Planning commission approves River Oaks expansion
The planned expansion is the top portion of the conceptual drawing. The project will fuse with the existing planned community.
River Oaks community plans 271 new homes
–The Paso Robles Planning Commission on Tuesday night unanimously approved plans for an large expansion to the River Oaks community on the northeast side of town near the River Oaks Golf Course. The plans will be forwarded to the city council for final approval.
Original story reported Nov. 11, 2015:
–The River Oaks project proposal includes expanding the existing neighborhoods to the north of the existing development. It includes up to 271 new home sites, including an extension of the “Traditions” active adult/senior neighborhood with 144 units, and extensions of the “The Classics” and “Vineyard Estates” with a total of 127 units. The conceptual plans include additional open space areas, more intensified development of the Pavilion & Spa, a “neighborhood farm” area, and walking trails. This would require amendments of the General Plan Land Use Designation and zoning from Agriculture to Residential Single Family, as well as an amendment to the Borkey Area Specific Plan.
A view of the lot for the part of the expansion that will back up to the existing golf course.
“They all work together,” said proprietor Dick Wilhoit. “Technically what its referred to is a ‘NORC’ a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community…as your lifestyle changes, family makeup changes, you literally can live through all of this.” The community was designed to contain small cottages, mid-sized and larger sized lots, and also senior neighborhoods. The lot for the first part of the River Oaks community was originally purchased in 1992.
The improvements to the existing infrastructure include the addition of an amphitheater on the lake, and an open air pavilion open on three sides that can host 200 people. They will expand the spa and add fitness and tennis and pickle ball courts as well as two pools; one will be the warm mineral water, the other will be a fresh water pool. The existing neighborhoods will be able to opt in to pay a proprietary fee to use the new facilities. Wilhoit said that the specifics of the improvements to the community areas, such as creating an open air pavilion rather than a smaller, enclosed space, came from the knowledge gleaned from the existing community spaces.
The area outside of the existing River Oaks Spa will have two new pools installed, a warm mineral pool and a cool freshwater pool.
The project will have to pay development impact and building fees that will go to building infrastructure such as roads and help pay for the Nacimiento Water project. The average per unit water connection fee in Paso Robles is $23,500 per unit. They will also be charged a wastewater facility fee and other charges, totaling on average $63,000 per home for residential building fees.
The River Oaks Spa will remain open, during the expansion, “that is the intention,” said Wilhoit, the exact logistics of how they will remain open are still being determined.
For more information about the project, call Estrella Associates at (805) 238-1031 or visit estrellaassociates.com.
Where is the water for this coming from????
How can this growth keep going on with our water problem?
The definition of insanity…
I'm usually for development, because limiting growth will stagnate a city. However, I too must ask, where in the world is the water going to come from when we already are suppose to be cutting back. I realize there is more water under us than we can use, but the fact is, the city, county and state are limiting us, so it makes no sense adding more homes, which in-turn will use more water.
Nope stop building. No water, inadequate traffic plan and insufficiencies in road maintenance.
I like the proposal, although I share the worry about the water. I know Dick has his own wells and we are supposedly sitting ontop of of one of the largest aquafirs but with current government restrictions, it seems to me that it will be challenging to get this off the ground.
271 Homes with two new pools installed, a warm mineral pool and a cool freshwater pool. Thats absolutly crazy to even conciderate this right now. The city needs to wait until we have this water problem fixed. We need a good 4 to 5 years of above average years of rain fall. The city is making residence concerve water so they can keep approving hotels and big developement . When is the city of Paso Robles going to start listening to the people who have been living here for 10 15 20 25 years plus. My well went from 90 feet in 1993 to 340 feet in 2015. I had to spent $30,000 to go to 800 feet. Whats going to happen in 5 to 10 years from now. We need to put a hold on growth for awhile! We have enough hotels wineries and homes.
No..We don't have the infrastructure to support this.
Yes-just where IS the water coming from? Are they exempt from the 1:1 offset requirement??
I think that WATER is a big issue to address before any future planning that would require the use of additional water. I saw a tweet message recently: "The state of CA sells 5 times more water than exists in wet form leading to paper water scandal!" BeWARE of the under handed ways the money hungry want to Govern our water, especially with any proposed WATER DISTRICT. More Bureaucracy and less abiity of land owners to keep their Rights and their water.
Please require a desalination plant be built to support the usage. They shouldn't have to pay for the whole plant but a large portion. And/or close a major vineyard nearby through eminent domain to offset the water usage.
You all want to have your voice heard ? attend the meeting .
They were start listening when residents like you start attending those conciles meeting and voice your concern ,What about voting them out
Are you kidding me? Why do we continue to let this happen when we are all being told that "brown is the new green?" Two new pools? What do they plan on filling them with. The evaporation off of those pools is enough water to keep someone's lawn green. This is just atrocious planning!
