HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/15/2003, C5 - LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD LANDSCAPE MEDIAN PROJECT PLANS AND SPECIFICIATIONS (NO. 90253) council
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C I T Y OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Michael D. McCluskey, Public Works Director�-11.
Prepared by: Peggy Mandeville, Transportation Associate?P
SUBJECT: LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD LANDSCAPE MEDIAN PROJECT
PLANS AND SPECIFICIATIONS (No. 90253)
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve plans and specifications for the first phase of Los Osos Valley Road landscape
median construction, Specification.No. 90253.
2. Authorize staff to advertise for bids and the CAO to award the contract to the lowest
responsible bidder under$300,000.
DISCUSSION
Background
In 2000, the City applied for and received a $300,000 grant to install landscape medians on Los
Osos Valley Road(LOUR) from Royal Way to the western city limits for the purpose of visually
enhancing the roadway corridor. With approval of the grant, the project was included in the
City's 2001-03 Financial Plan. In May 2002 the California Transportation Commission
allocated Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) funds to pay for the first phase
construction of landscaped medians with the stipulation that a construction contract be awarded
by May 8, 2003. An additional $150,000 of RTIP funds have been approved for the remaining
median construction, however it appears that these monies will not be allocated until FY 05-06
(if at all) given the State budget situation.
Project Description
The Circulation Element of the General Plan designates LOVR as an arterial street. The existing
roadway includes four travel lanes and a center turn lane. First phase construction plans call for
the center turn lane to be replaced with a landscaped median in locations where there are.no
turning movement conflicts. Construction of the medians has been coordinated with the
installation of City's water reuse line in Los Osos Valley Road and the irrigation plans have been
designed for use of recycled water.
The first phase construction (see Attachment 1, Median Construction.Location Map) includes the
following medians:
Median#1: Diablo to Descanso median (as approved by the Architectural Review
Commission with no left turn conflicts)
Council Agenda Report—Los Osos Valley Road Medians, Specification No. 90253
Page 2
Median#2: Descanso to Pref imo Canyon (as approved by the Architectural Review
Commission with no left tum conflicts)
Median#3: Prefiuno Canyon to generally the western edge of the Laguna Lake golf course
property (reduced in length from Architectural Review Commission approval to
eliminate left tum restrictions)
Median #4: Laguna Lane to generally the western edge of the Congregational Church property
(reduced in length from Architectural Review Commission approval to eliminate
left turn restrictions)
In anticipation of future funding for construction of the remaining medians, staff is working with
the Parks and Recreation Department (Laguna Lake golf course), the Congregational Church and
Cedarwood condominiums to develop agreeable access solutions for these properties. Once
access solutions have been developed, landscape medians will be incorporated into the design for
the next median project.
CONCURRENCES
ARC Review
The design of the Los Osos Valley Road medians was reviewed by the City's Architectural
Review Commission (ARC) on March 17, 2003 (see Attachment 2, ARC staff report). The ARC
voted 4-2-1 (Schultz and Smith voting no, Howard abstained) to approve the design of medians
from the western city limits to Royal Way with ten conditions and one code requirement (see
Attachment 3, ARC approval letter). Conditions include the addition of large growing canopy
trees and a surface treatment on median noses at pedestrian crossings for use as a pedestrian
refuge in the event the pedestrian is unable to cross the street in one movement. Construction
plans have been revised to incorporate these conditions of approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City's 2001-03 Financial Plan budgeted $341,000 for the design and construction of the
medians. To date, the City has spent $12,460 for landscape/irrigation design services.
Because the engineer's estimate for construction of the first phase medians is $500,000 staff does
not anticipate that all four medians can be constructed for the $300,000 in grant monies.
Therefore, construction bids will be separated into segments of work to allow the City the
flexibility to maximize the use of the$300,000 in grant monies.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Defer the construction. If this project does not proceed, the grant monies will be forfeited
and reallocated to another area of the County.
