Category: Central Coast

October 28,2015-

The Central Coast loves their iconic wooden piers as witnessed by the generous community support to repair the aged Cayucos pier scheduled to reopen in time for Halloween this weekend after two years of being closed. Through multiple sources including county funds, some $3.5 million was raised to do the repair replacing some 200 piles that supported the 900-foot pier built in 1872.

Now pier lovers may have to open their wallets again, and open them wide.

Fear that rough winter storms could also bring down the aging 1651 foot Avila Pier in Avila Bay prompted the Port San Luis Harbor District to close that pier earlier this summer after throngs of tourists crowded onto the pier to watch whales in Avila Bay this summer.

In late June Harbor Master Steve McGrath said the pier would need to be evaluated for safety  – later estimating it might cost $1.1 million as a “rough estimate” for the repairs. He told the press the pier had been weakened  by“worm-like marine species that bore holes in the wood.”

This week the harbor commission got a wake-up call on the cost after Shoreline Engineering carried out an underwater structural evaluation in September.

Facilities Manager for Port San Luis Loch Dreizler says a new estimate for the pier’s repair is over $12 million based on the cost of replacing more than 700 timber piles using the same ratio as the Cayucos pier where just 200 piles were replaced.

“Our board wanted to get a handle on just how much it would cost and this gives us a ballpark number. It is a big number.”

The October 27 staff report says replacing “700 piles on the Avila Pier would cost approximately $12,250,000 without considering additional costs for working around the oil plume, or planning for potential retail space on the terminus.”

Dreizler says the harbor commission is not done with their study yet and will hire a geotechnical soils expert to assess the stability of the ground underneath the pier.

The pier was last inspected in 1998 with the latest Sept 2015 engineering study concluding that the ” entire pier facility was near the end of its expected service life.”

The Avila Pier was constructed by the County of San Luis Obispo in 1908.  Not as well protected as the shorter, nearby Harford Pier, it has sustained major storm damage throughout the years and but has been repaired after each event. In 1984 the State of California and San Luis Obispo County transferred ownership of Avila Beach, including the Avila Pier, to the Harbor District. The pier is said to be the 7th longest in the state.

If estimates are correct a fund raising goal of more than 3 times what the Cayucos pier supporters undertook would be needed to do the repairs. The district may hire a PR firm if the decision to move forward is made.

With EL Nino storms expected to batter the coast this winter, the decision could be made for them. The structural study concluded that more than half the piles had damage considered “major or severe” and that the pier should not reopen until repairs are made.

In other Port San Luis news the commission hired former city manager of Morro Bay Andrea Lueker to replace Steve McGrath on an interim basis at this weeks meeting. Lueker will take over as negotiations with Red Tail Acquisitions move forward on an expected agreement to build the long-awaited Harbor Terrace project.

In addition the Port is looking forward to the opening of the new Dorn’s restaurant on the Harford Pier at years end to be called Mersea’s

October 14,2105-

Shopping center manager Clayton Gambril says the Los Osos Haggen space on LOVR is tied up in the bankruptcy proceedings now that the Washington-based chain has gone Chapter 11.”We can’t do much,our hands are tied” regarding any re-lease of the grocery store space he says.
The loss of the tenant has created at least a temporary obstacle to plans to upgrade and fill-in the shopping center with new users. For the community the loss of the grocer leaves the town with just one busy food store choice – Ralphs.
“Wile we wait we have several interested parties“ in the vacant space he says. Gambril says he has been given no estimate of how long the property will be tied up by the court.”We are hopeful it wont be long”
Also Gambril estimates the new Starbucks coming into the center  in the B of A space will be open by years-end.
One tenant said to be looking the Haggen building is Miner’s hardware who would getting more space if they relocate within the center. But that would leave the center without a major anchor and lose the chance to reuse the grocery space with its cold boxes.
In related news Smart and Final has  agreed to to buy three former Haggen stores  in SLO County, in Atascadero, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo at Johnson Avenue , now that chain has announced they would close all California stores.Los Osos is not on a list provided by Smart and Final.

September 11,2015-

New Japanese Sushi Bar Set To Open In Los Osos.

A new Japanese restaurant and Sushi Bar – Kuma- is expected to open next week at 10th St in Los Osos despite a stove  fire a few weeks ago that brought out the fire department.The eatery will be where the 10th St Grill was.

