Plans for a condominium-hotel and retail development called the Pacific Coast Hotel will be coming soon to the Grover Beach City Council now that the city's Planning Commission has approved the proposal.

The commission's recommendation followed nearly four hours of debate, and went against the advice of the city's planning staff.

The discussion centered on whether certain design features lend themselves to the theme of a “front door” to the Oceano Dunes.

In a 3-2 vote, with commissioners Bill Snow and Debra Petersen dissenting, plans for the project at the corner of West Grand Avenue and Highway 1 were approved Tuesday against staff's recommendation.

Staff members advised the commission to deny the project “without prejudice,” which would have sent it back to the drawing board for revisions that could be resubmitted for approval.

Designers defended the building's appearance.

“If the building is not creating an entry feature, then the designer isn't doing his job,” said architect George Garcia. “The designer's first role is to provide public art via the architecture. The project itself is really creating a sculptural element in the architecture.”

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Snow disagreed.

“I still uphold that this is a premiere site, and it deserves a premiere design, and I just don't see that here,” he said. “I just think it can be broken up more than it is. It can be more pleasing to the eye.”

The project is more than two years in development and would abut the new Beachfront Lodge and Conference center currently being developed at 101 W. Grand Ave. through negotiations between the city and the state.

Garcia said the structure itself represents a “front-door” entry to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

However, the city staff believes the “tower” feature of the 20-unit condo-hotel and retail project could be relocated to the corner of Grand Avenue and Highway 1 to create an entry monument, according to a city staff report.

Currently, retail uses are planned for that corner of the project to attract pedestrian traffic.

But Peter Keith, commission vice chair, noted the tower might interfere with the proposed lodge.

The report also says walkways, railing features and balcony separations need more creative designs with the use of natural materials to “soften the appearance.”

Staff members could not recommend approval of the plans as design elements could be changed and the project is too massive, said Community Development Director George Hansen.

The project has drawn the attention of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

In a letter, Oceano Dunes SVRA Superintendent Andy Zilke urged the city to consider more of a “front-door” theme as an entrance to the off-road recreation area.

“To create a front-door statement, a significant new landscape and signage project should be pursued at the corner of Highway 1 and Grand Avenue,” Zilke wrote. “This new monument feature can direct people to the beach, the Lodge, golf, and restaurant facilities they are looking for.”

Garcia contended the building is “an entry feature in and of itself.”

However, the city staff believes the design does not fully address comments made by State Parks and city staff members in the report.

Josh Petray can be reached at 489-4206, Ext. 5015, or jpetray@santamariatimes.com.

May 14, 2007