Sierra Club Sues Pismo Beach to Halt Spanish Springs

Development Would Increase Carbon Pollution Emissions, Deplete Water Supply and Threaten Wildlife

The Sierra Club has filed suit against the City of Pismo Beach over the controversial proposed Spanish Springs project, citing deficiencies in the projects Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Spanish Springs, if approved,  would significantly expand the size of the city and bring more than 400 homes, 150 hotel rooms, a conference center, condos, vineyards and a golf course into the rural Price Canyon area north of Pismo Beach.

At its June 18 meeting, the City Council certified the Spanish Springs EIR and authorized amendments to the city's General Plan, paving the way for the ultimate approval of the development agreement. But the Environmental Impact Report for the project omits a management plan for a proposed nature preserve, inadequately mitigates carbon pollution emissions that cause climate disruption, and fails to protect water resources and wildlife.

"The developers of Spanish Springs have not shown exactly how their project will handle the increased traffic and greenhouse gas emissions it proposes to bring to the area, provide an adequate water supply, or protect threatened species," said Andrew Christie, director of the Sierra Clubs Santa Lucia Chapter. "The environmental analysis essentially  leaves the details to be figured out later. The citizens of Pismo Beach deserve a full analysis, clearly stating and mitigating this projects harmful environmental impacts."

Of particular concern to the Sierra Club is the nature preserve that is to be created and managed on the project site. The Sierra Club believes that the lack of a management plan for the preserve undermines its conservation value, and habitat fragmentation is likely because the EIR defers or omits important details and performance standards, including a buffer for a planned wildlife corridor and the mapping of riparian areas and wetlands.

"For six months, the Sierra Club told the City Council that the EIR is legally inadequate and they needed to reject it and prepare a substantially revised analysis," said attorney Babak Naficy. "They pretty much ignored everything we pointed out, or argued that they didnt have to fix these serious problems, which were also pointed out by the Air Pollution Control District, National Marine Fisheries Service, the San Luis Coastal Resource Conservation District and other agencies but were swept aside by the City."

"Spanish Springs is the poster child for Pismo Beachs growing reputation as the city that never says no to sprawl," said Santa Lucia Chapter Chair Greg McMillan. "The city council and staff apparently learned nothing from the expensive failure of Los Robles del Mar. That project and this one have starkly highlighted the close relationship between the City and private developers. Pismo Beach needs City Council members who understand sustainable land use planning."

Good land use planning is a simple solution to suburban sprawl, which ties with crime as a top local concern for most Americans, who spend an average of 55 workdays in traffic every year.

Belted Kingfisher Image on Banner by Cleve Nash