HomeMy WebLinkAboutARCH-0188-2023 20230420 (Laurel Garden) - Phase 1 Archaeological Survey
369 Pacific Street San Luis Obispo, California 93401 805-786-2650 www.padreinc.com
March 13, 2023
Project No. 2302-0081
Laurel Creek LP
1150 Laurel Lane Suite 120
San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Attention: Pat Smith
Subject: Letter Report, Phase I Archaeological Study, Laurel Garden Apartments Project (APN
004-962-018), San Luis Obispo, California
Dear Mr. Smith,
Padre Associates, Inc. (Padre) has conducted a Phase I Archaeological Study in support
of the Laurel Gardens Apartment Project (Project), in the City of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo
County, California (Project site). This letter provides the results of an updated records search
and the Phase I pedestrian survey.
PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION
The Project site is located at 1150 Laurel Lane (Assessor’s Parcel Number 004-962-018)
and is situated on the west side of Laurel Lane, north of Orcutt Road in the City of San Luis Obispo
in San Luis Obispo County, California (Figure 1). The Project site consists of a developed 17.04-
acre parcel containing a large central warehouse, two buildings on the north side, a fenced-in
basketball court near the northwest corner, an “L” shaped parking lot north and northwest of the
warehouse, a triangular parking lot south of the warehouse, a level, and a square shaped field
opposite the east side of the warehouse. Much of the Project site has been landscaped,
particularly along the border, with non-native shrubs and trees. The existing warehouse is not part
of the proposed Project.
The proposed Project is the demolition of the existing buildings and the construction of
two mixed-use buildings (with retail and apartments), four apartment buildings, and free standing
amenity buildings.
RECORDS SEARCH RESULTS
Padre ordered an archaeological records search from the Central Coast Information
Center of the California Historical Resources Information System (CCIC-CHRIS) at the Santa
Barbara Museum of Natural History on February 9, 2023. The records search included a review
of all recorded historic-era and prehistoric archaeological sites within the Project site and a 0.25-
mile radius, as well as a review of known cultural resource surveys and technical reports. Padre
received the results on February 10, 2023.
After completion of the pedestrian survey on February 17, 2023, the client provided a copy
of a letter report prepared by Applied Earthworks, Inc. in July 2020. The results of the more recent
records search completed by Padre indicate no significant changes, with the only difference being
two additional cultural resources studies completed within a 0.25-mile radius of the Project site.
These studies are listed in Table 1 below.
Mr. Pat Smith, Laurel Creek LP
March 13, 2023 (2302-0081)
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Table 1. Additional Cultural Resources Studies Completed within 0.25-mile of Project
Site
Study No. Author, Year Title
SL-6082 Sikes, et al 2006
Cultural Resources Final Report of Monitoring and Findings
for the QWEST Network Construction Project, State of
California
SL-7153 Carr, 2019 Architectural Evaluation for 750 Orcutt Road, San Luis
Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California
Source: CCIC, 2023
SURVEY METHODS AND RESULTS
Padre Staff Archaeologist Val Kirstine conducted a Phase I pedestrian survey of the
Project site on February 17, 2023. Mr. Kirstine examined the Project site with parallel transects
spaced at no more than 15-meter intervals, where not constrained by vegetation, terrain, or extant
structures. Ground visibility ranged from less than ten percent in the more vegetated areas to 85
percent in the open lot to the east of the warehouse, which had been recently mowed. The total
size of the survey area was approximately 17.04 acres. The survey area was documented with
color digital photographs. No cultural resources were observed during the survey.
The Project site consists of a developed parcel containing a large warehouse building
(Figure 2), two detached structures (Figure 3), and a fenced-in basketball court (Figure 4). Local
terrain was essentially flat and paved parking lots cover approximately half of the Project site
(Figure 5). An undeveloped lot approximately 2.6 acres in size is situated east of the central
warehouse, adjacent to the west side of Laurel Lane (Figure 6). Seasonal grasses, weeds, and
landscaping covered much of the undeveloped portions of the Project site, but recent mowing and
patches of thinner vegetation afforded adequate opportunity for the inspection of surface soils.
Soils observed within the Project site consisted of rocky clay of the Cropley and Diablo series.
Some of the landscaped portions of the Project site have been mechanically altered and reshaped
with a mixture of introduced fill or fill mixed with disturbed native sediments. Other areas of the
Project site, such as the vegetated medians, appear to have been fully stripped of their natural
surface layers, exposing the rockier and much denser clays below.
A small pond with associated wood decking, benches, and a short pedestrian bridge was
observed near the western edge of the Project site (Figure 7), and a narrow and mostly dry
vegetated swale was observed running along the entire length along the southern edge of the
Project site (Figure 8). The undeveloped northern margin of the Project site is characterized by
dense growths of annual grasses, small shrubs, and numerous mature trees (Figure 9).
LOCATIONPROJECTPROJECT NAME:PROJECT NUMBER: DATE:ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTSENGINEERS, GEOLOGISTS &associates, inc.1FIGURENNPROJECT LOCATION MAPBASEMAP SOURCE: TOPO! 2001 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HOLDINGSSCALE IN FEET02,0005,000PROJECTLOCATIONCALIFORNIA2302-0081 February 2023San Luis ObipsoSan Luis Obispo County, CA1150 Laurel LaneLaurel Garden ApartmentsZ:\Current Projects\2302-0081 Laurel Gardens SLO\Graphics\Laurel Gardens SLO.dwg, 2/8/2023 6:58:56 PM
Mr. Pat Smith, Laurel Creek LP
March 13, 2023 (2302-0081)
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Figure 2. Overview of Project site with warehouse at left, facing northwest
Figure 3. Overview of Project site with detached structure at left, facing northwest
Mr. Pat Smith, Laurel Creek LP
March 13, 2023 (2302-0081)
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Figure 4. Overview of basketball court, facing north
Figure 5. Overview of Project site, facing north
Mr. Pat Smith, Laurel Creek LP
March 13, 2023 (2302-0081)
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Figure 6. Overview of undeveloped lot east of warehouse, facing west
Figure 7. Overview of pond area, facing southeast
Mr. Pat Smith, Laurel Creek LP
March 13, 2023 (2302-0081)
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Figure 8. Overview of drainage swale, facing southeast
Figure 9. Overview of Project site, facing west
Mr. Pat Smith, Laurel Creek LP
March 13, 2023 (2302-0081)
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CLOSING
Should you have any questions regarding the information provided in this letter report,
please contact me at (805) 245-2650 or rletter@padreinc.com.
Sincerely,
Padre Associates, Inc.
Rachael J. Letter, M.S., RPA
Senior Archaeologist
Attachment: Applied EarthWorks, Inc. Letter Report, July 2020