La Casita Gets Makeover

Los Osos Mexican restaurant La Casita on 9th St is getting a $230,000 makeover says its architect.

New Morro Bay Eatery Gets OK

In Morro Bay the city Planning Commission approved a plan by Black Hill Siren bar and restaurant to be located at 900 Main Street. It includes interior remodeling to combine the existing restaurant and the existing bar; approximately 2,400 sq. ft. of interior customer space and 936 sq. ft. of outdoor patio area. The combination of the corner bar and the vacant Shawans Restaurant site may offer enough seating to make a go of it.

Haggen Los Osos Bares The Shelves

Haggen grocery in Los Osos continues to bare their shelves with a 50% off sale this week. The store is likely to close in a matter of days. Adding more bad news to the closure of 27 stores, the parent company filed for bankruptcy this week as well. In Los Osos some 24 employees will lose their job.
Manager of the LOVR shopping center property Clayton Gambril says he cannot comment on any store that might come in except to say there is “plenty of interest” in the space.

SLO Bed Tax Climbs

SLO City TOT jumped around 12% for the fiscal year ending in June. While hotel room occupancy was up slightly, the average daily rate climbed more than 11% and RevPAR increased from $96 to over $140 a night, more than a 40% jump. Meanwhile August numbers are and occupancy in SLO city hotels was up 5.6% while RevPAR climbed almost 12% year over year.

San Luis Harbor Commission Begins Search For New Manager

The San Luis Bay Harbor Commission began their search for a new harbor manager this week with a meeting of their personnel committee. Current manger Steve McGrath will work through November. An interim manager is likely to be appointed as a search for a permanent replacement goes forward.

UPDATE: After our story appeared the SLO Tribune interviewed the representative Eric Markell of the Seattle-based company.They are called Trident Winds LLC and they are planning to erect 100 wave power turbines in Estero Bay.Stay tuned for more……

September 11,2015-

The City of Morro Bay is talking to an unnamed wave energy firm about the potential leasing of the former Dynegy outfall property next to Morro Rock. Harbor Director Eric Endersby says the property consists of a pipeline that connects back to shore under the beach and sand dunes to the idled Morro Bay power plant. Its potential use would be to run a cable to connect to the  PG&E-owned substation to the rear of power plant.

Endersby says this is one of two underwater connection pipes to the power plant with the second one being nearby, nw of the rock, a 6 inch diameter pipe that can be accessed by boat at a bouy to make a connection.Both lines were designed to bring in oil to run the plant that was later converted to natural gas.

The two pipelines are well maintained and can be used if necessary says Endersby.

Talks between the city and the wave company represented by a Seattle based consultant are behind closed doors.

The city has joined local fishermen in expressing concerns over where offshore the wave energy firm looks to install their wave energy devices so as not to interfere with fishing.FERC has given the Estero Bay project permission to apply for a permit.

If the wave project were to move forward it is likely they would use the power plant facility itself. Dynegy has the 14 acre property for sale and says in financial filings they hope to repurpose it.

Endersby says if the plan moves forward there will be a “robust process of public input.”

California has mandated as much as 50% of future energy come from renewable sources.

August 27,2015-

Gas Below $3 At SLO Costco

Gas is down to $2.99 in San Luis Obispo at Costco and in the mid $2.50s at some California stations approaching Labor Day.The drop in gas prices comes as crude oil is selling at $40 a barrel and world supplies build.

Record Warm Temps Hit California Coast

Extreme warmth in the Pacific ( the warm blob) the first half of this year is spilling over to the West Coast according to NOAA with record temperatures from January to July of this year including the entire California coast as shown on this map. The red on the map coincides with where many West Coast fires have been worst.

County Planning Commission Will Hear 102 Lot Residential Plan North of Nipomo

The SLO County Planning Commission will hear a request for a conditional use permit to allow an ag cluster on 1910 acres to include a 102 lot residential project two miles south of Arroyo Grande.  A final environmental impact report will also be considered on the project called JANNECK,LIMITED – LAETITIA  AGRICULTURAL CLUSTER.

Port San Luis Expects New Developer To Step Up On Harbor Terrace Project
/ Smoking Ban On Tap

Port of San Luis Harbormaster Steve McGrath says the decision by developer HomeFed to pull out of building the long awaited Harbor Terrace project in August should not cause much delay as a second group – Red Tail has indicated it will make a proposal to the harbor commission by September’s board meeting. “This should just be a hiccup in the process” he expects.

