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Paso council approves removal of 70 oak trees 

Entrada de Paso Robles

A map of the trees on the parcel where Entrada de Paso Robles will be developed. Photo by Heather Young

Council members voiced its support for Discovery Gardens project

The Paso Robles City Council approved, by a  5-0 vote, the removal of 70 oak trees for phase one of a proposed project at 4380 Highway 46 East. The previously approved project — a 386-acre parcel — had been called Black Ranch Resort and now is being referred to as Entrada de Paso Robles. The area is bounded by Highway 46 East on the south and Dry Creek Road on the north. It is located across Highway 46 East from Hunter Ranch Golf Course.

According to the staff report, the property has changed hands and projects have evolved over the last 11 years. The plans approved in 2004 included the construction of an 18-hole golf course with a nine-hole executive course along with a hotel and other features. The Entrada de Paso Robles project secured entitlements to develop a two-phase project after it received the approval of an addendum to the mitigated negative declaration.

City planner Susan de Carli said the planning commission approved an amendment to the original development plan in May. The amendment includes maintaining the approved resort complex, but eliminates the approved 27-hole golf course and replacing it with a garden-theme destination park attraction and other site improvements.

The project will be developed in two phases. The first will include the construction of roads, gardens, a lake and ancillary features associated with Discovery Gardens. The second phase will consist of the resort that will include a hotel and casita accommodations as well as a conference facility.

“Many years ago as a corporate executive, I was lucky to be outside Orlando for the opening of Disney World,” Mayor Pro Tem Fred Strong said about the proposed project. “This when you see the whole plan is equally or even more exciting than what was done in Orlando in the ’60s.”

“It’s an amazing project and we’re lucky to have the commitment of this visionary,”  Councilman Steve Gregory added.

Overall the amendment to the development identified that up to 175 oak trees — up to 10 percent of the existing oak trees on the site — could be removed. De Carli said that the applicants refined their project design and the area of disturbance, which reduces its footprint and the number of oak trees slated for removal to 70. However, she said that the applicant will work around the trees as best as possible to try to save as many trees as possible. Even with the removal, there will still be about 1,500 left on the site.

“The new project is also designed to take advantage of recycled water when it is available,” de Carli said.

The applicant’s representative Christy Gabler of North Coast Engineering said that the applicant has proposed planting a total of 600 diameter inches of trees, when they are obligated to plant approximately 250 diameter inches.

“I can’t wait,” Councilman Jim Reed said. “Let’s get started, let’s get it built. I’m all for it.”

Discovery Gardens

An artists rendering of Discovery Gardens.

 

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