Council Agenda Report—Los Osos Valley Road Medians, Specification No. 90253
Page 3
2. Increase the project scope to include construction of all of the medians. No other
funding sources have been identified which would allow the City to construct the
medians in one phase.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Median Construction Location Map
2. Architectural Review Commission staff report
3. Architectural Review Commission approval letter
Plans and Specifications(available in the Council Reading File)
I:\Council Agenda Reports\2003 agenda reports\90253 LOUR medians plans and specs.doc
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION STAFF REPORT ITEM#4
BY: Hilary Hodges, Assistant Planner(781-71644 MEETING DATE: March 17,2003
FROM: Ron Whisenand, Deputy Director of Community Developmend&
FILE NUMBER: ARC 5-03
PROJECT ADDRESS: Los Osos Valley Road
SUBJECT: Review of a capital improvement project to install landscaped medians in
Los Osos Valley Road(LOVR)between Royal Way and the Western City Limits.
SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the proposed project based on findings and subject to conditions of approval.
BACKGROUND:
Situation
The City's 2001-03 Financial Plan identified the LOVR Medians as a capital
improvement project which the City has received a$300,000 grant to install. In order to
meet the grant requirements, a construction contract must be approved by May 8, 2003,
therefore the Public Works Department would like to receive approval for the installation
of the medians in time to secure a contract by that date.
Data Summary
Address: Los Osos Valley Road
Applicant: City of San Luis Obispo
Representative: Peggy Mandeville, Transportation Planner
Zoning: Public Right Of Way
General Plan: Public Right of Way, Arterial Street
Environmental: Exempt from CEQA (Section 15304)
Site Description
The General Plan designates LOVR as an arterial street. It is a significant regional route
conveying high volumes of traffic. The existing roadway includes four travel lanes and a
center turn lane. It is also a designated scenic roadway with moderate scenic value from
Royal Way to Diablo and high scenic value west of Diablo (Attachment 1 and 3).
Project Description
The project is described in detail in the attached Project Statement(Attachment 2) and
Conceptual Planting Plan(Attachment 4). The medians, between Royal Way and the
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western city limits (Attachment 3), will be installed in the existing center turn lane. They
will be located between intersections and will have left turn lane pockets. The medians
will be landscaped with a combination of hardscape and plant material. Construction will
take place in a minimum of two phases with the first phase occurring this Fall between
the intersections of Diablo Drive and Prefumo Canyon Road.
EVALUATION:
Traffic Circulation
The project will not significantly impact traffic circulation on LOVR although several
driveways will be blocked from left turns off of LOVR. In the section between Prefumo
Canyon and Laguna, left turn movements at the Laguna Lake Golf Course will be
blocked,requiring westbound motorists to drive past the golf course and make a u-turn at
Pref imo Canyon. Also between Laguna and Oceanaire left turn access would be
restricted at the Congregational United Church of Christ and the Cedarwood
Condominiums. The Public Works Department has contacted the owners of the golf
course and church, as well as the Cederwood homeowners association and has received
responses that show concern for how the current median design will affect their property.
Staff recommends that, because of the grant deadline, the ARC approve the design of the
entire median project with the condition that medians which may cause conflict with
existing driveways should not be installed until the Public Works Department has worked
with the property owners on a median design that they can agree on.
Landscaping
Medians associated with the DeVaul Ranch project have been approved for LOVR
between Madonna Road and US Highway 101. The landscape design for the proposed
medians were developed with the consideration for compatibility with these previously
approved medians. The New Zealand Christmas Tree, Flowering Plum, New Zealand
Flax, Shore Juniper, and Bearberry Cotoneaster that are proposed for this project are also
in the plans for the previously approved medians.
The City Arborist has reviewed the plans and has concern for the Prunus Blireiana
(Flowering Plum) because of its short lifespan and recommends that more tree types be
added for diversity. Conditions of approval are recommended to address these issues.
Consistency with the General Plan
CI 8.5: Livability. The city will seek opportunities to improve the livability of existing
arterial streets through redesign of street corridors.