In a second board matter the commission voted to put together an ordinance that would ban smoking on the district’s beaches.

August 27,2015-

SLO County Planning Commission approved Starbucks plan to open a new 2000 sf location in Los Osos this week in the former Bank of America building, where McDonalds had received approval to locate. The commission denied an an appeal by Los Osos resident Julie Tacker.  However,Tacker‘s point that Starbucks had miscalculated the total amount of water available to them was agreed to by the commission and staff,although county staff said their OK of the project did not assume the applicant’s higher number.

Starbucks had calculated 1250 gallons a day but later offered to use 980 gallons a day based on the McDonalds Morro Bay usage while county staff figured they could get by on 860 gallons a day based on an average use at area Starbucks.

The commission said that “Prior to issuance of building permits, the applicant shall retrofit (outside of the prohibition zone) enough homes, businesses, etc. plumbing fixtures to offset their water demand by a total of 698 gallons per day. The applicant may provide an alternative offset as approved by the Planning Director.”

Planner Kerry Brown says Starbucks permit will now be processed and the remodel of the space can move forward when issued. Starbucks can use the drive-thru, closing at Midnight weekdays and 1 PM on weekends.

The restaurant will use 860 gallons a day in 2000sf leaving about 2000sf in the building available for some other use. Staff says there will be 120 gallons a day to serve that space based on the McDonalds permit but will require a Minor Use Permit for any other use but a retailer or office user.

The county staff report says “The applicants submitted a substantial conformance request based on the 1250 gallons per day water number. The applicants’ substantial conformance request was to allow a 2,000 square foot Starbucks with drive through and 1,078 square foot remaining food use/office space. The applicant provided water bills for three Starbucks (two located in San Luis Obispo with no drive through and one located in Santa Maria with a drive through). The Department of Planning and Building used an average of all three Starbucks to determine the water usage for the new Starbucks, which was 860 gallons per day. The applicant also provided water bills for a Subway in Pismo Beach which averaged 477 gallons per day. With both uses the total estimated water usage would be 1338 gallons per day. This number exceeded the estimated water usage for the McDonalds, therefore the Department of Planning and Building only found the Starbucks tenancy change in substantial conformance with the previous approval. Although the applicant used the 1250 gallons per day number, Planning staff did not base the substantial conformance determination on the 1250 gallons per day. Based on the submitted information, the change in tenancy from a McDonalds to a Starbucks is consistent with water usage information presented to and accepted by the Board of Supervisors and is in substantial conformance with the project approved by the Board.”

Water Use Issue Clarified

“Planning staff disagrees with the appellant’s contention that the Starbucks project does not substantially conform to the approved McDonalds project and that the 2,000 square foot remainder space must remain vacant. The proposed Starbucks will use less water than the previously approved McDonald’s and therefore substantially conforms to the previous approval. While the substantial conformance letter did not allow a sandwich shop (Subway) in the 2,000 square foot remainder space due to water concerns, the applicant /property owner may propose other uses within the 2,000 square foot remainder. Any subsequent use proposal for that space would be evaluated for conformance with the approved project and could be authorized, provided they do not use more than 120 gallons per day (980 gpd – 860 gpd = 120 gpd). “

The final verdict – “The Planning Commission should deny Ms. Tackers appeal because the proposed Starbucks uses less water than the previously approved use (McDonald’s) and therefore this change in
tenancy substantially conforms to the previous approval.”

That is what the commission approved. The decision can be appealed in the next 14 days.

Julie Tacker told this reporter after the decision that she is”pleased the staff report was able to clarify the numbers. That was my goal” and “I see no need to appeal “

August 26,2015-

San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 0 to move forward on planning to connect Avila Valley by pipeline to an existing desal plant at Diablo Canyon. The pipe could bring up to 1000 acre feet of drinking water annually to the south county on an emergency basis as soon as the end of 2016.

Supervisors also included the option to connect the PG&E desal plant to Los Osos down a road 11 miles away.The pipeline to Avila Bay where it would tie into a Lopez Lake pipe, is 7 miles away down a PG&E road.

Supervisor Frank Mecham said he favored this expedited plan remarking that ”people always ask when are we going to do something  about the drought instead of just talking about it.”

Key to the plan is that the county would move forward right away spending some $300,00 to $500,000 in staff time between now and January to insure the deadlines can be made if the county decides to move forward. They have set a deadline to begin construction a year from now if necessary.

