After months of community concern, Templeton residents successfully blocked a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Bethel and Vineyard, much to the relief of families whose properties would have been directly impacted.
The temporary project would have been funded by a federal safety grant overseen by the county’s Public Works Department, with a budget of $200,000.
“This is a temporary project. … It would be in for one year maximum,” SLO County Public Works Deputy Director John Waddell said during a March 24 Board of Supervisors meeting.
While intended as a trial, the project raised the prospect of a permanent $3 million roundabout that would have required eminent domain for four properties, including the home of Susana and Emiliano Lopez.
The roundabout was part of the broader Vineyard Drive Corridor Project, a long-term planning effort covering Vineyard Drive between Highway 101 and Highway 46. It is intended to guide development, capital projects, and infrastructure improvements along the corridor.
“This is our home, where our children play,” Susana told New Times. “When we realized that the project could lead to eminent domain, it became clear that this wasn’t just a minor improvement, it would disrupt our lives for a minimal problem.”
Susana, her husband, and their neighbors became actively involved in opposing the roundabout. They attended Templeton Area Advisory Group (TAAG) meetings, met with county officials, and organized a Change.org petition that gathered 441 signatures in just a few weeks.
“If there was a real problem, we would be the first ones going to the board and saying we need a solution because we’re the ones that live there,” Susana said.
David Leader, president of TAAG, told New Times that the traffic issues the roundabout aimed to address were limited in scope.
“The intersection sees about three to eight minutes of backup twice a day on school days,” Leader said. “The real bottleneck is the stoplight at 101 and Vineyard, not Bethel. Installing a roundabout here wouldn’t solve the problem, it would just shift it elsewhere.”
Leader also noted safety and practical concerns. The roundabout would have brought traffic closer to private homes, creating potential hazards for children playing in yards and complicating navigation for larger vehicles.
Community opposition was overwhelming at public meetings.
“Out of the many people who spoke at the TAAG meeting, all but one were against the roundabout. People didn’t want eminent domain to be used for a problem that was so minor,” Susana said.
The county Board of Supervisors ultimately voted 4-1 to redirect the grant funding to areas where it might be more urgently needed.
New Times reached out to 1st District Supervisor John Peschong but did not receive comment before publication.
“I went to the [Board of Supervisors] meeting with my husband, really nervous thinking my voice might not matter. They might not listen. … It was really nice to see some of the supervisors really understand our concerns,” Susana said.
“We just want to express our gratitude to everybody that spoke up and came together as a community of Templeton. So, we’re really proud of Templeton for that.” ∆
This article appears in March 26 – April 2, 2026.
Enjoy your inefficient, four -way stop, NIMBYs.