The LOVR corridor will be greatly improved by adding landscaping and breaking up the
width of the street.
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CI 14.1: Scenic Resources. View of important scenic resources from major streets
should be preserved and improved to the maximum extent possible.
The section of LOVR between Diablo Drive and the western city limits is designated as a
scenic roadway, therefore the following policy applies to that section.
CI 14.3: Development Along Scenic Roadways. Development along scenic roadways
should not block views or detract from the quality of views.
A) Projects in the viewshed of a scenic roadway should be considered as
"sensitive"and require architectural review.
B) Development projects should not wall off scenic roadways and block views.
C) As part of the city's environmental review process, blocking of views along
scenic roadways should be considered a significant environmental impact.
D) Signs along scenic roadways should not clutter vistas or views.
E) Street lights should below scale and focus light at intersections where it is
most needed. Tall light standards should be avoided. Street lighting should
be integrated with other street furniture at locations where views are least
disturbed. However safety priorities should remain superior to scenic
concerns. (No lighting is proposed as part of this project.)
By adding more trees to the street corridor, opportunities to view the surrounding hills
while driving or walking along LOVR will be reduced. However, since there are existing
trees and development that currently blocks the views in most areas the impact will not
be significant. As a condition of approval, trees will be clustered, instead of uniformly
spaced, to allow views between them. The addition of landscaping will greatly enhance
the scenic value of the immediate area along the corridor. No signs or lights are
proposed as part of this project.
Cl 14.4: Utility and Circulation-Related Equipment. The City and other agencies
should be encouraged to avoid cluttering scenic roadways with utility and circulation-
related equipment and facilities.
A) Whenever possible; signs in the public right-of-way should be consolidated on a
single low-profile standard.
B) Public utilities along scenic highways should be installed underground.
C) The placement of landscaping and street trees should not block views from Scenic
Routes. Clustering of street trees along scenic roadways should be considered as
an alternative to uniform spacing.
D) Traffic signals with long mast arms should be discouraged along scenic roadways.
E)
As a condition of approval, trees will be required to be clustered to allow views of the
surrounding hills between them.
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CI 14.10: Street Corridor Landscaping Plan. The City will adopt a street corridor
landscaping plan for scenic roadways. Indigenous species will be used unless shown to
be inappropriate.
No street corridor landscape plan has been developed for LOVR, however the medians
have been designed to be compatible with the medians currently under construction on
Los Osos Valley Road between Madonna Road and US Highway 101.
CI 15.3: Financial Plan and Capital Improvement Support. The City's Financial
Plan and Capital Improvement Program(CIP) should support the programs, plans and
projects identified in this Circulation Element.
The 2001-03 Financial Plan identified the Los Osos Valley Road Medians as a capital
improvement project..
Consistency with the Community Design Guidelines
The project meets the objective of the Design Guidelines to promote design that is
architecturally distinctive, at the pedestrian scale, and integrated with the natural
environment. The landscaped medians will significantly improve the LOW corridor by
breaking up the wide expanse of the road, better organizing traffic circulation which will
be safer for pedestrians, providing vegetation that is suitable for the location and
compatible with the natural environment.
6.2(B) Landscape Design Guidelines
The landscape design uses a combination of trees, shrubs, groundcover, and
natural rock formations. Two of the three trees (New Zealand Christmas Tree and
Canary Island Pine) are on the City's Street Tree List. The selected plants are resistant to
wind and are drought tolerant. The irrigation is automatic and will be compatible with
the City's planned reclaimed water system so that it can be connected when the system is
available.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the LOW median project, based on findings and subject to conditions of
approval.
Findings:
1. As conditioned, the project is consistent with the Community Design Guidelines,
General Plan, and Financial Plan. The median and landscape design is compatible
with the neighboring uses and the natural environment, improve the street
corridor, and as conditioned will not significantly impact the scenic value of
LOVR.
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3. The project components are compatible with the surrounding uses on LOVR. The
area is primarily residential with a church and school as well as a golf course.
