Trilogy developers who control the local water company and are not responsible to the NCSD are forging ahead with building hundreds of homes and putting in a massive vineyard, despite the water certification for the whole project expiring after next year. How is the county allowing this massive island of development in a sea of otherwise responsible planning for the South County?

The developer claimed it was getting supplemental water from Santa Maria, but they have not even hooked up the pipe yet.

And that supplemental water is meant to alleviate the current overpumping, not help make the numbers work for hundreds of new homes. The Laetitia Vineyard subdivision was stopped because of water concerns for far fewer homes.

Is this a case of the county missing another Justin Vineyards and Winery? We need our supervisors and Planning Commission to protect us from developer abuse.

This story was originally published August 27, 2016 at 7:58 PM with the headline "Too much development in Nipomo despite lack of water."