SLO County supervisors vote 3-2 to approve Dana Reserve development in Nipomo
NIPOMO, Calif. – A two-day hearing regarding the Dana Reserve development concluded on Wednesday with the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voting 3-2 to approve the much-debated project.
The final day of the hearing followed what was at times an emotional meeting on Tuesday, where dozens of people attended and spoke during the public comment period either in support of the project or in opposition.
The meeting on Wednesday lasted eight hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to go along with Tuesday's eight-and-a-half hours.
As for the vote, again it went three in favor, two against.
Supervisor Jimmy Paulding who represents Nipomo District 4, said he likes a lot of what the project offers, but is against the development as it is currently planned, noting a number of significant impacts it would create.
District Two Supervisor Bruce Gibson also said he could not support the project as is, mentioning the lack of affordability guarantees and environmental impacts.
Supervisors Debbie Arnold from District 5, John Peschong from District 1 and Third District Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg all supported the Dana Reserve, pointing out it will bring what they said is much-needed housing to the county.
The Dana Reserve proposal is a 288-acre master-planned community with up to 1,370 residential units, 110,000-203,000 square feet of commercial and non-residential (Visitor Serving/Hotel, Education) floor area, a minimum of 55.6 acres of open space and 6.3 acres of recreation, and related circulation and infrastructure.
The project site is located on a highly visible 288 acre piece of property adjacent to Highway 101, on the westside of the freeway, just south Willow Road. The property is passed by thousands of vehicles daily traveling on Highway 101 and is located about one mile north of Tefft Street, the main commercial corridor of Nipomo.
Since it was first proposed four years ago by local developer Nick Tompkins, the project has generated a significant amount of discussion in the Nipomo area, particularly due to the potential impacts it may create to both the community and environment.
"Very thankful, very pleased, a little bit relieved and, looking forward to doing something that I think ultimately people will look at and go, gosh, you know, that was a good project," said Tompkins. "So I'm really glad to be able to move this forward."
Over the past four years, several members of the community have formed a grassroots group called the Nipomo Action Committee, to develop an organized effort to oppose the project.
The group has been highly visible and vocal with its opposition, posting signage throughout the community, while also regularly holding meetings and events to spread their messaging to the public.
"So we're disappointed with the result, but, we'll keep moving forward," said Alison Martinez, Nipomo Action Committee director. "Poll action committee is here to stay, and we're going to look at our options moving forward and what opportunities are there for us to make a difference still."
Tompkins, a Nipomo native, has long said the project will bring much-needed housing not only to Nipomo, but also San Luis Obispo County, and also pointed out the project will help the county meet a portion of its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
He has been working on the Dana Reserve since 2018.
Tomkins told Your News Channel after the vote that there is still a lot of work to be done to get the Dana Reserve built, and he hopes initial construction may begin as soon as next year.
There is no timeline on when the first phase could be completed, but, when it is fully completed over a 10-year build-out, the Dana Reserve is expected to add about 4,500 people to the Nipomo population.
