Two appeals have been filed with the California Coastal Commission over what could become Grover Beach's largest hotel - a Hilton Garden Inn on El Camino Real.

An individual acting on behalf of a Los Angeles-based hotel and garment workers union known as UNITE! Here, Local 11, and two coastal commissioners filed the separate appeals July 19.

The proposed 74,732-square-foot, 134-unit, one- and three-story Hilton Garden Inn at 950 El Camino Real, adjacent to Oxford Suites, has already received city approval.

The appeals may be heard together at the Coastal Commission's meeting Sept. 5, 6 and 7, said Jonathan Bishop, Coastal Commission staff member, who said the project is now on hold.

Developers could also waive their right to the public hearing and work with Coastal Commission staff to resolve the issues, Bishop said.

The project would remain on hold during the 49-day period allowed by the waiver, Bishop said.

“I haven't heard much from them (the developers) yet,” Bishop said. “We'll probably be having meetings and starting communications with them very soon.”

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Reasons cited for the commissioners' appeal include Meadow Creek and wetland habitat protection - the project's close proximity to sensitive habitat areas and a lack of measures to avoid impacts that would significantly degrade biological resources protected by the Local Coastal Plan.

The appeal also cites a lack of lower-cost visitor and recreational facilities in regard to the Coastal Act, which requires protection, encouragement and provision of lower cost visitor and recreational facilities, where feasible.

Furthermore, the appeal claims, the city's approval of the project did not include an analysis of the feasibility of providing lower-cost visitor and recreation facilities at the site.

Andy Lee, a spokesman for UNITE! Here, Local 11, said the arguments outlined in the union's appeal are mostly environmental and similar to those raised in an unsuccessful earlier appeal.

The group previously tried to appeal a May 8 Planning Commission decision to amend its findings on the hotel's location.

“This project is near a part of Meadow Creek and the Pismo Creek Ecological Reserve, which are classified as environmentally sensitive areas,” Lee said.

“Our concern is that instead of doing a full EIR, they did a mitigated negative declaration based on a 15-year-old environmental impact report for a bowling alley, and we don't think that's acceptable.”

The project represents a $16-million capital investment by the developer, which doesn't include the cost of such off-site improvements as curbs, gutters, sidewalks and water lines.

The hotel is expected to generate between $350,000 and $400,000 in annual transient occupancy taxes at 75 percent occupancy, according to city officials.

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

August 8, 2007