Public comments on Arroyo Grande/s long- and short-term plans for auto dealerships along Traffic Way prompted the city last week to clarify points that seemed inconsistent.

The Arroyo Grande City Council recently approved the city/s 10-year strategic plan, under development since 2005, following a 60-day public review period.

City officials said it/s not an action plan but a &#822010-year vision,C a tool to ensure short-term actions are consistent with the ultimate goal the city is working to achieve.

Of three written comments received by the city, two criticized auto dealerships being located on Traffic Way, saying they are inconsistent with the Village ambiance.

But city officials said while the short-term goal is to keep current dealerships and attract more, the long-term goal is to move them to a more suitable site, which they said should not be difficult.

According to the plan, the long-term goals of the city are to transition Traffic Way uses toward those that &#8220integrate with the Village core.C

City Manager Steve Adams described potential uses as &#8220more Village-type architecture and a mixture of retail office and restaurant uses.C

&#8220It would be a gradual transformation,C said Adams. &#8220If opportunities come up, we would try and encourage new businesses that fit in as an extension of the Village atmosphere.C

However, the city/s existing economic development strategy is to facilitate the retention and expansion of auto dealerships in their existing Traffic Way locations as short- and intermediate-term goals, according to a city staff report.

More specifically, the plan calls for the city to help dealerships acquire property so they can expand as well as attract an additional dealership to Traffic Way.

&#8220(City staff) have been working with the (auto dealerships) on their current expansion,C said Adams. &#8220Mullahey Ford has been part of this effort.C

Calls to Mike Mullahey of Mullahey Ford were not returned by press time, but the dealership has already expanded into the former site of the Arroyo Grande Post Office, which the company already owned.

Adams said auto dealerships currently provide an important component of the city/s revenue base and justify heightened attention.

But local residents who wrote to the city say the dealerships don/t fit next to the Village.

&#8220While I can understand the city/s interest in maintaining revenue-producing businesses, I am not a huge fan of automobile dealership lots,C said Arroyo Grande resident Roger Frederickson.

Another resident, Robert Brownson, wrote: &#8220Dealerships on Traffic Way fight with the historic Village concept.C

Adams said relocation of auto dealerships on Traffic Way isn/t projected to occur within the 10-year time frame the plan covers.

But if and when it does, relocation isn/t expected to be as difficult as it might be with some other businesses, city officials said.

While nothing has ever been specifically determined by the City Council, there has been discussion of auto dealers being part of what/s known as the Arroyo Linda project east of Highway 101 just south of Arroyo Grande, Adams said.

&#8220We don/t want to lose the auto dealerships within the city,C said Adams, adding, &#8220I think they have some interest in pursuing some future capability of having freeway frontage.C

Permanent structures needed to operate car dealerships are relatively low investments when compared to improvements required for other types of businesses, according to the staff report.

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

May 11, 2007