Build Out Reduction

North Coast Planning Area

The North Coast planning area includes approximately 167,216 acres (261 square miles) extending from the Monterey County line on the north to Point Estero on the south and inland to the main ridge of the San Lucia Mountains. The planning area includes the communities of Cambria and San Simeon as well as the Hearst Ranch, which occupies almost half of the planning area. Agriculture-designated land occupies the majority of the planning area (approximately 93%). The North Coast Land Use Element and Local Coastal Program (San Luis Obispo County, 2001) designate land use categories within the planning area. The North Coast planning area includes the Cambria urban area and San Simeon Acres village, and is located entirely within the Coastal Zone. 

Rural areas have experienced about 40 percent of the total unincorporated growth since 2000. Rural areas have been attractive for affordable living away from urban life, and for luxury country estates. A large supply of parcels has been developed in the north county (Cambria). Called antiquated subdivisions, they were created before modern land division statutes required water supplies, adequate roads and environmental considerations. This supply of rural parcels is diminishing, which raises the question of where this significant share of future growth may occur. However, if the recent trend of building 2 out of every 5 unincorporated new homes within rural areas continues, between 7,900 and 15,800 additional people are projected in rural areas by 2030.

Cambria’s Build Out Reduction

Cambria’s Build Out Reduction plan, a proposal to limit Cambria’s residential water connections to 4,650*, is inadequate and unenforceable**.  By providing 50% more water than Cambrians use or need (under the guise of a 50% increase in quality of life bonus), the desalination plant is designed for 50% overcapacity, growth, and the enticing prospect of future water sales to the highest bidder.

Cambria’s “Build Out Reduction” is already being undermined by CCSD and SLO County in talks with San Simeon CSD.  Water Sales to neighboring areas from desalination would increase traffic, population growth and unexpected development surrounding Cambria severely degrading our natural environment. (Webb Letter)

United Lot Owners of Cambria (UNLOC), a group of Cambria  property owners waiting for a new water supply in order to build,  are hoping  SLO County’s wait list of 400 will be added to the CCSD’s build out reduction limit of 4,650 residential homes, because additional revenues from water sales might help offset the total cost of desal.  UNLOC members lobby leaders aggressively in meetings at local and state level. (see UNLOC  minutes). 

* Most Build Out reports refer to ‘residential’ connections, omitting ‘commercial’ growth entirely, and numbers describing total build out and existing number of water connections do not agree from report to report.    The growth inducing effects of any new water supply must be addressed honestly and  in totality for the record, before any new water supply is secured for Cambria. 

** Only SLO County has the authority to control growth.


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