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SLO Council gives approval for Grossman’s San Luis Ranch

July 19, 2017

The San Luis Obispo City Council endorsed developer Gary Grossman’s San Luis Ranch project on Tuesday. The proposed development will now go before the SLO County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which will consider a request by the city to annex Grossman’s property.

Grossman, a major donor to SLO County Supervisor Adam Hill and Hill’s political allies, owns the former Dalidio ranch that was the center of a longtime development controversy in San Luis Obispo. The ranch is a 131-acre property between Highway 101 and Madonna Road, which is currently located outside the city limits.

Plans for San Luis Ranch include up to 580 homes on 40 acres, as well as 60 acres of organic farming and open space. Grossman is also proposing 200,000 square feet of commercial space, 150,000 square feet of office space and a 200-room hotel.

The homes Grossman plans to build range from 250-square-foot apartments to 2,200-square-foot houses. All of the homes would be constructed on small lots, which would be no larger than 3,200 square feet.

Gary Grossman

On Tuesday, the San Luis Obispo council voted 4-0 to certify the final environmental impact report for the development and approve a city general plan amendment and other related plans. Likewise, the council started the annexation process by authorizing city staff to submit an application to LAFCO.

Councilwoman Andy Pease recused herself because she had done work for RRM Design Group within the past year. RRM design is serving as Grossman’s project architect.

Unlike Dalidio’s abandoned project, Grossman’s planned development has consistently overcome regulatory hurdles. Previously, the SLO County Airport Land Use Commission set limits restricting the plans of developers, like Grossman, who seek to build high-density housing on the city’s southern edge.

Yet, the last SLO City Council voted to override the commission and allow high-density housing near the airport. Another planned high-density development in the area, the Avila Ranch project, is expected to go before the city planning commission in August.


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So today I got a postcard from the city of SLO stating that on Madonna Road between LOVR and Highway 101 “vehicle lanes will be narrowed, which will make traffic move slower and safer.”


I don’t think it will be safer with more cars on the road from this development and narrower lanes – it will just mean more, slower traffic, which I thought was exactly what people DON’T want.


This project is expected to last four months starting in August, just in time for the start of school.


Thanks you masterminds at city hall for making a bad situation even worse!


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Ok, i don’t know Gary Grossman personally, but as a specialty contractor that moved to San Luis Obispo County in 1988 from orange county, I understand a bit about building projects. Personally, back in 2000, I decided that I was done with tract home project type work,for personal reasons. But, at the time, I mostly did not realize the larger scope and effect of the building retail/light commercial business was going to happen here, even though I had already been in my trade for 25 years when I moved here (I’m just a little guy/business by choice). I loved it here and never thought it would/could be like orange county. I was and am wrong. It’s sad to me. Yes, I moved here knowing there would be ample work so that I would/could retire here. But… the consequences of the building and expansion have and will continue to have the orange county effect (build until there is nothing left to build on and then move to another area), traffic, crime, homlessness etc.

This article and the comments are focused on the builder and the powers that builders have to deal with. I don’t necessarily support Grossman or like, but communities need builders. How they and government entities do business together should be scruitinized. I also think that Ernie Daldido, was more than, shall we say, screwed since he had the community in mind more than Grossman (in my opinion). However, my main point in all of this rant is that the reason that these massive projects get passed is that the higher density of projects of this type, means the the higher tax revenue the city will collect.The bottom line is that the city makes massive tax revenue when they allow super high density housing. That pays for a lot of retirement money etc. My 2 cents.


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I think it can easily be said that this is prostitution on the part of government.


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Grossman, a major donor to SLO County Supervisor Adam Hill and Hill’s political allies, owns the former Dalidio ranch that was the center of a longtime development controversy in San Luis Obispo.


So if you pay up in SLO you can get anything you want? Dalidio went through hell trying to do less to that property than what this pay to play guy is intending. Can the smell get any worse?


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I remember when Kelly Gearhart had the property next to Alfano Motors rezoned and no body was even aware of the process. I asked him how he did that. his answer $$$$$$ to the right people. So I guess it’s business as usual in SLO. Maybe that is why it;s the nicest place? To those that pay and play.


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Apparently Grossman’s motto “You get what you pay for” is working well!!


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Would like more housing less commercial and office space, but Grossman builds good projects and follows through. I don’t know any of his projects having building quality issues.


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Agreed they are of quality although the density that is allowed is way too confining at times. These high density projects just add to the impact on the lifestyle that most of us came here for and now it is being sold to the highest donor to our politicians. SLO is just becoming another town when it use to be something special/ Time to say good bye to the good life.


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“Grossman builds good projects and follows through” Really? Pretty uninformed. Read this


http://www.pe.com/2012/11/02/wildomar-families-suspect-houses-in-illnesses/


http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/23134-autumnwood-a-community-living-in-toxic-fear-and-uncertainty


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Grossman/CCB does not build quality homes and has many unhappy home buyers further south…wish I could say more and provide my many pictures of the quality (or lack of) but please SLO, “Buyer Beware”! Very sad your county succumbed.


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