Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. IX
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ATASCADERO BUILDING BOOM CONTINUES City set to add new businesses, hundreds of homes in 2020 By Luke Phillips luke@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — If the number of building permit applications received at City Hall is any indication, the building boom happening in Atascadero will continue in 2020 and beyond with several housing developments and commercial projects in the works. According to Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore, the City building department received a “flood” of building permit applications at the end of December due to a new California law requiring all new homes to have solar panels that went into effect Jan. 1. “We had a lot of residential projects submitted from folks who did not want to do solar,” Dunsmore said. The City received approximately 65 building permit applications at the end of December, overwhelming City staff and causing them to seek help from outside consultants, Dunsmore said. “We have a very small staff,” he said. “We have two inspectors who are pretty much out in the field all the time and one guy in-house that actually reviews plan checks so when we get a huge number of submittals, there’s no way we can keep
A Hilton Home2 Suites under construction near the intersection of Del Rio Road and El Camino Real is expected to be open for business in April. Photos by Nic Mattson
up with the volume and keep our promised turnaround time of three or four weeks for looking at a complete set of plans with every detail.” Dunsmore said it took about five or six weeks for the City to get caught up on the applications and now, as those projects are getting closer to being constructed, he said that he expects an increased workload for City inspectors. “So there’s a lot moving and shaking right
now,” Dunsmore said. “There’s definitely a lot happening.” HOUSING PROJECTS According to Dunsmore, there are plans for more than 400 housing units on the books that could see construction beginning in the next year or so — with two housing developments currently being constructed.
The Emerald Ridge project is under construction on the north end of El Camino Real between San Benito Road and Madera Place — built by the Laughlin Company. The development includes 210 housing units on 7.5 acres that Dunsmore called “high-end apartments.” He noted that the units will be rental apartments and not condos that will be up for sale. “They’re really high-quality apartments, really nice looking, not an affordable project,” he said. “It’s probably going to be moderately affordable because it is apartments, but they’re still larger, nicer-quality units, there’s a pool on-site, it’s a really nice project.” On the south end of town, at the corner of Viejo Camino and Halcon Road, The Groves will consist of 17 luxury homes on 37 acres. “Those are big, nice luxury homes that will be selling at the top of the market,” Dunsmore said. The Grand Oaks development, near the intersection of El Camino Real and San Jacinto Avenue, will feature commercial units designed for office space facing El Camino Real with housing units above and an arrangement of small homes in a park-like setting in the rear. The project is being constructed by Cal Coastal Construction. “We’ve done our first round of reviews, they have some minor things to take care of then they’ll resubmit and they’ll get their permit soon and they’ll start construction,” Dunsmore said. A 5.4-acre development will bring a mixed commercial and residential development to a parcel near the corner of El Camino Real and Principal Avenue that will include 55 affordably priced residential units, 1,830 square-feet of office space and a drive-thru car wash. CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
EDUCATION
AUSD Board of Trustees Recognize Locals for Outstanding Achievements, Volunteer Spirit Board honors Isabella Otter, DK Ripel, Linda Campeggi & Rich Johnson Rick Johnson and Linda Campeggi, front center, received certificates of appreciation and Lighthouse coffee baskets at an AUSD board meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 3. Photos courtesy of Atascadero Unified School District
By LUKE PHILLIPS luke@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District recognized four individuals for their outstanding achievements and spirit of volunteerism during a meeting of the board of trustees Tuesday, March 3. Those honored included Atascadero High School student representative Isabella Otter who recently won a national championship in archery, Deri Kaye “DK” Ripel for winning the Champions program’s Region 51 Quality Achievement Award, and alternative education volunteers Linda Campeggi and Rich Johnson. As part of her regular report to the board
COUNTY
of trustees, Otter recounted winning the top spot for her age group at a nationals archery competition in Sacramento the previous weekend. Asked by the board what it takes to be the national champion, Otter replied that she had to shoot 60 arrows per day over two days, each worth a possible 10 points, at a target about the size of a penny from approximately 20 yards away. “So in order to win, I just had to shoot pennies all day,” she said. Otter scored 1163 points out of a possible 1200, putting her at the top of her age group out of the entire nation and in ninth place out of all of the age groups competing at the tournament. For more on Isabella CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
PUBLIC HEALTH
Public Health Department SLO County Prepares for COVID-19 Answers Coronavirus Questions Still no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the region By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Seeking to answer pertinent questions and dispel misinformation surrounding the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the Paso Robles Press asked the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department several questions: atascaderonews.com
PASO ROBLES PRESS: I understand that the County is already coordinating with cities to deal with a possible coronavirus outbreak. When did this begin? What does it entail? SAN LUIS OBISPO C O U N T Y H E A LT H DEPARTMENT: The Public Health Department began coordinating with cities and other local partners, as well as state
LOCAL NEWS
and national officials in January. The COVID-19 response team has been meeting regularly — weekly or more often — since then and are often in touch daily. We are following our existing response plans, including our pandemic response plan and crisis/emergency risk communication plan. Examples include CONTINUED ON PAGE A11
LOCAL NEWS
By LUKE PHILLIPS & MARK DIAZ SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Public Health Director Penny Borenstein provided the San Luis Obispo County Health Commission with an update on the novel coronavirus COVID-19 during a meeting Monday evening. Borenstein said that the
SPORTS
County Health Department is getting ready to ramp up testing efforts for the virus but based on the rate of transmission, the mortality rate and the level of severity of the disease, she doesn’t believe that it will be disruptive to the daily lives of people in SLO County. “Thus far, as of today, we are not looking to implement anything very prescriptive like
ENTERTAINMENT
closing every school at the very first case or canceling every event in the county when we get a second case,” Borenstein said. “My take home message is that I don’t think you need to go home and have two to three weeks of supplies.” Borenstein said that she is concerned about the threat to CONTINUED ON PAGE A11
WEATHER
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ELECTION RESULTS Arnold, Peschong and Allen find victory | A2
KATCHO ACHADJIAN BELLA OTTER Atascadero Former County Supervisor, junior wins Nat’l Archery Assemblyman dies at 68 | A8 Championship | B1
ZOO TRIVIA NIGHT Charles Paddock Zoo to host brain teaser event | B3
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