By Camas Frank ~
As a new crop of students started courses on Sept. 21, Cal Poly has doubled down on a new master plan, prompted after a new dorm project on Grand Ave. was approved counter to their existing master plan.
After taking in public input since last fall, the rolled out plan, said a University announcement, “details the locations, sizes and types of facilities and land uses needed to support the university’s Learn by Doing mission.”
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong made the rounds with some community groups in September to explain elements of the plan, specifically giving a presentation at the monthly San Luis Obispo Home and Business Owners Association meeting. Members of the group include residents already critical of the dorm project at the corner of Grand Ave. and Slack St. as well as proposals to build a hotel and convention center on school grounds.
The concept map released took into account input collected in April when several alternatives were presented at public forums in the Kennedy Library.
Critics of the hotel idea, as well as plans to build on some of the Universities agricultural land, can take solace.
In their announcement Cal Poly stated, “After carefully considering the concept of a hotel and conference center that was presented in the April conceptual maps, the university has decided not to pursue the development at this time. Cal Poly instead will focus on further evaluating the feasibility of a new tourism and hospitality academic program and curriculum.”
Also of interest to the students at the school’s Ag College, many of whom turned out for the April meeting held in the building across the street from their classrooms, “the university has decided to remove from development consideration the prime agricultural land shown in previous conceptual maps as under study. These include the fields between Hwy 1 and Brizzolara Creek and west of Mt. Bishop Road, which includes the plot commonly referred to as the ‘Lemon Grove.’ These fields will remain agricultural lands.”
Quite separate from the planning changes, Cal Poly has recently advertised for contract bids for a number of developments already approved.
The projects call for special inspectors to make sure the aforementioned Student Housing South, the Building 112 Replacement i.e. Vista Grande, Culinary Support Center, Hot Water Distribution and Mustang Substation Transformer Project go off without a hitch.
For additional information on the master plan update process or to comment on the ongoing update, see: masterplan.calpoly.edu.
