Morro Bay’s Embarcadero could get a bit funkier after the City Council approved a new building that includes a hotel and retail space.
As envisioned by Paul Gillan, owner of Associated Pacific Constructors, Inc., the proposed angled and colorful buildings would enhance the waterfront with walkways and pocket parks that connect the buildings to nearby parks. Between the four lease lots, the approved project includes space for seven hotel rooms, retail, a restaurant, and a translucent lookout deck.
“This project will create a significant and new visual and exciting draw of pedestrian traffic as they stroll south on the Embarcadero or the harbor walk offering a place to stay, eat, and socialize,” Gillan said at the Jan. 28 City Council meeting.
This wasn’t Gillan’s first attempt to make his vision a reality. The Morro Bay Planning Commission denied the project in November.
At the Nov. 19 meeting, the commission thought the hotel was too tall—projected to stand at 25 feet, which requires a height allowance—per the city’s waterfront master plan. At such a height, the commissioners said it was too uncharacteristic of the Embarcadero and didn’t provide enough public benefit to outweigh its height.
Taking those comments to heart, Gillan submitted an appeal to the City Council in December with alterations that included removing one of the originally proposed eight hotel rooms on the second floor, making the tallest point of the project 22 feet.
Community Development Director Airlin Singewald told the council at the Jan. 28 meeting that the new revised project met all city requirements and addressed the commission’s previous concerns.
According to the staff report, the Bayside Landing property currently has a 3,000-square-foot contractor’s building and three vacation rental units. The contractor’s building would be renovated into a retail and marine research space and would replicate the current teal and magenta color palette and stained-glass windows.
Gillan said it will be named Reggie’s Place after the late local fisherman, Reggie Whibley, who previously owned the property.
The three vacation rental units would be demolished and rebuilt into the seven hotel units and a public observation deck—translucent in color to view eelgrass and otters commonly found below.
In addition, the project will include floating docks for kayaking and an angled harbor walk that connects the property to Tidelands and Mariner Parks.
“All in all, the proposed design with the angled and offset buildings layout captures the uniqueness of Morro Bay’s funky architectural heritage,” Gillan said.
Public commenters weren’t so sure, though, and felt the decision to approve the build should go back to the Planning Commission that originally denied it.
One resident said that the current project was completely different than it was last year.
“It establishes a bad precedent, I think, that an applicant can circumvent the judgment of the Planning Commission and go directly to the council,” he said.
But Mayor Carla Wixom replied that the commission wasn’t overlooked, and Gillan had based his revisions on its concerns.
Recently elected Councilmember Jeff Eckles said the project in front of the council on Jan. 28 was even better than what was first presented and allowed the city and applicant to reach a better balance.
“I believe the process worked in this instance,” he said.
After some deliberation, the council unanimously approved the project, and now Gillan needs a Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission before construction can begin. Δ
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include an image.
This article appears in Feb 6-16, 2025.
Parking???