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.
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.
Release of Draft Environmental Impact Report
On March 22, 2024, the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Santa Maria Refinery Demolition and Remediation Project was released for 45-day public review. The Notice of Availability can be accessed here.
The complete Draft EIR can be accessed here.
Individual sections of the Draft EIR and the Appendices can be accessed here.
The County is requesting the public provide written comments on the Draft EIR during the comment period, which will begin on March 22, 2024, and end at 5:00 p.m. on May 6, 2024. Comments will not be accepted after May 6 at 5:00 p.m.
Anyone interested in commenting on the Draft EIR should email their comments to: [email protected] or mail their written comments to Susan Strachan with the San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning & Building at 976 Osos St., Rm 300, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., May 6, 2024.
Hard copies of the Draft EIR and all Draft EIR Appendices are available for review at the County Department of Planning & Building, 976 Osos Street, Rm 200, San Luis Obispo at the permit center from 8:30 a.m. – noon or 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Hard copies and digital thumb drive copies of the Draft EIR are also available for review at the San Luis Obispo County Public Library Main Branch in San Luis Obispo, and at the branch libraries in Arroyo Grande and Nipomo (for hours and locations see SLOLIBRARY.org).
Planning Commission Study Session on the Santa Maria Refinery Demolition and Remediation Project Draft EIR
The Planning Commission will hold a study session on the Draft EIR. The meeting details are as follows:
When: April 25, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m.*
Where: Katcho Achadjain Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers
1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
* Please see the Planning Commission agenda to determine the agenda item placement for the Santa Maria Refinery Demolition and Remediation Project study session. The agenda will be available approximately 10 days prior to the meeting. Items on the agenda generally proceed in the order listed. The public is advised to arrive early.
Final Environmental Impact Report
At the close of the Draft EIR comment period, a Response to Comments document will be prepared and any necessary edits to the Draft EIR will be made. It is anticipated the Final EIR will be completed and issued in August 2024, depending on the number of comments received. The Final EIR and Santa Maria Refinery Demolition and Remediation Project will then be brought to the Planning Commission for its consideration. It is anticipated this will occur in late summer/early fall 2024.