Active Projects
2020-2028 Housing Element Implementation
2020-2028 Housing Element Implementation Framework
On March 12, 2024, the Board of Supervisors considered a board-requested housing policy review conducted by the Department of Planning and Building, which included a recommended Housing Element implementation framework for the next four years. The Board provided input and directed staff to implement the Housing Element in accordance with the modified framework. Implementation is targeted to begin July 2024. All items will return to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
Please contact Planner Claire Momberger at [email protected] with any questions or to be added to an interested parties contact list for specific framework actions.
Phillips 66 Santa Maria Refinery Demolition and Remediation Project
On August 15, 2022, Phillips 66 Company (Phillips 66) applied to the County of San Luis Obispo for approval of a Development Plan and Coastal Development Permit (DP/CDP) to demolish the Santa Maria Refinery (SMR) facility and remediate the site located at 2555 Willow Road in Arroyo Grande, California.
The County application, C-DRC2022-00048 Phillips 66 SMR Demolition and Remediation Project (SMR Project), was accepted for processing on March 15, 2023, initiating an environmental review process as required under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Environmental Impact Report
On September 19, 2024, the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Santa Maria Refinery Demolition and Remediation Project was released.The Final EIR and the Appendices can be accessed here
The complete Draft EIR can be accessed here.
The comments received on the Draft EIR can be accessed here.
Planning Commission Hearing
A hearing before the County Planning Commission to consider the request by Phillips 66 for a Development Plan/Coastal Development Permit to allow demolition and remediation of the Santa Maria Refinery (SMR), will be held on Thursday, October 24, at 9:00 a.m. (All items are advertised for 9:00 AM. Also to be considered at the hearing is the certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR).To verify agenda placement, please see the Planning Commission agenda [please add link to Planning Commission agendas Planning Commission Meetings (ca.gov)]. The hearing will be held in Katcho Achadjian Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo.
Dana Reserve Specific Plan
The 2024 Dana Reserve Specific Plan would allow for the phased development of a 288-acre master-planned community with up to 1,370 residential units, 110,000-203,000 square feet of commercial and non-residential (Visitor Serving/Hotel, Education) floor area, a minimum of 55.6 acres of open space and 6.3 acres of recreation, and related circulation and infrastructure. The project also includes a County-initiated General Plan and Ordinance Amendment to change the land use categories within the specific plan area and to incorporate the property into the Nipomo Urban Reserve Line (URL), and to ensure the General Plan is consistent with the DRSP. The project would require annexation into the Nipomo Community Services District service area to facilitate the provision of water and wastewater services to the project. The project site is located in the Residential Rural land use category, west of US 101, east of Hetrick Avenue, and adjacent to the Nipomo URL. The project is located within the South County Inland Sub Area of the South County Planning Area.
Title 26 Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) and the Los Osos Waitlist To Build
Due to historical water quality degradation of the Los Osos Groundwater Basin ("Basin"), new development is contingent upon implementation of the Updated Basin Plan for the Los Osos Groundwater Basin ("Basin Plan") and the County's Retrofit-to-Build program. The Growth Management Ordinance (County Code Title 26) establishes the annual residential growth rate for the unincorporated county, based on existing housing stock and available community resources.
Update – October 2024
On June 13, 2024, the California Coastal Commission issued suggested modifications to the Estero Area Plan and the proposed Los Osos Community Plan, including a maximum residential growth rate of 1% for the sustainable buildout of Los Osos if groundwater production remains below sustainable yield, based on the best available science.
On October 29, 2024, the County Board of Supervisors approved an updated version of the GMO, including the following:
- A conservative growth management strategy consistent with California Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications
- New Waitlist to Build regulations
- Streamlined ordinance administration procedures, including transitioning tracking the annual growth from a fiscal year basis to a calendar year basis.
Background
The Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) initially set a 0% growth rate for vacant parcels served by on-site septic systems in the Los Osos sewer service area (also known as the Prohibition Zone) and resulted in a Waitlist to Build since 1989. The growth rate stayed at 0%, even after completion of the community sewer system, because vacant parcels were prohibited from connecting to the sewer until the Estero Area Plan was amended to reflect updated buildout numbers in line with resource limitations and habitat impacts. The October 2024 GMO amendments reflect the Coastal Commission suggested modifications and how the County would manage the allowed growth in Los Osos.
Los Osos Growth Rate Implementation Approach in the County Growth Management Ordinance
Resource Summary Report (RSR) to Update Water Supply Analysis for District 2
The 2016-2018 Resource Summary Report (RSR) was approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 15, 2020.
Diablo Canyon Power Plant Extended Operations
On September 2, 2022, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 846 into law, providing a path for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to extend operations at its Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) beyond the current expected closures of 2024 (Unit 1) and 2025 (Unit 2). There are numerous provisions in the new law that require proceedings spanning multiple State and Federal agencies. Links to the various agencies proceedings are provided below in the Frequently Asked Questions section. See "Which Agencies are involved in implementing SB 846".
Los Osos Community Plan
The Department of Planning & Building was authorized to prepare the Los Osos Community Plan (LOCP) on December 11, 2012. The LOCP is part of the County’s General Plan and is not included in the County’s Local Coastal Program. The LOCP provides a greater level of specificity for the community of Los Osos
Excerpt from Chapter 1.1 Purpose of the LOCP:
“The purpose of this [LOCP] is to establish a vision for the future of Los Osos that will guide growth and development over the next 20 years…This plan is intended to be the community’s plan…Continued community involvement is needed to achieve the vision.”
Board of Supervisors Adopted Los Osos Community Plan (October 2024), including the California Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications:
Background
The original Estero Area Plan was certified by the Coastal Commission in 1988, and an update began in 1996. The Estero Area Plan encompasses Los Osos, Cayucos, and the rural area (of Estero) entirely within the Coastal Zone. On November 2, 2004, the Board of Supervisors approved the Estero Area Plan update for submittal to the California Coastal Commission. The update and associated amendments were submitted to the Coastal Commission at the end of December 2004 as part of Local Coastal Program Amendment No. 2-04.
Due to the outstanding issues in Los Osos at that time (mid 2000’s), specifically lack of an approved communitywide Habitat Conservation Plan for Los Osos to deal with widespread environmentally sensitive habitat, a projected build-out in line with groundwater supply, uncertainty about a community-wide sewer system, the Los Osos portion of the Estero Area Plan update was removed in 2006. The Estero Area Plan was later certified by the Coastal Commission in 2009 with updates to the parts dealing with Cayucos and the rural areas, but without any updates for the Los Osos urban area. Those updates were addressed through the Los Osos Community Plan (adopted by the Board of Supervisors October 2024) and amendments to the Estero Area Plan (adopted by the Board of Supervisors October 2024) are once again underway as part of the Los Osos Community Plan.
The Los Osos Community Plan and amendments to the Estero Area Plan must be certified by the California Coastal Commission before they can take effect – certification is anticipated in December 2024.
Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan (LOHCP)
Update:
On October 29th, 2024, staff requested direction from the Board of Supervisors regarding the implementation of the LOHCP. Based on Board direction, staff will return on December 10, 2024, with the final package on LOHCP implementation funding. The direction received from the Board on October 29th, 2024 is available here.
Project files listed below:
Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan (LOHCP)
LOHCP Appendices
LOHCP EIR
LOHCP IAMMP
LOHCP ITP
Further updates will be posted and/or linked on this page as available:
This information is available online via the US Fish and Wildlife Services (Ventura Office) by clicking here.
