HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/3/2026 Item 7a, SLO Tenants Union
SLO Tenants Union <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:February 3 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 7a, Laguna Lake Golf Course
Dear Mayor Stewart and City Council Members,
The SLO Tenants Union urges the City Council to seriously consider converting the Laguna Lake Golf Course
property into 100% permanently affordable housing while preserving parkland on the remainder of the site. San
Luis Obispo faces an acute affordable housing crisis, and this 29-acre public asset represents a meaningful
opportunity to address our community's most pressing need. Our January 2024 housing policy letter outlined
exactly this type of sustainable, community-oriented, and human-centered strategy.
We propose that the City: (1) retain public ownership rather than sell to private developers; (2) lease the
buildable portion to qualified nonprofit affordable housing developers; (3) require 100% permanently affordable
units with deed restrictions ensuring long-term affordability; (4) maximize density while maintaining
neighborhood compatibility; and (5) convert remaining acreage to accessible public parkland.
The golf course currently requires an annual General Fund subsidy of approximately $460,000. While a valued
community amenity, the property's aging infrastructure, recent flood damage to the pro shop, and substantial
planned capital projects indicate that converting a portion of the property to affordable housing would be a more
efficient use of public resources and land.
Our proposal aligns with City policy: the Parks and Recreation Blueprint (Policy 2.6) explicitly calls for
exploring alternative community uses of the golf course. Given the significance of this decision, the City should
begin preparations to use appropriate public processes, including ballot measure(s) if warranted, to present it to
our city's residents democratically.
We request that the City Council direct staff to prepare a comprehensive feasibility analysis of our proposal
addressing zoning and land use requirements, market viability and developer interest, infrastructure needs,
environmental review requirements, appropriate residential density and design standards, mechanisms to ensure
permanent affordability, impacts to existing golf course partnerships, and project timeline and costs.
Public land should serve the public good. The SLO Tenants Union stands ready to work with the City in
exploring this opportunity to advance safe, secure, and affordable housing for all.
Respectfully,
SLO Tenants Union
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We are a Tenant-led organization dedicated to defending and advancing the right to safe, secure, and affordable housing for all in San Luis Obispo County.
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