Breaking up the wide expanse of LOVR with vegetation will make the road look
more like a neighborhood street and function as a welcoming gateway to the City.
4. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review (CEQA
Guidelines, Section 15304).
Conditions:
1. Medians which will prevent left turns into existing driveways to property with no
other entrance shall not be constructed until the Public Works Department has
worked with the property owners on a median design that they can agree on.
2. The landscape plan shall include additional tree species to add diversity. The
choice of additional trees must take into consideration the medians compatibility
with previously approved medians on LOVR, as well as the environment of the
location(wind,traffic, views, etc.). Prior to beginning construction, a revised
landscape plan shall be submitted to the City Arborist for approval.
3. The Flowering Plum tree shall be used sparsely to add color to the landscape but
shall not be one of the dominant species in the plan.
4. Trees shall be clustered to maintain openings for views of the surrounding hills
rather than uniformly spaced.
5. The project shall be built to substantially conform to the approved plans.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Vicinity Map.
2. Project Statement.
3. Map with approximate locations of proposed medians.
4. Conceptual Landscape Plans.
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Project Study RepoPt(L Rehabilitation) Attachment
(For 20002 STIP Project I the State Highway System)
December 2001
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Valley Road
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Los Osos Valley Road Medians ATtACHWN ;1 z
Project Statement
March 2003
Background
The City has received a$300,000 grant to install landscaped medians on Los Osos Valley
Road between Royal Way and the western city limits.
Los Osos Valley Road is a significant regional route conveying high volumes of traffic
traveling faster than 45 miles per hour. The existing roadway design includes a
continuous center turn lane along most of its length west of Madonna Road, but no
landscaping. Most segments also include sidewalks adjacent to the curb, which further
contributes to the street's mundane appearance. The proposed landscaped medians would
occupy the center turn lane, visually enhancing this corridor and the natural background
of the Irish Hills and the Morros.
Proiect Goal
In order to meet the grant requirements, a construction contract must be approved by May
8, 2003, therefore it is the goal of the Public Works Department to receive ARC approval
for the installation of landscape medians between Royal Way and the western city limits
at the ARC meeting of March 17, 2003. Of the six medians proposed, three restrict left
turn movements in and out of four developments on the south side of Los Osos Valley
Road If the Commission has a concern regarding any of these left tum restrictions, the
Public Works Department can work with the affected property owners to develop a
preferred solution prior to construction of that section of Los Osos Valley Road.
Median Locations
As shown below, most of the medians can be installed without any impacts to existing
circulation patterns.
Western City Limits to Diablo. No turning movement impacts, however, given the
existing lane transitions occurring in this section, median construction may need to wait
until the roadway is widened
Diablo to Descanso. No impacts.
Descanso to Prefumo Canyon. No impacts.
Prefumo Canyon to Laguna. This section currently would block left turn movements at
the Laguna Lake Golf Course,requiring westbound motorists to drive past the golf course
and make a u-tum at Prefumo Canyon. To avoid this situation,Public Works
recommends that a temporary turn pocket be constructed until such time as the golf
course entrance can be relocated to the Laguna Lane signalized intersection.
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Laguna to Oceanaire. Construction of a median in this section would restrict left turn
access at the Congregational United Church of Christ and the Cedarwood
Condominiums. The Public Works Department has contacted the owners of these
properties and requested that they work with the department to develop a preferred
solution for this median.
Possible alternative solutions include:
a. Do not build this section of landscape medians until alternative access to these
properties can be provided; or
b. Build the landscape median with one left turn lane for shared access into the church
and condominium properties.
Oceanaire to Royal. Alternative driveway access to Irish Hills Hamlet apartments is
provided from Royal Way, therefore left turns can be restricted on Los Osos Valley
Road.
Landscape Design
For ease of maintenance and plant viability, median sections that are less than 4 feet in
width will not contain landscaping. In place of landscaping, varying sizes of river rock
are proposed in these locations. Public Works prefers the use of river rock over stamped
concrete because it provides more visual interest with the introduction of shadows and it
can be pulled up and reinstalled with minimal impacts.
