Arroyo Grande denies Courtland project
December 10, 2014
Arroyo Grande City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to deny a four and a half acre proposed mix of commercial and residential units near the city’s border with Grover Beach.
In Nick Tompkins’ current proposal, he would partner with Andy Mangano who would construct 41 homes on the southern portion of the property located at the corner of Courtland Street and Grand Avenue. During the same time, Tompkins would build a large restaurant with an additional four storefronts totaling 11,000 square feet of commercial.
However, the city’s general plan denotes the entire area as commercial.
Mayor Jim Hill and Council Members Tim Brown and Barbara Harmon voted against diverting property deemed in the city’s general plan as commercial into residential because of the loss of tax dollars. In addition, members of the public spoke out about the possibility the project would lead to increased traffic congestion.
Council Members Jim Guthrie and Kristen Barneich voted to approve the project. Barneich appeared to fight back tears as she described Tompkins’ seven year struggle to develop the property.
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