I agree with everyone else. Where do they intend to get the water? Isn't there supposed to be some moratorium on new building? Yet, it seems major hotels and subdivisions continue to be built. No, no, no.
This is completely irresponsible on the part of our Planning Commision. We are still in a drought. We all cut back, yet they keep approving more growth.
State water folks. It's coming and you can't stop it. Big money talks. Pro growth has consequences.
This will create more jobs more money for our city and its bussiness and so on. Paso Robles has a master plan and weather we like it or not population will increase. I am not in love with alot of things that Paso Robles does. We are also gettint a New Large RV park. Just like the one on Airport Road. Yet I try to stay Positive and enjoy life.
Growth fuels the economy.
Been in the works for a long time… And that is no excuse… I'm not a fan.
Could you please just pave poor chunky, broken up main east/west artery/truck route Creston Rd. with all the new tax money you're going to get from this giant project?
YES!! Including Commerce Way off of Creston Rd!!!!! That road is horrible and heavily traveled by many of our hard working local tax payers who are driving the shoulder because the road is so bad. Guess it's not a heavily traveled tourist area or it would have been at top of list.
Ditto. No Water, No build. Check out Cal Coast News for an article about our City Councilman John Hamon.
Where is the water for this coming from????
How can this growth keep going on with our water problem?
The definition of insanity…
I'm usually for development, because limiting growth will stagnate a city. However, I too must ask, where in the world is the water going to come from when we already are suppose to be cutting back. I realize there is more water under us than we can use, but the fact is, the city, county and state are limiting us, so it makes no sense adding more homes, which in-turn will use more water.
Nope stop building. No water, inadequate traffic plan and insufficiencies in road maintenance.
I like the proposal, although I share the worry about the water. I know Dick has his own wells and we are supposedly sitting ontop of of one of the largest aquafirs but with current government restrictions, it seems to me that it will be challenging to get this off the ground.
271 Homes with two new pools installed, a warm mineral pool and a cool freshwater pool. Thats absolutly crazy to even conciderate this right now. The city needs to wait until we have this water problem fixed. We need a good 4 to 5 years of above average years of rain fall. The city is making residence concerve water so they can keep approving hotels and big developement . When is the city of Paso Robles going to start listening to the people who have been living here for 10 15 20 25 years plus. My well went from 90 feet in 1993 to 340 feet in 2015. I had to spent $30,000 to go to 800 feet. Whats going to happen in 5 to 10 years from now. We need to put a hold on growth for awhile! We have enough hotels wineries and homes.
No..We don't have the infrastructure to support this.
Yes-just where IS the water coming from? Are they exempt from the 1:1 offset requirement??
I think that WATER is a big issue to address before any future planning that would require the use of additional water. I saw a tweet message recently: "The state of CA sells 5 times more water than exists in wet form leading to paper water scandal!" BeWARE of the under handed ways the money hungry want to Govern our water, especially with any proposed WATER DISTRICT. More Bureaucracy and less abiity of land owners to keep their Rights and their water.
Please require a desalination plant be built to support the usage. They shouldn't have to pay for the whole plant but a large portion. And/or close a major vineyard nearby through eminent domain to offset the water usage.
You all want to have your voice heard ? attend the meeting .
They were start listening when residents like you start attending those conciles meeting and voice your concern ,What about voting them out
Are you kidding me? Why do we continue to let this happen when we are all being told that "brown is the new green?" Two new pools? What do they plan on filling them with. The evaporation off of those pools is enough water to keep someone's lawn green. This is just atrocious planning!
I agree with everyone else. Where do they intend to get the water? Isn't there supposed to be some moratorium on new building? Yet, it seems major hotels and subdivisions continue to be built. No, no, no.
This is completely irresponsible on the part of our Planning Commision. We are still in a drought. We all cut back, yet they keep approving more growth.
State water folks. It's coming and you can't stop it. Big money talks. Pro growth has consequences.
This will create more jobs more money for our city and its bussiness and so on. Paso Robles has a master plan and weather we like it or not population will increase. I am not in love with alot of things that Paso Robles does. We are also gettint a New Large RV park. Just like the one on Airport Road. Yet I try to stay Positive and enjoy life.
Growth fuels the economy.
Been in the works for a long time… And that is no excuse… I'm not a fan.
Could you please just pave poor chunky, broken up main east/west artery/truck route Creston Rd. with all the new tax money you're going to get from this giant project?
YES!! Including Commerce Way off of Creston Rd!!!!! That road is horrible and heavily traveled by many of our hard working local tax payers who are driving the shoulder because the road is so bad. Guess it's not a heavily traveled tourist area or it would have been at top of list.
Ditto. No Water, No build. Check out Cal Coast News for an article about our City Councilman John Hamon.