With an eye on the weather charts Supervisor Debbie Arnold says she likes the idea of contingency planning based on whether the severity of the drought continues or we see relief locally from El Nino as hoped – by early next year.

Supervisors heard that water levels at Lopez Lake, drinking water source for numerous south county communities, continues to drop and if the drought continues could fall below minimum pool.

The county wants to move forward on planning, regulatory approvals  and possible grant funds for the south county pipeline on an emergency basis although they also want to study using an expanded desal plant on a consistent basis even if the current drought emergency is over. Supervisor Adam Hill said it makes sense we tap into a new source for water long term.

As to the plan to connect the desal plant to Los Osos there is a less clear path.Staff wants to do engineering costs on both a north and south pipeline to see what level the residents of both south county as well as Los Osos might have to pay for the water.

Some Los Osos residents like Richard Margetson spoke a the hearing saying he doubted that “imported water was feasible” as several studies have asserted.  Despite that claim almost every other town in the county gets some supply out of a pipe from somewhere else.

Supervisor Bruce Gibson for one, expressed doubt about the feasibility of a Los Osos pipeline.

Los Osos CSD chair Mike Wright said he looks forward to cost estimates from the study to bring water to Los Osos over the next few months as “we look for ways to push back seawater intrusion.”

”It has to be affordable, he adds although the county could help by securing grants to reduce the local costs, he hopes.People here are strapped, he says.

Supervisor Adam Hill says he thinks desalination makes sense on a larger scale and a permanent basis due to global warming.

A rough estimate  to connect the desal plant to Avila Bay would be $8 to $10 million says the county.

Worries over the presence of the nuclear power plant that supplies the energy to do the reverse osmosis process with seawater agitated a number of anti-nuke activists at the hearing with one asking if the water delivered from the plant might be akin to “radioactive lemonade.”

Admin Hill noted that desal water in use today at Diablo Canyon is tested as would any future supply.

Answering another question – if the costs are too high for residents in an area – they do not have to become partners in the venture, county officials say.

PG&E officials say they have room to expand the current desal plant  that could result in a significantly more productive operation if locals want the water.

August 21,2015-

SLO County supervisors are expected to approve a staff plan to further study connecting the existing desalination plant at Diablo Canyon power plant to Los Osos as well as Lopez Lake in an effort to stem seawater intrusion in the midst of the drought. The agenda item for August 25 directs “staff to engage potential stakeholders in the Santa Maria and Los Osos Groundwater Basins regarding drought relief opportunities.”

In their Desalination Opportunities Summary Report to be delivered to the BOS, county staff described “near term opportunities”utilizing existing unused capacity at the Diablo Canyon desal water plant to make available potable water to Los Osos though a new pipline and/or the northern Santa Maria groundwater district likely through a pipeline to Lopez Lake. The study says the plant could connect to the Avila Beach with a 7-mile pipeline and/or Los Osos with an 11-mile pipeline. It says connecting to Los Osos would be “somewhat more complex.”

As to benefits for Los Osos, the report says “under current conditions, replacing 460 AFY of lower aquifer production in the Western Area with an alternative potable water source would halt seawater intrusion into the Lower Aquifer (reference: Updated Basin Plan for the Los Osos Groundwater Basin.”

By contrast the Santa Maria groundwater Basin requires 1026AFY to offset urban pumping to mitigate against seawater intrusion there.

The desal plant can provide 500 AFY at current capacity and 1000 AFY at full capacity says the study.

The report says the county should move on an “emergency“ basis to work with potential partners on a financial plan and do the preliminary engineering to garner grants and start regulatory approvals.

The report says PG&E is working to provide cost estimates to the county.

County Supervisor Adam Hill says it is likely both watersheds might get relief in a phased program that could start by utilizing an existing pipeline to Lopez Lake.

As for Los Osos “we’ve already started talking to purveyors there about the possibilities.”

Both watersheds  “are on the critical list” he adds.

Still to be sorted out – how much will this cost and who will pay what share?

“Long term we could see water from the desal plant injected into wells to push back the seawater in Los Osos.”

Since PG&E uses just 35% of the capacity at the desal plant that is “already operating and fully permitted – it makes sense to move on this now.”

Hill notes that PG&E is more than cooperative – “even enthusiastic” saying the utility may want to get into the water business in the future.