Citizens challenge Spanish Springs plan amendments 

Opponents of a large Price Canyon housing development under consideration in Pismo Beach filed a petition on July 16 to undo a recent City Council step toward project approval.

City officials confirmed the petition to stop Spanish Springs contained more than the 546 signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot—a number equaling one-tenth of registered Pismo Beach voters. After verifying the signatures, the city must decide whether to include the measure in the upcoming general election or at some other time.

The petition doesn’t seek to challenge final approval of the project, which hasn’t yet come. Rather, it’s challenging just one necessary step already undertaken.

After a June 18 public hearing that lasted into the morning hours, the Pismo Beach City Council voted to certify the Spanish Springs environmental impact report and to amend the city’s general plan to allow for building to commence once the Spanish Springs property becomes a part of Pismo Beach. However, the council stopped short of voting to annex the project site.

Spanish Springs opponents want voters to undo the general plan amendments, which would effectively kill the project.