To provide sight visibility for motorists turning left onto Los Osos Valley Road from side
streets, low growing shrubs (that generally do not grow beyond three feet in height) and
ground covers have been selected.
Shrubs and ground covers will be one-gallon in size and planted three to four feet on
center. Trees will be a minimum of 15-gallon and a maximum of 24-inch box in size
and will be planted in groups.
The irrigation system is being designed for use of reclaimed water once the City's new
system is in place.
The location of existing utilities does not limit the placement of street trees with the
medians with the exception of the median between Oceanaire and Royal Way. Within
this median, street trees will be planted in the southern half of the median to avoid a 16-
inch gas line that is located in the northern half of the median.
Construction Phasing
The medians will be constructed in a minimum of two phases with the first phase
occurring this Fall between the intersections of Diablo Drive and Prefumo Canyon Road.
A second phase will follow no sooner than Summer 2004.
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Compatibility with Other LOVR Medians
Landscape plans have been approved on Los Osos Valley Road between Madonna Road
and US Highway 101 in conjunction with the adjoining developments. firma, the
landscape architecture firm hired by the City to prepare the landscape and irrigation plans
for this project, reviewed these plans and developed the following list of common plant
materials that they recommend be included in this project to provide compatibility
between landscape median projects:
New Zealand Christmas Tree Indian Hawthorne (Raphiolepis)
Flowering plum Cotoneaster
Coprosma Juniper
Environmental Review
A notice of exemption has been filed for the installation of landscaped medians within an
existing roadway and right of way(Categorical Exemption 15304, Class 4- Minor
Alterations).
General Plan Consistency
This portion of Los Osos Valley Road is designated as an Arterial Street; providing
circulation between major activity centers and residential areas. The installation of
landscaped medians complies with the following Circulation Element policies:
CI 8.5: Livability. The city will seek opportunities to improve the livability of existing
arterial streets through redesign of street corridors.
CI 14.1: Scenic Resources. View of important scenic resources from major streets
should be preserved and improved to the maximum extent possible.
(The section of LOVR between Diablo Drive and the western city limits is designated as a
scenic roadway, therefore the following policy applies to that section.)
CI 14.3: Development Along Scenic Roadways. Development along scenic roadways
should not block views or detract from the quality of views.
A) Projects in the viewshed of a scenic roadway should be considered as
"sensitive" and require architectural review.
B) Development projects should not wall off scenic roadways and block views.
C) As part of the city's environmental review process, blocking of views along
scenic roadways should be considered a significant environmental impact.
D) Signs along scenic roadways should not clutter vistas or views.
E) Street lights should be low scale and focus light at intersections where it is
most needed. Tall light standards should be avoided. Street lighting should
be integrated with other street furniture at locations where views are least
disturbed. However safety priorities should remain superior to scenic
concerns. (No lighting is proposed as part of this project.)
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ATROWENT a L
CI 14.4: Utility and Circulation-Related Equipment. The City and other agencies
should be encouraged to avoid cluttering scenic roadways with utility and circulation-
related equipment and facilities.
A) Whenever possible, signs in the public right-of-way should be consolidated on a
single low-profile standard.
B) Public utilities along scenic highways should be installed underground.
C) The placement of landscaping and street trees should not block views from Scenic
Routes. Clustering of street trees along scenic roadways should be considered as
an alternative to uniform spacing.
D) Traffic signals with long mast arms should be discouraged along scenic roadways.
CI 14.10: Street Corridor Landscaping Plan. The City will adopt a street corridor
landscaping plan for scenic roadways. Indigenous species will be used unless shown to
be inappropriate.
(No street corridor landscape plan has been developed for LOVR, however the medians
have been designed to be compatible with the medians currently under construction on
Los Osos Valley Road between Madonna Road and US Highway 101. See
"Compatibility with Other LO VR Medians" above.)
