Friday, October 27, 2006 – KSBY

As San Luis Obispo County voters prepare to decide the fate of the Dalidio Ranch project, construction is already underway on the property right next to it. Several other nearby retail developments have gone up without the controversy that landed Measure J on the ballot.

Measure J opponents say they’re against the project because it has serious flaws that the other nearby developments didn’t have or already addressed.

Bed Bath and Beyond to the north. Four car lots to the south. A Marriott/Hampton Inn further south. Plus PetSmart, Circuit City and more near Costco and Home Depot to the southwest. From a bird’s vantage point, there’s plenty of activity these days off Los Osos Valley Road. All the while, Ernie Dalidio’s 131 acres sit idle.

“Pretty obvious that there have been some inequities with the way the Dalidio Project has been handled versus the other projects that surround the Ranch,” says Dalidio spokesperson Dave Cox.

What frustrates Dalidio supporters the most is the parcel located next to Dalidio Ranch. It looked much like Dalidio’s until it was annexed and permitted within a year’s time with almost no opposition.

“To see the Dalidio Family go through the process for 14 years only to see this auto dealership go through it in less than a year without an environmental impact report was kind of a tough nut to swallow,” says Cox.

Measure J opponents say comparing Dalidio Ranch to other projects is a distraction. In a written statement, the “No on J” campaign says volunteers are against Measure J because it’s “a wrong way to do any project” and that it will “lead to traffic failure, air pollution and flooding problems.”

“The reason this one sailed through is they proposed a project that was half open space,” explains John Mandeville, the Development Director for the City of San Luis Obispo.

Mandeville says the reason other projects are moving forward and Dalidio’s has not in 15 years is simple.

“All of them are consistent with the general plan, require no amendments and all of them have mitigated their traffic impacts,” says Mandeville.

For example, city officials say Costco is footing the bill to realign Calle Joaquin to ease traffic congestion. They say the horse went before the cart with each of these developments — not the other way around.

The amount of money spent on both sides of the controversial Dalidio Ranch initiative now tops $800,000.

According to the most recent disclosure statements submitted yesterday, the “Yes on Measure J” campaign has received $587,000 in contributions. 96% of that comes from a limited liability corporation known as the San Luis Obispo Marketplace Associates.

Meantime, the “No on J” campaign has raised about half as much: around $241,000. More than 80% has been in the form of loans from an LLC called, “Responsible County Development.” Hundreds of residents have also contributed, including four members of the Copeland family who have contributed a total of $20,000.

Measure J will be one of our main topics discussed during the KSBY Town Hall Meeting. We’ll also focus on the San Luis Obispo mayoral race. We invite you to be our guest and participate in the hour program. The taping takes place on November 1, and if you would like to take part, simply log onto our Web site’s home page at www.ksby.com and click on the Decision 2006 link. The Town Hall Meeting will air Sunday, November 5, after NFL football.