CI 153: Financial Plan and Capital Improvement Support. The City's Financial
Plan and Capital Improvement Program (CII') should support the programs, plans and
projects identified in this Circulation Element.
(The 2001-03 Financial Plan identified the Los Osos Valley Road Medians as a capital
improvement project).
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Ct'f11 Or SM JU,S Og1SPO Department of Community Development
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March 18, 2003
TO: File ARC 5-03: Los Osos Valley Road
Peggy Mandeville, Transportation Associate
FROM: Ronald Whisenand, Deputy Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Review of new landscape medians along Los Osos Valley Road from
Royal Way to western city limits
The Architectural Review Commission, at its meeting of March 17, 2003, granted final
approval to your project, based on the following findings and subject to the following
conditions and code requirements:
Findings
1. As conditioned, the project is consistent with the Community Design Guidelines,
General Plan, and Financial Plan. The median and landscape design is compatible
with the neighboring uses and the natural environment, improve the street corridor,
and as conditioned will not significantly impact the scenic value of LOVR.
2. The project components are compatible with the surrounding uses on LOVR. The
area is primarily residential with a church and school as well as a golf course.
Breaking up the wide expanse of LOVR with vegetation will make the road look
more like a neighborhood street and function as a welcoming gateway to the City.
3. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review (CEQA Guidelines,
Section 15304).
Conditions
1. Medians which will prevent left turns into existing driveways to property with no
other entrance shall not be constructed until the Public.Works Department has
worked with the property owners on a median design that they can agree on.
2. The landscape plan shall include additional tree species to add diversity: The
choice of additional trees must take into consideration the medians compatibility
with previously approved medians on LOVR, as well as the environment of the
location (wind, traffic, views, etc.). Prior to beginning construction, a revised
landscape plan shall be submitted to the City Arborist for approval.
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ARC 5-03
Page 2 -
3. The Flowering Plum tree shall be used sparsely to add color to the landscape but
shall not be one of the dominant species in the plan.
4. Trees shall be clustered to maintain openings for views of the surrounding hills
rather than uniformly spaced.
5. The project shall be built to substantially conform to the approved plans.
6. Appropriate backflow prevention will be necessary on any connection to the City
water system for irrigation. All backflow preventers shall be approved by the
University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and
Hydraulic Research. The project shall be coordinated with the County Cross-
Connection Inspector, Henry Ruiz, who can be reached at 781-5567.
7. The irrigation system shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the
standards for reclaimed water use. If reclaimed water is not yet available, the
system shall be designed to work with either system and constructed to reclaimed
water standards. The irrigation system shall be temporarily connected to the City's
potable water system in the area of the anticipated connection to the reclaimed
water system. Once reclaimed water is available, the system will be disconnected
from the potable water main and connected to the reclaimed water main.
8. Large growing canopy trees such as Coast live oak and camphor shall be added to
the plant palette.
9. The plans shall be modified to include more of a cluster effect by grouping trees
closer together.
10. The plans, shall be modified to include some surface treatment to delineate
pedestrian crossing areas.
node Requirement
The following code requirements are included for information purposes only. They
serve to give the applicant a general idea of other City requirements that will apply to
the project. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list as other requirements may be
identified during the plan check process.
1. A water allocation is required, due to the additional demand on the City's water
supplies. The City currently has water to allocate, and does so on a "first-come,
first-served" basis. Water is allocated at the time building permits are issued and
the Water Impact Fee is paid. The Water Impact Fee is based on the size of the
water meter(s) serving the project. If the account is set up as an irrigation account,
no sewer impact fees or monthly sewer charges would apply.
ARC 5-03 ATTR `: 3
Page 3 -
The decision of the Commission is final unless appealed to the City Council within 10
days of the action.
While the City's water allocation regulations are in effect, the Architectural Review
Commission's approval expires after three years if construction has not started, unless
the Commission designated a different time period. On request, the Community
Development Director may grant a single one-year extension.
If you have any questions, please contact Hilary Hodges at 781-7165.
cc: County of SLO Assessor's Office